The recent report by Hunger Watch has emphasized how the Covid-19 pandemic has hit India’s urban poor disproportionately, exacerbating poverty and hunger among this population segment. This report comes not long after the UNDP warned of a potential addition of 207 million people to the global extreme poverty tally by 2030, due to the pandemic. Moreover, a study by Pew Research Center also highlighted that the virus outbreak has pushed around 32 million Indians out of the middle class. The following sections of this article aim to shed light on the economic effects, social scheme coverage, nutritional impact, and governmental interventions related to the predicament of India’s urban poor.
Economic Implications of the Pandemic
With food insecurity skyrocketing in the wake of the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the labour force, including a worrying rise in child labour. The economic crisis deepens as many are unable to regain lost employment, and post-lockdown revival for informal sector livelihoods proves sluggish. Reduced incomes, hitting more than half of the urban respondents, exacerbate this crisis further.
Public Distribution System and Social Scheme Penetration
The pandemic’s blow was cushioned for many rural dwellers due to the Public Distribution System providing foodgrains. However, such ration access for urban poor was minimal, exposing disparities in PDS reach. The urban poor also lagged in accessing social security schemes.
Nutrition and Hunger Consequences
Urban respondents were subject to a more severe decline in food quality and quantity. Levels of food insecurity and hunger remained high across the board, with a drastic increase in meal skipping, even amidst a record food grain production year for India. Particularly worsened conditions were noted among vulnerable groups such as households helmed by single women, those with disabled members, transgender individuals, and elderly without caregivers.
Insights from National Family Health Survey
The issues highlighted in the Hunger Watch report gain further relevance when analyzed alongside the recent National Family Health Survey data. This survey underscores either a worsening or stagnation of malnutrition outcomes in India, such as the prevalence of stunting and wasting among children, and high anaemia levels in women and children.
Govermental Efforts to Alleviate the Pandemic’s Impact
In a bid to mitigate the fallout of the pandemic, the Indian government has launched several initiatives, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, Reserve Bank of India’s Covid-19 Economic Relief Package, and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (self-reliant India).
The Path Ahead
This bleak situation necessitates focussed social protection measures. These could take the form of schemes for subsidized food provision and employment guarantees, especially for urban areas, to prevent a deeper slide into poverty and hunger. The struggle against extreme poverty and hunger remains critical, and must be a priority even as we deal with the direct health impacts of Covid-19.