One public hearing done in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh revealed countless stories of institutional tortures, burning of crops by forest officials, forceful land evictions, bribery, illegal arrests and slapping of fake cases against those who questioned the arrests or protested against general departmental tortures, denial of health care and children missing out on education.

40 case depositions were made covering the stories of 233 families.  Depositions show that 95% of the cases were problems people faced during a pandemic and those which got accentuated during the pandemic.

Chandauli disṭrict of Uttar Pradesh saw two public hearings.

Similar stories of agonising torture by different departmental officials, forceful evictions, denial of ration in the absence of proof of vaccination and denial of health care were revealed during these hearings. Chandauli also saw micro finance companies looting people in the absence of any kind of monitoring by the authorities.

15 case depositions were made covering the stories of 693 families. 53% of the cases were problems people faced during the pandemic and those which got accentuated during the pandemic.

One public hearing done in Manikpur town of Uttar Pradesh saw similar stories of abandonment by officials, denial of health care, joblessness, denial of payment under schemes like MGNREGA, denial of ration, forceful evictions.

One public hearing done in the Madanapalle city of Andhra Pradesh revealed that weaving works available were so low they had to rely on other jobs to make ends meet. Master weavers reduced amount for the weavers during the pandemic. This simultaneously resulted in an increased suicide rates among weavers which resulted in their partners struggling to fend for themselves. The community’s repeated request to the government for a Covid relief package which would also aide in limiting suicides were not paid any attention to by the government. Long working hours with minimal pay was another aspect they struggled with. This resulted in them having to take loans when one of their family members fell sick. The community also recalled how the government has not listened to their constant demands of GST exclusion, providing yarn at subsidised rates and controlling powerlooms. The education of kids was compromised during the pandemic as they struggled with access to digital devices and stable internet connection.

One public hearing done in the Chirala town of Andhra Pradesh revealed that during the pandemic and the lockdown, weaving works available were so low they had to rely on other jobs to make ends meet. Master weavers reduced amount for the weavers during the pandemic. This simultaneously resulted in an increased suicide rates among handloom weavers which resulted in their partners struggling to fend for themselves. The community’s repeated request to the government for a Covid relief package which would also aide in limiting suicides were not paid any attention to by the government. Long working hours with minimal pay was another aspect they struggled with. This resulted in them having to take loans when one of their family members fell sick. The community also recalled how the government has not listened to their constant demands of GST exclusion, providing yarn at subsidised rates and controlling powerlooms.  The education of kids was compromised during the pandemic as they struggled with access to digital devices and stable internet connection.

One public hearing done in the Pochampalle town of Andhra Pradesh revealed that weaving works available were so low they had to rely on other jobs to make ends meet. Master weavers reduced amount for the weavers during the pandemic. This simultaneously resulted in an increased suicide rates among handloom weavers which resulted in their partners struggling to fend for themselves. The community’s repeated request to the government for a Covid relief package which would also aide in limiting suicides were not paid any attention to by the government. Long working hours with minimal pay was another aspect they struggled with. This resulted in them having to take loans when one of their family members fell sick. The community also recalled how the government has not listened to their constant demands of GST exclusion, providing yarn at subsidised rates and controlling powerlooms. The education of kids was compromised during the pandemic as they struggled with access to digital devices and stable internet connection.

One public hearing done in Bhuapur village, Gaziabad, Delhi brought out stories of issues faced by waste pickers’ community during Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown.

Their narratives and tale of miseries ranged from no income during Covid-19 to decreased income since the pandemic leading to relying on private money lenders to merely sustain themselves and their families, increased debt, privatisation of waste management directly impacting their source of income and livelihood, having to pay to be able to collect waste or sweep, kids missing out on education and unhygienic working conditions.

They collectively demand strict implementation of Solid Waste Management Rule 2016, freedom from municipality contractors, water, electricity and toilets at workplace and a space to segregate waste.

One public hearing done in Bhalswa landfill, Delhi brought out stories of issues faced by waste pickers’ community during Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown.

Their narratives and tale of miseries ranged from no income during Covid-19 to decreased income since the pandemic leading to relying on private money lenders to merely sustain themselves and their families, increased debt, privatisation of waste management directly impacting their source of income and livelihood, having to pay to be able to collect waste or sweep, kids missing out on education and unhygienic working conditions.

They collectively demand strict implementation of Solid Waste Management Rule 2016, freedom from municipality contractors, water, electricity and toilets at workplace and a space to segregate waste.

One public hearing done in Gharoli, Delhi brought out stories of issues faced by waste pickers’ community during Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown.

Their narratives and tale of miseries ranged from no income during Covid-19 to decreased income since the pandemic leading to relying on private money lenders to merely sustain themselves and their families, increased debt, privatisation of waste management directly impacting their source of income and livelihood, having to pay to be able to collect waste or sweep, kids missing out on education and unhygienic working conditions.

They collectively demand strict implementation of Solid Waste Management Rule 2016, freedom from municipality contractors, water, electricity and toilets at workplace and a space to segregate waste.

One public hearing conducted in Kalkaji DDA Park shed light on the issues faced by street vendors during the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.
Their narratives ranged from loss of livelihood, reduced income, increased debts, and harassment by officials. Even before the pandemic, their earning was minimal, and it worsened since the pandemic as their income faced a 70% reduction. Owing to the loss of livelihood, they had to resort to borrowing money from friends, relatives, moneylenders, etc. Many of them also resorted to selling assets to meet family expenses

In the community, not many contracted the virus, and those who did, duly recovered. While they weren’t afraid of the virus, they did struggle with the policy implementation that was established to battle the same.

Vendors including Town Vending Committee members demanded the strict implementation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014.

Arya Samaj Mandir, near Rajendra metro station - One public hearing conducted in Arya Samaj Mandir shed light on the issues faced by street vendors during the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.

Their narratives ranged from loss of livelihood, reduced income, increased debts, and harassment by officials. Even before the pandemic, their earning was minimal and it worsened since the pandemic as their income faced a 70% reduction. Owing to the loss of livelihood, they had to resort to borrowing money from friends, relatives, moneylenders, etc. Many of them also resorted to selling assets to meet family expenses.

In the community, not many contracted the virus, and those who did, duly recovered. While they weren’t afraid of the virus, they did struggle with the policy implementation that was established to battle the same.

Vendors including Town Vending Committee members demanded the strict implementation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014.

Community Centre, Kasturba Nagar, Jwala Nagar - One public hearing conducted in Kasturba Nagar shed light on the issues faced by street vendors during the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.

Their narratives ranged from loss of livelihood, reduced income, increased debts, and harassment by officials. Even before the pandemic, their earning was minimal and it worsened since the pandemic as their income faced a 70% reduction. Owing to the loss of livelihood, they had to resort to borrowing money from friends, relatives, moneylenders, etc. Many of them also resorted to selling assets to meet family expenses.

In the community, not many contracted the virus, and those who did, duly recovered. While they weren’t afraid of the virus, they did struggle with the policy implementation that was established to battle the same.

Vendors including Town Vending Committee members demanded the strict implementation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014.