Page 23 - Issue 01

Next, the critical issue that we would like to focus on is the gap between rich and poor. Here again, there are

many dimensions, and all are vital components in explaining the change in gap. First, let’s talk about
students. All students, especially the younger ones, were given online instructions. But the poor were
constrained because of the lack of resources to receive lessons. Whereas people who were on the other end
of the income spectrum could arrange for the tailor-made private tuitions at home, and this was over and
above the formal training that they were receiving from their educational institution.

It is evident from the graph labeled; "Reason for not attending the class by Household Type", that it was the

poor who were scared badly. Many of them had to give up on education because of the lack of resources.

The pandemic gave a choice to work from home to those who were resourceful and skilled, but the others
who were already less privileged people were left without work. At times, for the sake of meeting basic
needs for their families they were forced to take up jobs which increased the threat of their getting infected
by the virus and transmitting it to their families.

However, not just poor but even the well-off people experienced the loss of job. Maybe, many businesses
were left unviable and had to be shut because of lack of demand. In fact, according to the data, people who
thought that they were highly well-off reported a higher percentage of job loss compared to the others.

20