COVID-19 forced vulnerable Indian households into ‘impossible choices’: Study

Researchers from Lancaster University and the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, found that COVID-19 pushed some Indian households into difficult coping strategies, forcing trade-offs between immediate survival and long-term stability. Circular or recent migrant workers and daily wage-dependent families were among the hardest hit, with limited alternative support systems available. Government support through the Public Distribution System and local social networks played a crucial role in helping households cope with the crisis, particularly those with limited access to alternative income sources.