🇮🇳 Expected Support from the Indian Government in Times of Crisis

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🗓️ March 23, 2020 — A Day That Changed India

No one could have anticipated that India would go into a complete 21-day lockdown (and eventually beyond) due to the sudden outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
This unprecedented situation, faced not only by India but by nations across the globe, brought life as we knew it to a standstill.

The crisis wasn’t limited to restrictions on movement or routine activity — it struck deeper, triggering a massive financial shock for people from daily wage earners to high-income professionals.

💰 The Financial Pause

When the economy stops, every household feels it.
While essential services like grocery and healthcare continued, almost every other business sector — retail, education, travel, entertainment, manufacturing — came to a grinding halt.
This meant millions of individuals, families, and small business owners suddenly found themselves without an income, yet with the same obligations:
rent, EMIs, salaries, utilities, and family expenses.

In such times, government support becomes not just helpful, but vital.

🇮🇳 What Should the Government Do?

In a country as diverse as India, the effects of a lockdown are uneven.
While farmers, daily wage earners, and senior citizens rightly deserve protection, there exists another vulnerable group that often gets overlooked — the lower-middle-class segment, especially those earning below ₹5 lakh per annum.

These are the individuals who:

  • Pay their taxes honestly,

  • Rarely evade financial obligations,

  • And yet, in crises, receive little direct support.

They are the silent backbone of the economy — contributing, complying, and sustaining themselves responsibly — and now, they too are struggling.

💡 The Need for Financial Relief

To help citizens weather such crises, the government could consider:

  • Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) of small emergency loans or grants based on verified income data.

  • Temporary tax reliefs or deferments for individuals and MSMEs in affected income brackets.

  • Utility bill moratoriums and rent support schemes for those in the low-to-middle-income range.

Such targeted, transparent support would not only stabilize families but also preserve consumer confidence — a key factor in reviving the economy post-crisis.

🌎 Learning from Global Examples

Countries like the United States introduced immediate cash benefits — for example, a $1,200 stimulus payment to citizens earning below $75,000 annually.
India could have mirrored a similar model — extending one-time financial assistance or short-term interest-free loans to individuals earning below ₹5 lakh per year.

This would have helped them meet immediate commitments and regain financial balance once their income resumed after lockdown.

🏡 Encouraging Work-from-Home Opportunities

The crisis also highlighted the importance of enabling people to earn from home.
Government-driven digital employment initiatives — in education, design, communication, data management, and skill-based services — could empower citizens to stay productive while maintaining safety.
Such long-term measures would future-proof India’s workforce and reduce dependency on physical work environments.

🌱 The Broader Vision

Every crisis is an opportunity for inclusive reform.
When government support reaches every income tier, it strengthens not only the economy but also public trust and unity.
Policies that address the needs of both the vulnerable and the aspiring will create a more balanced recovery.

A nation grows stronger not by how it protects a few, but by how it uplifts all.

💬 Final Thoughts

The pandemic tested every system — health, economy, and governance.
It reminded us that a compassionate, responsive government is the most powerful asset a nation can have.
By planning equitable financial support mechanisms, India can not only recover faster but emerge as a model of resilience for the world.

✍️ By Mrs. Deepalaxmi Bhat

Founder & Director – Samsiddhi Academy, Neermarga
Founder & Director – Shri Nandagokula Kala Kendra, Neermarga
Business Writer | Entrepreneur | Leadership & Strategy Mentor

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