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Marxist Approach: The Corona Pandemic

“Child care options, internet access and extra living space leave a gulf between rich and poor in coping with disruptions to school and work.” (NYT). 

There is a general agreement that the standard of living has improved world over in the last century. Arguably, Capitalism has brought millions out of poverty and continues to do so. The agreement takes root from the fact that; in the pre-industrial world, vast majority of the human species lived at subsistence level. Industrialization has led to prosperity and well-being which are evident in the improved standard of living around the world. However, the capitalist forces draw flak from a variety of critics. Among them, Marxists make the most promising arguments, delving deep into the problems the present day capitalist world order faces. Marxists argue; the prosperity gained out of the industrial revolution has not been distributed ‘legitimately’.
The statement from NYT mentioned above directs our attention towards a number of problems that continue to ail the world at large and the poor in particular. Under the light of scrutiny are issues including child care options, access to internet and living space. The issues demand special attention during the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak which has taken toll on over hundred thousand lives all over the world leaving 1.7 million infected till April 11, 2020. The Pandemic has caused disruptions to school/college going individuals as well as the working class. With almost one-thirds of the global population under lockdown, Covid-19 has brought normal life to a halt.
Evidently, the poor of the world are worst affected. With negligible savings to fall back upon, it has become an issue of survival. Daily wagers have lost their only source of income. The gap between the rich and poor has come to the fore more than ever before. The rich have the luxury and means to work from the comfort of their homes. On the other hand, the poor depend on charity and welfare schemes. It is a phenomenon evident world over. The possibility of large populations going hungry is very real.
With limited resources at their disposal, the public education system even at its primary stage is in dire straits. Privileged students enrolled in high-end private educational institutions have the capacity to continue attending classes through online media. However, when it comes to the under-funded public schools, such facilities are rare. The situation is even more critical in the case of the third-world countries such as India. In such a situation, the gap between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat widens. Furthermore, the Pandemic has shown how easily the means of Social Mobility can be taken away from the underprivileged.
With the fear of community spread, authorities around the world look forward to limiting people to their homes. Nevertheless, for the poor, that remains a bleak proposition. With no homes to go to, millions have been stranded either under the sky or in the ill-managed government make-shift homes for the homeless. The images of the homeless on roads have come from all over the world. However, the most disappointing images were of the exodus of migrant workers on the borders of the Indian capital, New Delhi.
While for the privileged with access to uninterrupted internet connection, adequate food supplies and comfortable accommodation to live in, the lockdown may be not be a problem, however, for those helpless to live in cramped spaces and dingy lanes with no escape, the lockdown is a force to reckon with. The Pandemic has underlined the deep crevices between the rich and the poor that have always existed but went unnoticed.
Notwithstanding, It is debatable to say a similar situation exists globally. Obviously, there are prosperous regions in world that are better equipped to handle this situation. Arguably, the discussed gaps exist in every society of the world but the underdeveloped regions of the world are the ones most exposed to them.

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