Lockdown woes have added to the misery of demonetization woes. It seems demonetization woes sound better than the woes of walking all the way home during the nationwide lockdown.
Will the economic measures announced will bring back the normal lives of those poor people who are now left wondering what will happen in their future lives?
What is Lockdown
1. the confinement of prisoners to their cells for all or most of the day as a temporary security measure.
2. an emergency measure or condition in which people are temporarily prevented from entering or leaving a restricted area or building (such as a school) during a threat of danger
People all over the world were under a partial or complete lockdown. For more than twenty days, maximum population from different countries were forced to stay at home. Working from home may sound like a better option for employees who are feeling frustrated due to travelling more than an hour every day for work. But that can only be for a minimum number of days.
Just like a natural disaster that affected the lives of people, the outbreak of coronavirus has affected the healthy/normal lifestyle of thousands. Confirmed cases of Covid-19 around the world from different countries may vary.
Due to the lockdown, billions of people were affected and the health service sector has been struggling to provide better treatment to the affected. The reason for the lockdown was to avoid the spread of the virus. But it had affected the lives of people who were daily wagers.
Economic slow down had started and no one knew when the world would return to its healthy economic state. With all the schools and colleges closed, students missed their classes and their learning phase had been paused for a while.
Woes of walking started from my home. With a two-wheeler not in proper running condition, my husband was forced to walk fourteen kilometres up and down from home to the shop and from the shop to home. Every day turned out to be a nightmare if he failed to get a lift from some good souls. Sometimes he got a lift to cover half the distance and then walked the remaining distance to reach the shop.
Most of the days while returning home in the afternoon, he was forced to walk in the hot sun. He had to sit for a while at least in three spots on the way home. Looking tired and worn out, some good souls even offered him packed food and a bottle of water. It is good to realize still there are still good souls on this earth and compassion has not died out.
Migrant workers at our place decided to walk home. To escape from the pangs of hunger and bleak future, migrant workers had to decide walking home.
The nationwide lockdown had so far seen heart-wrenching stories of people who were left to the mercy of the almighty. The migrant workers who were already on the verge of breaking down due to hard life were now thrown at the mercy of their unlucky, ill-fated stars.
How did daily wagers cope with the sudden lockdown in 2021, especially with no transportation options?
During the 2021 lockdown, daily wagers faced immense hardships as public transportation shut down and they couldn’t afford private options. Many, like the migrant workers in the story, had to walk long distances—sometimes hundreds of kilometers—to reach their homes, battling hunger and uncertainty. For instance, the story mentions workers walking to escape a bleak future, highlighting their struggle to survive with no income and limited support.
What kind of support did people receive from strangers during the lockdown, and does that sense of compassion still exist today?
The story describes how “good souls” offered food and water to struggling individuals, like the husband who walked 14 kilometers daily and received help from passersby. In 2021, such acts of kindness were common as communities came together. In 2025, people might wonder if that compassion has endured, especially with economic recovery ongoing and social dynamics shifting post-pandemic.
How did the lockdown affect people’s mental health, especially those who had to walk long distances to work or home?
The lockdown took a toll on mental health, particularly for those like the husband in the story, who walked 14 kilometers daily in the hot sun, feeling exhausted and worn out. The constant stress of survival, lack of income, and physical fatigue likely led to anxiety and despair. In 2025, people might reflect on how such experiences shaped their resilience or left lasting emotional scars.
What lessons did we learn about economic preparedness from the lockdown’s impact on daily wagers and migrant workers?
The story highlights the economic slowdown and the plight of migrant workers left with no support, wondering about their future. In 2025, people might ask how governments and societies have improved economic safety nets. The lockdown exposed vulnerabilities for daily wagers, prompting discussions on better policies, emergency funds, and job security measures that might have been implemented since then.
How did the lockdown change the way we value essential workers, like those who had to keep working despite the risks?
Essential workers, like the husband in the story who walked to his shop daily to keep it running, were crucial during the lockdown but faced significant risks and hardships. In 2025, people might reflect on whether society now values these workers more—through better wages, working conditions, or recognition—compared to the lockdown days when their struggles were often overlooked.
Growing up in an environment enriched with colours of nature adorned with sounds of machines, I enjoyed life with all challenges. Nature is always a great teacher that teaches empathy to live and let live others. Though I am now living in an urban environment, the lesson that nature taught me motivates and allows me to keep on writing. I will always remember the cool afternoons in the shades of trees that made me write more on love.