The government has to design a comprehensive social protection plan for covering those who lost all their financial resources after the death of the only bread earner.
The Central government wanted employers to protect the interest of workers, specifically nursing mothers during the ongoing pandemic time under Section 5(5) of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017. It has sent an advisory to all the States and Union Territories to encourage work-from-home. It can be construed as the government’s preparation for facing the much feared third wave of the pandemic. The work protection measures also include encouraging employers to retain nursing mothers’ employment. Nevertheless, the concern of many workers who have already lost their jobs can hardly be addressed unless closed companies are given a new lease of life. Millions have lost their jobs. Many poor people face uncertainties over the loss of their only bread earners in the pandemic. These families have none to support but are destined to live at the mercy of kind-hearted people. Lifetime mercy by the hand-hearted people cannot be a total protection for them. The government should not overlook this segment of people, but design a social scheme so that they are rehabilitated from the misery they fell in.
