The Inequality Virus—India Supplement 2021 of the Oxfam Report By Savvy Soumya Misra & Tejas Patel https://www.oxfamindia.org/press-release/inequality-virus-india-supplement-2021
India’s 100 billionaires have seen their fortunes increase by Rs 12,97,822 crores since March 2020, enough to give every one of the 138 million poorest Indian people a cheque for Rs 94,045 each. Ambani earned during the pandemic would keep the 40 crore informal workers that are at risk of falling into poverty due to COVID-19 above the poverty line for at least 5 months.
Out of a total 122 million who lost their jobs 75 percent, which accounts for 92 million jobs, were lost in the informal sector.
Health Inequalities: Only 6 percent of the poorest 20 percent has access to non-shared sources of improved sanitation, compared to 93.4 percent of the top 20 percent. 59.6 percent of India’s population lives in a room or less. India has the world’s fourth lowest health budget in terms of its share of government expenditure. If India’s top 11 billionaires are taxed at just 1% on the increase in their wealth during the pandemic, it will be enough to increase the allocation of Jan Aushadi Scheme by 140 times, which provides affordable medicines to the poor and marginalized.
Health Expenses Pushed 55 Million Indians Into Poverty In 2011-12 https://www.indiaspend.com/health-expenses-pushed-55-million-indians-into-poverty-in-2017-2017/
90% Of India’s Poorest Have No Health Insurance https://www.health-check.in/90-of-indias-poorest-have-no-health-insurance/ Indians, especially those in rural India, have limited access to healthcare services such as doctors and hospitals, they are less likely to buy health insurance. the pool of people who are able and willing to pay for insurance is low, and insurance premiums are high, said Amir Ullah Khan, a health economist.
the poor are less likely to avail of hospitalisation. since they can’t afford to pay for healthcare, the poor postpone seeking treatment which, in case of diseases like tuberculosis, cancer, etc. turn serious and more expensive to treat,”
For earlier documentation and Conversations on COVID, see http://emeets.lnwr.in/index.php/covid