31 May 2020, NIICE Commentary 5144
Sakshi Bahuguna & Aditya Anshu
Diseases have always been a part of an individual’s existence. It is so encompassing that it transforms society and economy with distressing results. Sometimes, emergencies sweep through communities, categories, borders, etc. Instances like these bring attention back to the concept of welfare state. No matter whether a country follows a capitalist or non-capitalist model, problems like these demands to follow a welfare model as the well-being of the individual and economic growth becomes a priority. They become public goods as they affect society at large, and therefore require public intervention. But, what is striking to note here is that pandemic obstructs economic growth that in turn restricts government expenditure capacity too. What we are seeing is that the government still manages to generate funds by requesting or directing the employees to donate their one-day salary or sometimes by deducting some portion of allowances, etc. Further, pandemics like these also lead to losses at household level because it also reduces the income earning capacity. This leads to greater reliance on government for support just when the government too is managing somehow.  Vulnerable group comprises of women, economically weaker section, socially disadvantaged group like Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Denotified Tribes notified tribe, Persons with Disabilities, etc. However, this article looks at the impact of COVID-19 on women and economically weaker class which primarily comprise of migrant workers.
There is a direct link between health and economic development. Worse health contributes to lower level of growth which leads to worse health. This is true at the individual level as well as the national or international level. Health emergencies sometimes appear so suddenly that it becomes difficult for the common man to capture. It can also be said that circumstances doesn’t allow an individual to think in line as government is thinking. This argument can be seen with the migrant laboring class on road who has nothing else in mind but to reach their respective villages. Survival is the only reason that is pushing them to even risk their lives. This situation demands an approach that involves macroeconomics. The analysis at the macro level captures the reality at both levels. On the one hand, it talks about the factors such as education, health, agriculture, food items, etc., on the other hand, it talks about the overall economy.
To understand the position of the vulnerable groups, is the most important responsibility of the State. Apart from addressing the situation of medical emergency nationwide, it also needs to make sure that the subjugated ones don’t suffer anymore.
Though the tragic pandemic is being witnessed around the world, its impact on individual varies. It has put the vulnerable groups at more risk. On the one hand, the challenge that the disadvantaged section are facing are regarding the fulfillment of basic requirements. The migrants are on roads with no idea about their destination sometimes facing the repressive apparatuses of the state. But they have no alternative but to be on the endless journey. In this current situation, what they need is just to be with their families. Here, the institution of family is the only support system that one has. The support of the family, caring, nurturing is at no time more essential than it is in the context of epidemics or disasters. The institution of family is characterized by structures, relations, roles, communication, cohesiveness, emotional bonds, adaptability, coping, problem-solving, etc.
Another disadvantaged category is that of women. Usually crisis like these are challenging for everyone but they tend to become even more puzzling for vulnerable groups and even more perplexing and dangerous for women. When it comes to women, who are at home in this lockdown, their chores have not necessarily reduced. To some extent, there could be relative difference in the degree of work for women but overall the situation of women reflects their increased burden. Apart from increased household chores, if it’s a working woman, she has to perform her professional responsibilities too, in addition to household chores.
Apart from increased burden, other parameter that shows their sorry state is the increase in the number of domestic violence cases. Confined at home during lockdown is problematic for almost everyone but becomes even more challenging for female victims of domestic violence and gender-based violence. Lockdown around the world is witnessing a sudden increase in number of domestic violence. As reported by Guardian, in Hubei province of China, the heart of the initial Coronavirus outbreak, domestic violence reports to police more than tripled in one county alone during the lockdown in February, from 47 last year to 162 this year.
However, such violence, abuse and subjugation of the marginalized section are not a new phenomenon and we are not witnessing it for the first time. It’s a repeated pattern that emerges in the time of emergencies i.e. economic crisis, conflict situation, epidemics, etc. From a legal aspect, there have been demands for legislations or policy changes to address the increased risk to women and children in quarantine. It has also been proposed to evict the perpetrators from homes during the ongoing quarantine phase. Scholars argue that the cases of domestic violence tend to fall between working couples. Lockdown provides increased point of interaction between members as they have almost negligible physical access to the outside world. As staying at home, in crisis like these, is challenging for everyone; violence becomes a way for the man to assert his masculinity. The degree of atrocities will again differ on the basis of different classes. The current food insecurity, uncertainty, unemployment, pay cut creates a feeling of inadequacy, anxiety and frustration and it could also be a reason for ongoing domestic abuse. But it is the women who are facing the wrath of it.
Thus, one can argue that the miseries of the vulnerable groups have increased. The migrant labourers or workers is the group that have been hit the hardest economically and threat to women is the most obvious and initial side effect of the recent lockdown.
Role of Government/ NGOs
In this challenging time, the government advisory related to the precautionary measures amid of COVID-19 is at the top. The second challenge that the government is facing is in sphere of domestic violence not only India but all over the world. The helpline numbers have been increased; female officers have been allocated for this particular cause. But mere opening helpline number won’t solve the purpose, the need is to help such organizations or generate more mechanism that could cater to problems like these simultaneously. Need is to have a welfare state that provides not only basic services and maintains law and order, but also makes sure that within homes no one is suffering.
Role of Society
On part of the abused women, it will still be a challenge as majorly incidents like these remain under-reported. The National Commission of Women has appealed to women who are facing problems like these and to report about the same. The society should also realize that the problems of the victims of domestic violence are recognized and acceptable, so that the victims should not worry about what people will look at them.
Conclusion
The role of India as a welfare state has been mentioned in the Part IV of the Indian constitution under article 40 of Directive Principles of State Policy. This notion has been bolstered by the Supreme Court judgment which identifies Indian state as a welfare state as a basic structure doctrine. One of the key responsibilities of a welfare state is to look after those people who are unable to avail for themselves the minimal provisions for a good life. In this light we have examined the government’s attitude towards these vulnerable sections in the time of COVID -19 pandemic. We have observed that the government has taken some welfare initiatives for the vulnerable sections like women and economic weaker sections. The government interventions for the economic weaker sections which in India primarily work in the unorganized sector and works in the form of migrant workers. There are many such practices in other parts of South Asia. It is time for the counties to strengthen the law and make sure that these vulnerable groups do not suffer any more.
