Pandemic created by Covid-19 created an unprecedented impact on numerous walks of life which was never seen before in recent past. Mortality rate of pandemic has been estimated at 3%, however lockdown-imposed stress, difficulties weigh more.
Due to economic lockdown supply chain has been disrupted, demand for goods decreased, unemployment witnessing historic rise, reversal of brain drains, migrant workers heading towards their home. Domestic abuse cases have been witnessed more. Fiscal deficit targets have been breached; sovereign credit rating got a hit and there are many more such plights
This situation led to increased demand for MGNREGA job which has become supply driven instead of demand driven. Farmers have become helpless; they are not harvesting the produce instead they are destroying their own crop in the field because of lack of price in the market
and labourer’s shortage. Uncertainty of future demand coupled with locust attack has created farmers distress. Ensuring farmer income through MSP has been inefficient due to capping and dismal infrastructure.
Millions of vulnerable sections may fall below poverty line because of this viral imposed mobility restraint.
We need extra-ordinary response in this extra-ordinary situation. Government which envisages welfare state should keep aside fiscal deficit target and spend more to secure the livelihoods of vulnerable and bring back economic growth.
