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State of Working India 2021: one year of Covid-19

This report released on May 5, 2021 by the Azim Premji University investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted vulnerable households, whether the policy measures enacted thus far were effective, and what more can be done. Earnings of 230 million Indians fell below national minimum daily wage of during the first wave revealed the report 

This report documents the impact of one year of Covid-19 in India, on jobs, incomes, inequality, and poverty. It also examines the effectiveness of policy measures that have thus far been undertaken to offer relief and support. Finally, it offers some policy suggestions for the near and medium-term future. When the pandemic hit, the Indian economy was already in the most prolonged slowdown in recent decades. On top of this, there were legacy problems such as a slow rate of job creation and lack of political commitment to improving working conditions which trapped a large section of the workforce without access to any employment security or social protection.

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