Despairing Future And The Agonized Families: How The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Impacting Economically Vulnerable Households And The Family Dynamics In India

The unfurling of the COVID-19 pandemic has shown a gruesome effect on many lives. Millions of people lost their lives, many families shattered, and people are excruciating deeply since the virus has attacked directly on their income sources. Several migrant workers lost their lives while traveling back to their homes. Many children lost their parents to the deadly virus.

People are in consternation, that the country might witness the third wave, and again, there will be a fight for basic amenities and medical supplies. People whose family members are fighting against the pernicious virus know the importance of something rudimentary yet difficult to arrange things like oxygen and hospital beds.

The unprecedented outbreak of the virus has caused a lot of psychological and physiological issues among people. A recent survey revealed, nearly 55% of family members have reported sleep problems, while 49.9% of people have reported anxiety issues. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused anxiety, depression, PSTD, stress, and mental health issues among teenagers and youth as all the universities and schools across the nation are closed. It is all because the people are locked inside their homes, with no choice of going out as they might catch the virus, with constant disheartening news flashing up their screens, and the uncertain future. 

How the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Indian families

The second wave of COVID has compelled a pile-up of economic misery and resentment, which resulted in the Indian economy’s devastation. India’s economy is growing the slowest in 11 years and is expected to reach growth rates as low as 8%, as estimated by several financial advisors. The economic havoc has made several families sleep empty stomachs as their income sources are greatly suffered. More than 84% of families have seen a decrease or either lost their incomes.

The study found a “sharp and broad negative impact on domestic incomes” as the epidemic reduced their ability to survive. About a third of all households will not be able to survive for more than a week without additional assistance, he said. That staggering figure saw an increase in the unemployment rate, which had exceeded 27% in early May, rising nearly four times from levels in January-February, according to CMIE data. Unemployment has already dropped to less than 24%.

To combat this economic distress, the Indian government needs to form a solid reform by which direct capital and food can be transferred to them. PM Modi launched the COVID relief fund the previous year, wherein he assured to provide the economically backward citizens with economic relief. But it was as vague as his other promises.

In a country wherein millions of people are losing their lives every day due to a lack of medical infrastructure and amenities, our PM is busy with his ‘Central Vista’ project. No wonder why the country is shattering at every level. Middle-class families are experiencing severe income distress as many jobs and companies are on the verge of shutting down. 

Dwindling income resources, domestic violence on a rise

The poorest households in the five groups with average monthly income earned less than Rs. 3,800 (about $ 50), while the highest ones are made between Rs. 12,374 and over Rs. 1 lakh ($ 167 to $ 1,370 and more). As a sincere policymaker, the top priority of the government should be increasing medical health infrastructure and increasing the number of healthcare workers. More than 4 top doctors have lost their lives in Delhi in a week due to the deadly virus. The income downfall is unevenly distributed across the country, with the top 5 worst affected states like- Bihar, Chattisgarh, Tripura, Haryana, and Jharkhand. And the least affected states are Punjab, Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, and Pondicherry. 

Domestic violence is another great concern during this lockdown. Several women have reported that they have been physically and mentally abused by their spouses. This alarming spike should be taken seriously, as India is already on the top when it comes to women’s harassment-related issues. The educational institutions are shut down, and the mode of education has been shifted to online classes. Students are spending most of their time in front of screens, which is affecting their mental as well as physical well-being.

With no option, but to attend these classes the whole day while being under the burden of assignments, they are feeling distanced from their families.