Eight out of 10 workers in urban areas lost their jobs during the nationwide lockdown and almost 6 in 10 people in rural India witnessed job losses, as stated in a survey by Azim Premji University (APU).
The survey further revealed that the centre’s transfer of cash stimulus could reach nearly one-third (36%) of the vulnerable households in urban India; while a little higher than half of the rural households received such cash benefit, according to the survey.
The survey was conducted among 4000 workers around 12 states of India by the Centre for Sustainable Employment at APU. It also revealed that one-fourth of the 688 landed farmers surveyed received the cash transfer through the PM-Kishan scheme.
Workers and farmers, who were surveyed by the institute, said that Rs 500, given by the centre’s as assistance, is good to sustain for two to three days for a family, however, the lockdown was observed for nearly 45 days. The institute in its report suggested they should be given at least Rs 7000 for the next two months.
According to the APU survey, the lockdown since March 24 has taken “a heavy toll on the economy and particularly on vulnerable informal and migrant workers and their families”. The report emphasised on the need for immediate as well as medium to long term, comprehensive policy measures to counter these effects and chart the path to economic recovery.
The survey analysed the levels of employment and earnings from the time the lockdown was announced, and compared them to the situation in February. It covered self-employed, casual, and regular wage/salaried workers.
While more than 90 percent of the urban farmers could not sell their produce at its optimum price during the lockdown; about 88 percent of farmers in rural India did not to get full price.
Nearly 80 percent of the urban households have consumed less food than before, noted the survey.
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