A DEARTH of work and an absence of support from authorities, coupled with a fresh increase in goods prices, amidst the ongoing curfew has made lives of low-income people, especially day labourers, unbearable. The government imposed curfew at midnight past July 19 after at least 112 people were killed in July 16–19 in the student movement over quota reforms in civil service jobs. The curfew has compounded the hardship of the poor and low-income people, already under pressure of persistent food inflation. Day labourers, who live hand to mouth, are reported to have been without work for a few days. On normal days, day labourers typically gather at floating markets to get hired, which they cannot do now as the curfew is in force. Moreover, all works that day labourers usually do have come to a complete halt. The situation is also dire for thousands of transport workers, street vendors and rickshaw pullers. Transport workers, who earn based on daily trips, are totally without job as all public transports the curfew has taken then off the road.
Street vendors are also left without income as they cannot open their shops. Some vendors, who sell betel leaves, fruit, vegetables and other perishable items, go to the streets with their items when the curfew is relaxed for two to three hours. But the earning has not been enough to meet their daily needs. Rickshaw pullers are also in a tight spot as they cannot come out on the streets and even when they do, they hardly get passengers. Most of these poor people also cannot seek financial help from relatives and friends as the internet blackout has stopped mobile financial services. What has also added to their suffering is a fresh increase in goods prices. Prices of essential goods have gone up largely because of a supply shortage created by the suspension of transport. Although goods transport is outside the purview of the curfew, transport owners, traders and producers are unwilling to take the risk of being humiliated on roads in carrying goods to the market and back. Traders say that vegetables supply has almost halved and prices have almost doubled while the supply of items with enough stock on the wholesale market has also largely halted.
The authorities must realise that there are millions who depend on their daily income to make their ends meet and the curfew has hit them the hardest. The fresh increase in prices, as a result of the curfew, has exacerbated their situation. The authorities must, therefore, support the low-income people and withdraw the curfew at the earliest.