May 9, 2021
After dipping into his savings to weather India’s snap pandemic lockdown last March, Manoj Kumar was just getting his head above water again earning 600 rupees ($8) a day as a construction worker in the tourist hot spot of Goa.
He had squirreled away enough for a trip last month to his native village in Bihar some 2,400 kilometers away for a wedding. He’s still there, stuck in one of the nation’s least developed states, as a fierce second COVID-19 wave triggers the world’s worst health crisis and prevents his return. On a lucky day, he’ll land some odd jobs that fetch him as much as 300 rupees. But there aren’t too many of those chores left. So he’s taking loans to feed and clothe his wife and three kids.
Read more about Tens of millions on the fringes sink into poverty as Covid wrecks India on Business Standard. The government estimates India s gross domestic product shrank 8 per cent in the year ended March, its biggest contraction since 1952
Tens of millions plunge into poverty in Covid-ravaged India
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Tens of millions plunge into poverty in Covid-ravaged India
Bloomberg / Updated: May 9, 2021, 19:50 IST
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Unprotected by unions and politicians, migrant laborers often miss out on handouts from governments. (Reuters Photo)
After dipping into his savings to weather India’s snap pandemic lockdown last March, Manoj Kumar was just getting his head above water again earning Rs 600 a day as a construction worker in the tourist hotspot of Goa.
He’d squirreled away enough for a trip last month to his native village in Bihar some 1,490 miles away for a wedding. He’s still there, stuck in one of the nation’s least developed states, as a fierce second Covid-19 wave triggers the world’s worst health crisis and prevents his return. On a lucky day, he’ll land some odd jobs that fetch him as much as Rs 300. But there aren’t too many of those chores left. So he’s taking loans t
NEW DELHI (BLOOMBERG) - After dipping into his savings to weather India s snap pandemic lockdown last March, Mr Manoj Kumar was just getting his head above water again, earning 600 rupees (S$10) a day as a construction worker in the tourist hot spot of Goa.
He d squirrelled away enough for a trip last month to his native village in Bihar some 2,400km away for a wedding. He s still there, stuck in one of the nation s least-developed states, as a fierce second Covid-19 wave triggers the world s worst health crisis and prevents his return.
On a lucky day, he ll land some odd jobs that fetch him as much as 300 rupees. But there aren t too many of those chores left. So he s taking loans to feed and clothe his wife and three kids.
After dipping into his savings to weather India’s snap pandemic lockdown last March, Manoj Kumar was just getting his head above water again earning 600 rupees ($8) a day as a construction worker in the tourist hotspot of Goa. He’d squirreled away enough for a trip last month to his native village in Bihar some 1,490 miles away for a wedding. He’s still there, stuck in one of the nation’s least developed states, as a fierce second Covid-19 wave triggers the world’s worst health crisis and prevents his return. On a lucky day, he’ll land some odd jobs that fetch him as much as 300 rupees. But there aren’t too many of those chores left. So he’s taking loans to feed and clothe his wife and three kids.