Safety Nets Cushioned Poor From Lockdown Blow: Survey

The economic safety nets provided by the government, including the world’s largest free food programme, direct cash transfers and relief measures for small businesses had helped overcome to a large extent the impact of one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, according to the Economic Survey.

New Delhi: It said that the government had recognised that lockdowns and quarantines disrupt economic activity and had quickly put in place the economic safety nets to cushion vulnerable sections of the population.

“The Reserve Bank of India simultaneously provided monetary support to the economy. Many of these safety net provisions continued during the second wave and have been extended further. This was combined with a paid ramp up of the vaccination programme,” according to the Survey.