Enduring pain

Decline in income and employment will increase hardship

The loss of life and livelihood continues to mount relentlessly. Health infrastructure, which anyway had very limited capacity, has been completely overwhelmed in different parts of the country. Consequently, state after state is imposing restrictions and lockdowns. Restrictions on public mobility are again affecting demand, supply, and incomes. The latest monthly economic review of the finance ministry notes the higher Covid caseload, deaths, and positivity rates present a challenge for the ongoing recovery. But it argues that the impact on economic activity is likely to remain muted compared to the first wave. The experience from other countries also shows a