According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), unemployment reached 27.52 per cent in the first week of May, up from 8.54 per cent in March before the lockdown.
On behalf of all Christian denominations, Card George Alencherry wrote to Kerala’s chief minister a few days ago, asking that worship resume in churches. But Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan refused fearing the spread of COVID-19.
The young girl covered about 100 km per day, reaching her village in 10 days. The man was left without a job due to an accident. The Cycling Federation has invited Jyoti to a selection for its own academy. The drama of many Indians who wander the country after losing their job due to the lockdown.
Mgr Jacob Muricken, auxiliary bishop of Palai, has decided to spend his life “in prayer, meditation, Bible studies and writing”. His decision “is not hating the world, but teaching men to look at the world in the right way, fixing our eyes only on God.”
The huts, which serve as quarantine hubs, are a concrete sign of interfaith cooperation. They are meant for internal migrants coming home after losing their jobs. In Konsakhul, Christian residents have handed out fresh vegetables to thousands of Hindus and Muslims in nearby towns. Christians in Assam are helping out.
The US$266-billion stimulus package leaves out the poorest 130 million Indians, as well as internal migrants who lost their job. Unemployment is also rising because of Indian workers returning from the Persian Gulf. The self-sufficiency sought by Modi is likely to irritate foreign investors.
Repatriation is forcing all levels of government to apply different mechanisms to deal with the COVID-19 threat. The federal government has set strict conditions, including a mandatory 14-day quarantine. The Catholic Church is doing great work helping returnees under quarantine.
According to Nobel laureate Abhijit Banarjee, a stimulus package large enough to increase spending and boost demand is needed. The revival of the economy will come from putting money in people's hands and the revival of demand. The Church in India is also very concerned about society and has done its part in collaboration with the authorities to reach out to the poor.
Kamlesh Meena, 25, traveled 200 km on foot to return to his village. But the inhabitants forced him to quarantine outside the town. The young man managed to survive thanks to everyone's help. Rajasthan has so far reported 3099 cases with 82 deaths.
Although agriculture has been declared an essential service and agricultural markets are exempted from the blockade, the supply chain has been severely affected, rail services are suspended and trucks face obstacles to move across state borders due to strict controls.
The lockdown was set to end on 4 May, but India’s central government extended it by another two weeks. The Kerala government has prepared ships as well as military and commercial planes for repatriation. Many migrant workers in the Gulf are suffering from the economic crisis that followed the collapse of oil prices. Returnees will be quarantined at government facilities.
In Kerala, the old Syro-Malabar diocese is especially helping internal migrants and rural communities during the lockdown. The Changanacherry Social Service Society reacted promptly to meet people's needs when the COVID-19 outbreak began.
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