-OutlookIndia.com On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India was entering a lockdown for the next three weeks, adding it was the only way to contain the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. About two weeks ago, when suggestions for a nationwide lockdown started coming in, the biggest concern was the survival of India's daily wage Labourers and construction workers, who live from hand to mouth. On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra...
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Coronavirus Lockdown Could Lead to Famine, Possibly Worse -Surajit Das
-Newsclick.in Clearly, more than half of the Indian population would not be able to stay at home for long. Compensating them would cost around Rs 3 lakh crore or 1.5% of our current GDP. Does this Government have the will? It is definitely easier for those whose income is not dependent on moving out, to stay put at home. Most casual Labourers, those that are self-employed and daily-wage earners would not be...
More »COVID-19: Gujarat Labourers, tribals forced to take 250 km-long journeys on foot -Rajeev Khanna
-Down to Earth The workers reportedly began their journey on March 23, 2020, with some accompanied by their wives, children Thousands of migrant workers in Gujarat are undertaking long journeys to their native villages on foot. The workers, mostly tribals, travelled upwards of 250 kilometres, in the absence of public transport. Migrant workers are forced to take this step after the Union government initiated a janata (people’s) curfew and subsequently, a 21-day...
More »Covid-19: What can be done immediately to help vulnerable population -Reetika Khera
-IdeasforIndia.in With over 80% of India’s workforce employed in the informal sector and one-third working as casual labour, Covid-19's spread and subsequent unplanned lockdowns, have created economic havoc in the lives of millions. In this post, Reetika Khera puts forward suggestions on what can be done to help people immediately, ranging from cash and in-kind assistance to special measures for migrants in urban areas and urgent health-related measures. The spread of the...
More »‘What will we eat?’ Labourers and people from unorganised sectors stare at uncertain future -Deep Mukherjee
-The Indian Express As a result of the lockdown, thousands, including daily wage Labourers, street vendors and those in the unorganised sector, are staring at a massive crisis, with many without the means to even buy food. Jaipur: It’s been an unusual Monday afternoon for Dharmanath Sapera, who, instead of his usual routine of collecting scrap or working at construction sites, is spending the day worrying about arranging the next day’s meal...
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