Disabled husband, debts and loss of job

With repeated lockdowns being imposed by governments to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, coping with economic distress apart from impending health hazards, has proved to be difficult for many

With repeated lockdowns being imposed by governments to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, coping with economic distress apart from impending health hazards, has proved to be difficult for many, including Kaushalya Devi, a domestic help. As the sole breadwinner of the family, losing jobs when the nationwide lockdown was imposed last year, looking out for new work, ensuring the family’s safety and reeling under debt, she had to fend off multiple setbacks simultaneously. “When the lockdown was announced last year, I lost work in one of the houses where I worked. It was also the place where I earned a chunk of my income. Losing that job meant that I was literally surviving on less than half of what I used to earn earlier. It took me almost six months before I found a replacement,” said Ms. Devi.