AGARTALA, May 15 (TIWN): Poverty and Coronavirus go parallelly though the "poverty" issue does not get much highlights in the mainstream media. Although the Govt has assured free rationing for the poor but the reality as per the need is much harsh. Talking to the daily workers today in Battala Gol Chakkar, Agartala, it has been known that the workers are already undergoing severe crisis as nobody is giving them works even after they are following Covid guidelines, wearing masks. Talking to a daily worker there, he told TIWN that since morning they are in wait for works but not a single person came to them to offer works, though the time is 10. 30 am. Many times, without getting a single work, the workers are returning home and as a result the vehicle fares also can't be earned in whole day which they have to spend for everyday travel in search of works.

A 60 years aged old man said, "Even though I deserve an allowance but Govt does not give me allowance. No help indeed I received from the Govt in the Covid crisis. With family, we are facing tremendous crisis to manage two times meals and if Lockdown happens, we will simply die without food".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l58swE60BLQ TIWN YouTube Video May 15, 2021

As per national media of India report, 'Tens Of Millions Plunge Into Poverty In Covid-Hit India'.

A study conducted by the Pew Research Center, a US-based think tank, indicated that the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic may have doubled poverty in India.

According to the study, based on World Bank projections of economic growth, income levels in India dropped sharply for a large part of the population after the nationwide lockdown. The pandemic disrupted almost all industries last year, resulting in massive job losses across the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

The Pew Research warned that the actual situation may be worse than estimated. 

“If the Covid-19 recession has worsened inequality, the increase in the number of poor is likely greater than estimated in this analysis, and the decrease in the number who are high income is likely less than estimated. The middle class may have shrunk by more than projected,” it said.