“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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