Lockdown will kill us much before corona: daily wagers

With India coming to a standstill, the unorganized sector faces the danger of survival

Millions of daily wage earners are scared more of starvation than of coronavirus

With citizens cooped indoors, the informal or gig economy has ground to a halt

From those working in restaurants to those ironing clothes, daily wagers are finding it difficult to make ends meet

" No one is allowing outsiders to enter their homes for fear of contracting the virus...

Our first worry is lack of work. This new disease will get us much later,"said Ashok, who irons clothes in a society in Delhi

His household has five members, including two children.

Similar situation is being faces by rikshaw pullers, carpenters and others

More than 90% of the country’s workforce is estimated to be in the informal sector.

The Economic Survey 2017-2018 had said that 87% of the firms in the country, are purely informal

Covid-19 pandemic, has caused 11 deaths in India and infected more than 570 people so far.

No relief announcements have been made for India’s huge informal workforce.

“As revenue streams of firms get impacted, employment...

...particularly of daily wagers and temporary workers, will be in the firing line." said a Crisil report.

The crisis has led to a mass exodus of migrant labour to villages.

Many laborers have returned to their homes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Demand has shrunk, affecting the source of income of daily-wagers.

The 21 day lockdown calls for an urgent financial assistance to workers from the informal sector

Announcing the 21 day lockdown, PM ignored millions of daily wage earners of the country

The livelihoods of domestic workers, street vendors and utility workers are at risk Attachments area