Lockdown Impact of COVID-19 on Workers in the Unorganized Sector: Special Reference to Aurangabad City

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected workers in India’s unorganized sector, particularly in rapidly urbanizing cities such as Aurangabad. As the nationwide lockdown halted economic activities, informal workers experienced immediate and extreme livelihood shocks. This study examines the socio-economic, health-related, and migration-induced challenges faced by unorganized sector workers during the 2020 lockdown. Using a descriptive research design, primary data were collected from 200 respondents representing 10 occupational categories, including rickshaw pullers, domestic helpers, construction workers, industrial labourers, street vendors, and hawkers. Data were gathered through a structured interview schedule and analyzed through simple percentages and graphical presentations.

Findings reveal that 82% of workers suffered substantial income loss, and 76% reported complete or partial job disruption during the lockdown period. A significant proportion (89%) lacked formal social security or institutional protection, exposing them to further vulnerability. The study also highlights heightened psychological distress, with 64% of respondents reporting anxiety, fear of infection, or mental imbalance due to livelihood uncertainty. Migration-related hardships were widespread, as many workers faced food shortages, absence of transport, and long-distance walking to reach their native places.

The study concludes that the pandemic magnified the structural vulnerabilities of India’s informal workforce and exposed critical gaps in urban social protection systems. It emphasizes the need for targeted welfare interventions, portable social security benefits, emergency cash transfers, and urban employment guarantee schemes to safeguard informal workers during future crises.