On August 23, 2020, data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed that India’s Gross Domestic Product growth rate had contracted by 23.9% for the April to June quarter. In gross value-added terms, the economy had contracted by 22.8%, showed the data. The numbers quantified what was evident all around: the Indian economy is in the doldrums. Some economist says that it is because of the decline in job opportunities in the unorganized sector because of Lockdown.

Government has announced various packages for the unorganised sector, but its benefit is yet to be seen in the larger arena.

Caritas India through her different programmes are working to restore the livelihood of the affected communities based on their skills, and agriculture and allied sector activities. The support is provided for setting up income generation units for immediate income.

In Bihar, Caritas India Saksham programme through her partner Buxar Diocesan Social Service Society is supporting the most affected individuals to start their economic activities and strengthen their livelihood.

The present pandemic affected the earning of the daily wagers, although people have received some sort of entitlements in terms of dry ration from Government PDS shop, rations are not the only family need and they require cash to meet their essential expenditure. During these days there were no way or means of livelihood.

Sagar Ram, 43, a daily wage labourer from Buxar, Bihar struggled to manage his family. He used to work in the construction sector but with the announcement of Lockdown in March 2020, Sagar ram and several other labours lost their jobs.  They remained locked in their houses and consumed their small savings for living. For few days Sagar got Agri-based work in his village, though that was not a sustainable source, he managed to get some cash from this work.

Sagar ram is a member of farmers group, mostly belonging to small marginalized farming families of sharecroppers. From July onwards, Government had announced some relaxation, but it was not enough for wage labourers like Sagar. Meantime Caritas India’s COVID response programme decided to support people like sager to restore livelihood. In this regard a Small grant of Rs. 5000/- was supported on 27th August as start-up kit for livelihood restoration to Sagar. In Buxar, 95 people have been selected for support. Sagar started Pani Puri Shop with the given capital in the marketplace and now he started earning Rs. 200 to Rs. 250/- Per day.

Earlier, Ram was worried about the well-being of his family due to no livelihood, but now he is free from this worry. Sagar Ram’s self-confidence is strengthened.

Panna Devi from Chausa, Bihar also suffered a negative impact of the pandemic. Her husband, a daily wage earner too lost his job like other millions of labourers of Bihar. Several times she looked for livelihood opportunities, but this pandemic has severely affected rural economy especial those engaged in non-farm activities. Some farm labourers managed to get some earning during lockdown but for non-farm based labourers it was a distant dream.

To restore the family’s livelihood, Paana Devi got initial capital of Rs. 5000/- from the Saksham program and started a small grocery shop in her village. Though this small business is in the initial phase, she is relaxed that it will contribute to the family income. On average, every day she sells Rs. 500/- worth goods to the customers.

These small start-ups will support the marginalized families in restoring their economic activities in rural Bihar of Buxar Region. Like Sagar Ram and Panna Devi, 96 other individuals/families were supported under this livelihood promotion.