Bengaluru, May 29: Seven out of ten (72 per cent) workers in Karnataka reported having lost their employment during the COVID-19-induced lockdown, according to findings of a survey by Azim Premji University, in collaboration with ten civil society organisations.
The university said in a statement it conducted "a detailed" phone survey of 5,000 workers across 12 states in the country, to gauge the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on employment, livelihoods, and access to government relief schemes.
The survey covered self-employed, casual, and regular wage and salaried workers and it released the findings for Karnataka on Thursday.
Seventy-six per cent of urban workers and 66 per cent of rural workers lost their employment, the survey findings said.
For non-agricultural self-employed workers and wage workers, who were still employed, average weekly earnings fell by two-third.
More than four in ten salaried workers (44 per cent) saw either a reduction in their salary or received no salary during the lockdown.
Six out of ten households reported that they did not have enough money to buy even a weeks worth of essential items, according to the survey.
Eight out ten households reported a reduction in food intake, while less than three in ten vulnerable households (27 per cent) in urban Karnataka received any form of cash transfer from the government, it said.
In summary, the disruption in the Karnatakas economy and labour markets is enormous. Livelihoods have been devastated at unprecedented levels during the lockdown.
The recovery from this could be slow and very painful, the statement said.
As a response to the findings of this survey, the team which has conducted the survey suggested a universalisation of the PDS to expand its reach and implementation of expanded rations for at least the next six months.
It suggested cash transfers equal to at least Rs.7000 per month for two months, and proactive steps like expansion of MGNREGA, introduction of urban employment guarantee, and investment in universal basic services, among others.
Taking a swipe at Modi for failing to bring back black money and for implementing demonetisation, Siddaramaiah termed the Modi government the most corrupt one. “Demonetisation is a big failure. More than 100 people have died trying to withdraw their own money standing in queues (in front of banks). Congress will launch a massive movement against demonetisation,” he said.
Comments
Do not call Note bandi as a failure .. It is required to check the bloody corrupt politicians .....Instead of talking in the air collect the information on black money of Modi or BJP leaders and pass it on IT officials , and make it public...
It is impotent Cong which brought Modi to such a position .... You reap what you sow.....If your previous cong govts were quick to take actions against the goondas of sangh Parivar in earlier days, we would not have seen such days ..... NO USE OF CRYING ON SPLIT MILK ....
hobalt watch yellintu siddu, ninu corrupt alva?
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