The first wave of COVID-19 and self-help groups in India
This study explores how rural Indian households coped with food insecurity during and after the COVID-19 lockdown, based on phone interviews with 400 self-help group (SHG) members across 80 Gram Panchayats. Findings highlight the critical role of SHGs, government food aid, and cash transfers, while also revealing gaps in support and disruptions to healthcare services.
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Deshpande-et-al-Policy-Brief-July-2021.pdf
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- This study examines how households in India coped with food security during and after the COVID-19 lockdown.
- In collaboration with the NGO PRADAN, phone interviews were conducted with 400 self-help group (SHG) members in 80 different Gram Panchayats (GPs), including a baseline interview in June 2020 and nine bi-weekly interviews. Information was also collected from a local government officer and two health workers for each GP.
- Results support the importance of immediate and unconditional cash transfers to alleviate distress. Government assistance - depositing INR 500 in all Jan Dhan bank accounts and distributing free food - was not universal.
- SHGs helped their community in 70% of the GPs under study during lockdown. The most important support provided was food provision, food distribution by the government, and COVID-19 information campaigns.
- Unemployment guarantee schemes could particularly help the landless, as agricultural households employed fewer labourers than in previous years.
- Between February 2020 (pre-lockdown) and the subsequent months, the number of vaccinations given to children dropped 50%.
- Despite being promised a bonus, only a minority of healthcare workers received it.