Vinod Wankhale from Buldhani lives with his wife, son and two daughters. Belonging to the Dalit community and having read widely about Dalit discrimination he was inspired to work for there rights. He wants to work on stories about povery and education. He says: ‘From my interaction with the community I feel that the community has not benefited from government…

Vinod Wankhede

Share

Unemployment is a major issue for daily wage workers who have been left with almost no work to support their families in times of Coronavirus pandemic. Madhukar Harmkar, a 60-year old daily wage worker in Maharashtra's Pimpalgaon Kale had no work since the lockdown was enforced. His health was also not well that would enable him to find any available odd jobs. Madhukar's 15-year-old son Gopal, who had left studies when he was 12 years old, used to help him in earning for the household. But since the lockdown, Gopal had no work either.

Madhukar, who is married to two women, could not support his family in these uncertain times and hung himself. Now all the responsibility to support the family is on the teenager Gopal, who manages to find some work bringing in Rs. 100. But work coming in isn't regular and the wages aren't enough to feed the whole family.

Gopal's mother, Madhukar's first wife is an arthritis patient and cannot work. Apart from Gopal and his mother, the family has Madhukar's second wife and his two daughters from her, taking the total number of members to five.

Video Volunteers community correspondent Vinod Wankhade appeals to the Maharashtra government and public service organisations to support the family in these testing times.