The analysis of unparalleled struggle for existence of urban women informal workers in West Bengal, India for survival and resilience to COVID-19 pandemic risk.

Abstract

An unparalleled struggle has been witnessed among the urban women informal workers of Midnapore and Kharagpur cities in West Bengal, India. Many researchers have advocated and are advocating about the deadly impact of COVID-19 pandemic situation on the women informal workers but very few were concentrated on their coping capabilities. These women in the study area have set an example before others that how can one survive her livelihood in the time of critical situation. Despite all the hardships they have been fighting their own lonely battle not only against this situation but also a lot of serious threats like insecurity, low resources and low standard of living. This study mainly highlights the measures taken by these poor women to cope with this situation for the survival of their families along with the external supports provided for them. This is strictly a perception based study conducted among 500 women selected by purposive sampling procedure across age, ethnicity, income and educational level during unlock phases with the help of semi-structured and open ended questionnaire schedule. The result reveals that although their capabilities and efforts to cope with this devastating situation are praiseworthy but it is a hard reality that this pandemic put its evil imprint in every step of their daily livelihoods. The various measures have already been taken by the government but, these measures have to be continued till the situation will become normal along with gender sensitive long term benefit.