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Pandemic, informality, and vulnerability: impact of COVID-19 on livelihoods in India

Kesar, Surbhi; Abraham, Rosa; Lahoti, Rahul; Basole, Amit; Nath, Paaritosh

Authors

Rosa Abraham

Rahul Lahoti

Amit Basole

Paaritosh Nath



Abstract

We analyze findings from a large-scale survey of around 5000 respondents across 12 states of India, conducted during the months of April and May 2020, to study the impact of COVID-19 pandemic containment measures (lockdown) on employment, livelihoods, and food security. Given the predominantly informal nature of employment and critically low investment in State-funded social security nets, the impact, albeit unprecedented in its scale, was not entirely unexpected in its nature. We find that around two-thirds of respondents reported losing employment during the lockdown, and those that continued to be employed witness a sharp decline in earning. Further, with critically low levels of social security net, the loss in employment quickly translated into food and livelihoods insecurity. Almost 80 per cent of households experienced a reduction in food intake, more than 60 per cent did not have enough money for a week’s worth of essentials, and a third took a loan to cover expenses during the lockdown. We also use a set of logistic regressions to identify how employment loss and reduction in food intake varied with individual and household-level characteristics. Based on our analysis, we argue that while there is an urgent need to undertake effective measures to support livelihoods and facilitate an economic recovery, we also highlight the necessity to critically evaluate the current development trajectory, whereby decades-long high economic growth has failed to translate into more secure livelihoods for a vast majority of the workforce.

Citation

Kesar, S., Abraham, R., Lahoti, R., Basole, A., & Nath, P. (2021). Pandemic, informality, and vulnerability: impact of COVID-19 on livelihoods in India. Canadian Journal of Development Studies, 42(1/2), 145-164. https://doi.org/10.1080/02255189.2021.1890003

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 5, 2021
Publication Date Mar 1, 2021
Deposit Date Nov 4, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 2, 2121
Journal Canadian Journal of Development Studies
Print ISSN 0225-5189
Electronic ISSN 2158-9100
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 42
Issue 1/2
Pages 145-164
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/02255189.2021.1890003
Keywords COVID-19, informality, employment, food security, India
Publisher URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02255189.2021.1890003
Related Public URLs https://cse.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/publications/pandemic-informality-and-vulnerability-impact-of-covid-19-on-livelihoods-in-india/
Additional Information Data Access Statement : Figures and data can be accessed alongside the article.

Files

This file is under embargo until Mar 2, 2121 due to copyright reasons.

Contact outputs@soas.ac.uk to request a copy for personal use.




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