Coronavirus: India’s lockdowns are a matter of life and death for its 450 million informal workers
- The sector makes up some 90 per cent of the country’s workforce and about half its GDP, but has no income security and only limited health care access
- As Prime Minister Modi looks to curb the spread of the outbreak, some of these workers are facing weeks without pay, housing or food
Yadav usually earns around US$10 a day, but he had already seen a sudden dip in income over the past few weeks as many Indians began practising social distancing and working from home. He now faces the prospect of at least a week without earning any money.
“I send money to my wife and kids back home every week. Last week, I sent less than usual. This week, I have asked them to borrow from one of our neighbours. I’m not sure how to run things beyond that,” Yadav said.
The 35-year-old shares a small room with three other migrant workers on the outskirts of Delhi, while his family lives in their native village in Bihar – some 1,000 kilometres to the east.
As the number of Covid-19 cases in India surged to 492, including 10 deaths, the Modi administration has announced lockdowns and transport restrictions in more than 80 states and districts until March 31, with some state governments issuing similar curbs. The authorities have warned that those violating these restrictions could face up to six months in jail.
