As per report the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown to curb its spread has taken a major toll on companies, both large and small. From airlines and restaurants, from automobile makers to tech companies, nearly every industry is staring at massive losses due to the pandemic. This has gotten people worried about their job security and income. Daily wage earners are among the worst hit, with several factories and construction sites closing down.

 

Offering some respite and hope, several companies have promised not to lay off employees, while some have assured regular salaries. The government too has announced a series of measures in an attempt to protect the poor and those below the poverty line from suffering.But between all these people is a tiny sliver that has fallen through the cracks: Small entrepreneurs, most of who are self-employed individuals. From carpenters and beauticians to small store owners and freelancers, there are a large number of those running their own business. But with the lockdown, their income has come to a grinding halt.

 

Many of these businesses have been forced to shut shop amid the lockdown as they don’t classify as an essential service. Yet, they are entirely dependent on income from their work for their daily bread. These small business owners don’t classify as poor since many of them earn an income of around Rs 25,000-30,000 a month. And while they might be their own bosses, this income doesn’t cushion them from uncertainties such as the current pandemic. And even as the government announces measures for corporates, MSMEs and the poor, this lot that lies in the blur between the formal and informal sector, goes unnoticed. Not just the government, the bank OF INDIA' target='_blank' title='reserve bank of india-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>reserve bank of india too, announced a slew of measures such as a three-month moratorium on EMIs. 

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