Enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated existing issues of poverty and hunger. Explain.

Prior to pandemic - existing issues: - Poverty estimated around 21.7% of India's population. - High inequality with about 5.7% of India's population controlling 60% of India's wealth. Hunger Issues: - 51.7% of adolescent girls anaemic - Malnutrition and Hidden Hunger - Morbidity was also higher Role of pandemic - its exacerbation: (1) With respect to poverty + hunger: Informal nature of economy - effect of 3 months long lockdown leading to job loss and constriction of gap. - Income loss - more vulnerable to income shocks.

i Unfavourably affecting most vulnerable sectors - a Influx of migrant workers and pandemic ii Health morbidity and high health care spending - Out of pocket expenditure and increase of poverty - Income insecurity - Vicious cycle: Hunger - Poverty - High health spending - Morbidity iv Concentration of wealth - Increased inequality according to Oxfam report; Top 10 wealthiest people wealth multiplied 10 times. v Negated impact on dependent section especially children, women and senior citizen. - Instances where women, senior citizen were abandoned in streets. vi Poor accessibility to Basic necessities - of Food Compounded by reduced affordability due to health spending.

This covid pandemic has undone two decades of success wrt poverty. Government measures during pandemic: (1) PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana - Providing Free Food grains to BPL families. (2) Increased allocation to Food and MGNREGA - even claim was there for MGNREGA in urban areas (Job and privilege security) (3) One nation - one ration card - portability of benefit to migrant workers. (4) Increase Health care spending and support. To attain Goal-1 and Goal-2 under Sustainable development goals (Zero Hunger and Zero poverty) - Inclusively and 'Human development' is must to further insure against future shocks life pandemic.