We first present descriptive evidence highlighting the disadvantage faced by the SC in the above three realms – living conditions, economic status and prejudice – by comparing SC to ‘the General Category’ the collection of groups that are top of the caste hierarchy. First, their low social status forces them to live in conditions that put them at high risk of acquiring COVID-19 and other diseases second, their poor economic status makes them particularly vulnerable to the economic crisis induced by the pandemic third, the atmosphere of uncertainty and fear stemming from COVID-19 may lead to a surge in stigma and mistrust, aggravating existing discrimination against such groups. The SC are vulnerable for three main reasons. We focus on one such group called the Scheduled Castes (SC). In the context of India, we believe the pandemic particularly endangers individuals belonging to the traditionally socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. It can exacerbate longstanding inequities between groups and leave marginalized groups in a vulnerable position preliminary evidence from the UK and US suggest that racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to be affected negatively, both on the health, as well as the economic dimension. The current unraveling COVID-19 pandemic poses severe challenges not only in the realm of health, but also for economic and social systems around the globe.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |