Normalcy a distant dream for them

Daily wage workers, small businessmen still reeling under pandemic impact

Ever since COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic and both the Union and State governments had implemented a series of measures, including a stringent lockdown, the lives of all, ranging from small businessmen to frontline workers and from health workers to corporate executives, have changed. "Life has never been the same, since we started working during the pandemic. Before COVID-19, our life was hard but it was tension-free. With the arrival of coronavirus, it has become harder and stressful. We are leading a life full of uncertainties and are putting our family members at risk too. But now, after taking the vaccine, we have gained some confidence," says Ashalata, a staff nurse at a government hospital, which was identified as category-A COVID hospital. Duty hours were not only longer and stressful, but the fear of getting infected was high among almost all health workers.