The lockdown during the pandemic affected the livelihood of lakhs of migrant workers and daily wage labourers, and despite the initiatives taken by the state and central governments, many haven't had access to the benefits. The findings of a recent study on the status of the urban poor by Save The Children, India (STCI), a non-profit organisation, indicated that less than 30 per cent of the participants received relief in the form of ration, and only 4 per cent got cash transfers. 

The survey, that was conducted last month, involved the responses of 1,703 participants from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune and New Delhi (986 participants were from MMR) from the marginalised sections of society. While 40 per cent of the participants were daily wage workers, 42 per cent worked in the informal sector (drivers, house help, cooks) and the rest work in private companies and government departments. All the participants were in a financially vulnerable state prior to the pandemic, and the extended lockdown has increased their food and cash insecurity.