Ensuring the welfare of people in distress

Hari Jaisingh

If Prime Minister Narendra Modi's establishment could mobilize air travels to bring back stranded students and NRIs from different parts of foreign countries, how come it could be so callous towards migrant workers belonging to the lower strata of society? Does this mean that the Modi government's personnel follow two sets of norms for the Indians in distress – one for the affluent and the other for the struggling working class? I know this assessment will never be accepted officially by the ruling class, which invariably swears by the poor and the needy. We also know that governance in India carries within it innumerable contradictions and they are very much part of the operative system here, even if this may not be reflective of the leaders' real intentions. Even otherwise, in today's India rulers cannot afford to be insensitive to the goings-on on the ground.
We still have in our midst different shades of poverty. To these varied patterns of deprivation, we could add postcoronavirus poverty shades, making India an enigma-wrapped poverty riddle. This has virtually neutralized all development efforts. The poor, of course, remain poor or have become poorer, joining the ranks of the poorest of the poor. The lower middle class is now seen to be knocking at the doors of poverty,

For the present, the Centre and the RBI have certainly announced some relief packages. These are welcome steps, but they are not good to fight coronavirus fallout to keep the economy going reasonably well.

though the authorities are apparently doing their best to arrest this drift towards poverty, but not so successfully so far!

The authorities need to realize that there is a strong link between eliminating poverty levels and providing work for all sections of society, particularly the working class. The plight of migrant workers is pitiable since they have been thrown out of their jobs after the Covid-19 lockdown.
Prime Minister Modi has worked out certain urgent measures to keep the shattered economy going. In his national address on March 24, the Prime Minister's speech lacked a "sense of realism" for the needy and the working population.
As per the 2018 data, India has 461 to 470 million workers. Most of them are working in the informal sector. In the existing atmosphere of uncertainties and the feeling of insecurity, the migrant workers started going back to their home states, with a blank look clearly written on their faces. The authorities did intervene, but their response system was lopsided and lacked a human touch. What is more, they had no clear idea about tackling the multi-dimensional problem firmly and decisively.

Ravi Srivastav My regret is that the Indian governments over the years have ignored Mahatma Gandhi's concept of "village republics".
Even Prime Minister Modi from Gujarat probably never had a close look at the concept of "village republics". Mercifully, the economy of "Bharat" will hopefully get some "life" with effect from April 20. We have to wait and watch. Here, the Centre ought to look at Kerala's adoption of localized and self-reliance measures which have been quite effective in dealing with one crisis after another, from floods to health emergencies of today.
The basic Panchayat system framework does exist in most of the states. But the overall system has not been properly geared up to meet the various complex situations.
For the present, the Centre and the RBI have certainly announced some relief packages. These are welcome steps, but they are not good to fight coronavirus fallout to keep the economy going reasonably well.
This cannot be done unless we see a massive mobilization of resources.
Also, critical to these tasks are the political will of our leaders at all levels – from the grassroots to upward.
Equally big area of concern is rural unemployment. The harvesting season is now at hand. But in the present shattered system there may not be enough farm hands available to do the job of harvesting.
As it is, the lockdown has badly hit many areas of the rural As expert Ravi Srivastav put it: "The agriculture sector is battered, the fisheries sector has been crippled and the animal husbandry segment is in a bad position. The impact on rural jobs is huge. At least 40 per cent of Indians are self-employed. But if we look closely, these selfemployed persons are cycle repairing shop-owners, paanwallahs. And we understand that they too are without work, but they do not fall in the unemployment calculations."
Srivastav is the Director of the Centre for Employment Studies at the Institute of Human Development, New Delhi.
What is the way out? Himanshu Srivastav, Associate Professor at JNU, says we can handle the situation in the rural economy if we give money to people to help revive the demand for goods and services. It has to be treated as a priority. This can be done through direct fund transfer schemes of the government. What is the point in bailing out companies, if "there is no demand for goods and services"? I agree with Himanshu. economy.

To check this process of social unrest, what is needed most is a sense of justice on the part of the authorities. We have to appreciate that the plight of the migrant labour and the unemployed is not an act of mercy but part of their legitimate rights.

He also points out that the migration of millions of workers from cities to villages during the past few weeks will potentially exacerbate the unemployment situation. In the circumstances, the Centre and state governments have to work together "to put in place a foolproof system for the entire rural ecosystem".
Otherwise, we could see phases of a social unrest.
To check this process of social unrest, what is needed most is a sense of justice on the part of the authorities. We have to appreciate that the plight of the migrant labour and the unemployed is not an act of mercy but part of their legitimate rights.
I am also happy to note that three weeks after its first package on March 23 for revival of the economy, the RBI on April 17 stepped in again to ensure liquidity and alleviate stress in segments where the economic pain is becoming acute – state finances, NBFC's micro-finance institutions, commercial real estate and housing. All these measures are aimed at catalyzing an increase in economic activity.
This is a very good step on the part of the RBI. It will boost credit supply in the system – and enhance liquidity. In the process, all relevant measures by the government should help small businesses, MSMEs, farmers and the poor.
However, the answer to India's Covid-19-related manifold complex problems lies in constantly evolving new concepts which must be sufficiently liberal and forward-looking and firmly committed to the uplift of the poor, farmers, small entrepreneurs, migrant workers and the overall underprivileged sections of society in the shortest possible time. Here the test has to be "what works best and what best serves the welfare of the people in the largest sense", as Prof John Kenneth Galbraith once put it. Finally, we have to keep our hopes alive and get going speedily in the right direction.



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I know this assessment will never be accepted officially by the ruling class, which invariably swears by the poor and the needy. We also know that governance in India carries within it innumerable contradictions and they are very much part of the operative system here, even if this may not be reflective of the leaders' real intentions. Even otherwise, in today's India rulers cannot afford to be insensitive to the goings-on on the ground. We still have in our midst different shades of poverty. To these varied patterns of deprivation, we could add postcoronavirus poverty shades, making India an enigma-wrapped poverty riddle. This has virtually neutralized all development efforts. The poor, of course, remain poor or have become poorer, joining the ranks of the poorest of the poor. The lower middle class is now seen to be knocking at the doors of poverty, The authorities need to realize that there is a strong link between eliminating poverty levels and providing work for all sections of society, particularly the working class. The plight of migrant workers is pitiable since they have been thrown out of their jobs after the Covid-19 lockdown. Prime Minister Modi has worked out certain urgent measures to keep the shattered economy going. In his national address on March 24, the Prime Minister's speech lacked a "sense of realism" for the needy and the working population. For the present, the Centre and the RBI have certainly announced some relief packages. These are welcome steps, but they are not good to fight coronavirus fallout to keep the economy going reasonably well. though the authorities are apparently doing their best to arrest this drift towards poverty, but not so successfully so far! The authorities need to realize that there is a strong link between eliminating poverty levels and providing work for all sections of society, particularly the working class. The plight of migrant workers is pitiable since they have been thrown out of their jobs after the Covid-19 lockdown. Prime Minister Modi has worked out certain urgent measures to keep the shattered economy going. In his national address on March 24, the Prime Minister's speech lacked a "sense of realism" for the needy and the working population. As per the 2018 data, India has 461 to 470 million workers. Most of them are working in the informal sector. In the existing atmosphere of uncertainties and the feeling of insecurity, the migrant workers started going back to their home states, with a blank look clearly written on their faces. The authorities did intervene, but their response system was lopsided and lacked a human touch. What is more, they had no clear idea about tackling the multi-dimensional problem firmly and decisively. Ravi Srivastav My regret is that the Indian governments over the years have ignored Mahatma Gandhi's concept of "village republics". Even Prime Minister Modi from Gujarat probably never had a close look at the concept of "village republics". Mercifully, the economy of "Bharat" will hopefully get some "life" with effect from April 20. We have to wait and watch. Here, the Centre ought to look at Kerala's adoption of localized and self-reliance measures which have been quite effective in dealing with one crisis after another, from floods to health emergencies of today. The basic Panchayat system framework does exist in most of the states. But the overall system has not been properly geared up to meet the various complex situations. For the present, the Centre and the RBI have certainly announced some relief packages. These are welcome steps, but they are not good to fight coronavirus fallout to keep the economy going reasonably well. This cannot be done unless we see a massive mobilization of resources. Also, critical to these tasks are the political will of our leaders at all levels – from the grassroots to upward. Equally big area of concern is rural unemployment. The harvesting season is now at hand. But in the present shattered system there may not be enough farm hands available to do the job of harvesting. As it is, the lockdown has badly hit many areas of the rural As expert Ravi Srivastav put it: "The agriculture sector is battered, the fisheries sector has been crippled and the animal husbandry segment is in a bad position. The impact on rural jobs is huge. At least 40 per cent of Indians are self-employed. But if we look closely, these selfemployed persons are cycle repairing shop-owners, paanwallahs. And we understand that they too are without work, but they do not fall in the unemployment calculations." Srivastav is the Director of the Centre for Employment Studies at the Institute of Human Development, New Delhi. What is the way out? Himanshu Srivastav, Associate Professor at JNU, says we can handle the situation in the rural economy if we give money to people to help revive the demand for goods and services. It has to be treated as a priority. This can be done through direct fund transfer schemes of the government. What is the point in bailing out companies, if "there is no demand for goods and services"? I agree with Himanshu. economy. To check this process of social unrest, what is needed most is a sense of justice on the part of the authorities. We have to appreciate that the plight of the migrant labour and the unemployed is not an act of mercy but part of their legitimate rights. He also points out that the migration of millions of workers from cities to villages during the past few weeks will potentially exacerbate the unemployment situation. In the circumstances, the Centre and state governments have to work together "to put in place a foolproof system for the entire rural ecosystem". Otherwise, we could see phases of a social unrest. To check this process of social unrest, what is needed most is a sense of justice on the part of the authorities. We have to appreciate that the plight of the migrant labour and the unemployed is not an act of mercy but part of their legitimate rights. I am also happy to note that three weeks after its first package on March 23 for revival of the economy, the RBI on April 17 stepped in again to ensure liquidity and alleviate stress in segments where the economic pain is becoming acute – state finances, NBFC's micro-finance institutions, commercial real estate and housing. All these measures are aimed at catalyzing an increase in economic activity. This is a very good step on the part of the RBI. It will boost credit supply in the system – and enhance liquidity. In the process, all relevant measures by the government should help small businesses, MSMEs, farmers and the poor. However, the answer to India's Covid-19-related manifold complex problems lies in constantly evolving new concepts which must be sufficiently liberal and forward-looking and firmly committed to the uplift of the poor, farmers, small entrepreneurs, migrant workers and the overall underprivileged sections of society in the shortest possible time. Here the test has to be "what works best and what best serves the welfare of the people in the largest sense", as Prof John Kenneth Galbraith once put it. Finally, we have to keep our hopes alive and get going speedily in the right direction.