Food security evades labourers following job loss during COVID-19 lockdown

Large sections of the poor were pushed to food rationing, cutting down on milk, meat and even vegetables, which was the finding of at least two studies

Anwar Khan from West Bengal stays in a labour camp at Hebbal and does odd jobs for a livelihood. The lockdown has been tough on his family and others living in the camp, pushing them to the brink of starvation on many days. “We cut down on meals and ate only twice a day to conserve whatever little ration we had. Then, an NGO started giving us meals and some dry ration. But they stopped on Sunday, as the city was unlocked. But we are yet to find jobs. The little ration we have will probably last for another three days,” he told The Hindu. Large sections of the poor were pushed to food rationing, cutting down on milk, meat and, in some cases, even vegetables, threatening nutrition security during the lockdown, which was the finding of at least two studies – ‘No Country for Workers’ by Stranded Workers Action Network (SWAN) and ‘Workers in the Second Wave’ by AICCTU, Karnataka. The situation is expected to be grim even with unlocking on June 21.