COVID-19
INDIA FIGHTS BACK
Pushing informal workers into poverty
with a complete lockdown, the informal sector workers who belong to some of the marginalised communities - socially and economically - will have to go without wages pushing them further into poverty.
Lack of access to healthcare for the poor
India ranks 145th among 195 countries in terms of quality and accessibility of healthcare, behind its neighbours like China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. And in the current context, it is the poorest who are least likely to be able to access this healthcare and treatment.
No Safe homes
There are over 4 million homeless in urban India who are at great risk of contracting COVID-19 because of their living conditions. Physical distancing is advocated to prevent the spread of Coronavirus but most of them have several family members living in one-room homes making them vulnerable to infection.
Little or no access to water
Washing hands with soap regularly(Essenial to prevent the spread of Coronavirus) is a luxury for over 70 million in urban India who live in informal settlements where they end up sharing resources and have community access to sanitation and drinking water facilities. They are rendered vulnerable because they have little or no access to protective measures like sanitisers, and gloves and masks.