Saswati Chattopadhyay
India has already crossed 600,000 marks in positive COVID19 cases. Its spread does not seem to be declining; infections and death toll continue to surge frighteningly instead. The whole world is under home arrest for months to deal with this epidemic. The pandemic-induced lockdown kept a huge part of economy trailing which even though couldn’t demolish the middle or upper class as much as it derailed the lower class off the tracks. Even if ignored, half of India’s population is built with the most ignored class of society. A spot on this population can indeed pull down the economy.
At first, let’s take a look at,
What could be the impact on the economy?
- The rise in unemployment.
- The collapse of small trades like street shops.
- A slump in the tourism industry.
- The decline of the hospitality industry
- Sudden fall down of government resources.
- Rising prices making unaffordable food.
- It makes the situation even worse for poor Countries.
Keeping these points in mind, questions prevail as to the demands and need of the lower class. Most of the points mentioned above hamper this class directly; which is highly dependent on government-provided services and not on private sectors.
Labours who migrate elsewhere in the hope of better living are returning empty-handed, which on the surface has both dark and fair sides which are up to debate. However, a potential fact is always lost which takes concern upon the lives of these workers.
“16 migrant workers were crushed to death by the wheels of the train in Aurangabad station while they were resting.”
Street vendors are counting days in the hope that all will be sorted someday. Jobs like these which pay itself just to have square a meal each day with altogether zero savings whatsoever is clearly under attack.
Basic multipurpose factories and industries had to pull their shutters down under the strict notice of lockdown.
All these factors, considered, is leaving the middle and lower class with lower and lowest money in hand respectively. The direct conflict rises when the lower financial flow in the houses is stretching market flow into narrow wires, which only the upper-middle and upper class are keeping existent.
The Indian economy has fallen drastically. The poor people; though they are an integral part of our economy are going through an extremely pathetic condition.
WHO (World Health Organization) already announced that living with COVID19 is a new normal now.
Though the Government came forward to help the miserable people with some grants it cannot run indefinitely. The pandemic is temporary. This disruptive condition will be resolved one day. So, it is needless to say that our economy will recover quickly and hopefully the government will handle the disaster with proper efficiency. All states should make a head start to fight against the epidemic. The government might get the second wind which will save the country from the disaster.