Differential Impact of COVID-19 and the Lockdown

Context: The resultant distress induced by the global pandemic in India has exacerbated pre-existing structures of disadvantage based on social identity.

Impact of COVID-19 on marginalized section of society:

• Higher risk of mortality: The Impact of COVID is not class neutral. 

• Poorer and economically vulnerable populations and socially marginalized groups are at higher risk of mortality due to COVID-19.

• Economic consequences of the pandemic are concentrated among the low wage earners, and segments of the labour force where racial and ethnic minorities are over-represented. 

• Skewed Rise in unemployment: Data from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) indicate shifts in employment and unemployment rates among different social groups.

• The proportion of employed Upper Castes(UC) dropped from 39% to 32% between December 2019 and April 2020. 
• For Scheduled Castes (SCs), the fall was from 44% to 24%. 
• For Scheduled Tribes (STs,) the fall was from 48% to 33%. 

• Unequal access to education: Parents of SC children would be much less equipped to assist their children with any form of home learning, compared to parents of upper-class children. 

• This is because of educational differences among parents as well as due to other significant differences in material conditions living.

• Digital Divide: The proportion of households with access to the Internet is 20% and 10% for UC and SC households, respectively. 

• Differential access to information technology will be critical in shaping access to online education if the pandemic forces schools to close for a substantial period of time.

Conclusion: Investments in education and health that close gaps between social groups would be essential to build resilience to overcome the impact of COVID-19.