WPC organised a webinar on “Impact of COVID-19 on Marginalised Women: Dalit, Muslim and Adivasi/Tribal Women” on June 19, 2020. The panellists for the webinar were Ms Shabnam Hashmi, Feminist Activist, Advocate Shahrukh Alam and Advocate Lara Jesani. This webinar provided a platform for discussing how the issues of stigma and discrimination exacerbated among marginalized communities during the lockdown period in India. The Webinar was moderated by Ms. Gayatri Sharma, Programme Director, WPC. Background While Covid-19 has harmed all women in terms of increase in domestic violence, human trafficking and early marriages of girls, the impact will be more sever on marginalised women; specifically, Muslim, Dalit and Adivasi women. Social and economic disadvantages are growing along with the coronavirus as the country struggles with the economic fallout of the pandemic. Lack of access to medical support, stigma, beliefs that lower caste / class people are “dirty” and more likely to spread the virus will all contribute to greater challenges for marginalised women. Communities that are less likely to access medical facilities and take benefit from government schemes are more likely to witness an increase in child marriage, child trafficking and trafficking in persons. Threats posed by COVID 19 for marginalised women The spread of fake news and the resulting stigma related to COVID-19 spread has contributed to a rise in harmful stereotypes for the marginalised communities. As per news reports Dalit’s were refused from using main roads in large numbers by upper caste people as they believed that cases of coronavirus are more among the Dalit’s. Most women who came from tribal areas to work as domestic help have lost their jobs because of the lockdown. Given the fear of a pandemic, they might also be subjected to discrimination once they return home. Discrimination The refusal of treatment and healthcare services to patients on the ground of religion or identity is ethically wrong. However, legally a private employer can refuse treatment as they are private contracts. But people in essential services like doctors and hospitals cannot refuse treatment to anyone based on identity and religion. Shortage of resources has led to a general discrimination against vulnerable people. Due to limited medical supplies, hospitals in Italy were forced to choose patients for treatment. In order to prevent such a scenario arising in India, an anti-discrimination law is required for the marginalized section to apply across all of the policies. Several NGOs/CSOs are actively involved in relief distribution in slums and poorer areas in the lockdown period. If we fail to address this crisis of feeding poor people, it will lead to a large number of hunger deaths. People might not die by COVID-19 but poverty and hunger can lead to more harm and long-term consequences on physical and mental health. Women living in slums and bastis are the most vulnerable and neglected group. The spread of fake news on the Tablighi Jamaat incident contributed to creating tensions in the community. Post the incident, there have been reports of Muslim women facing discrimination in accessing treatment in hospitals.
Our Recommendations are as follows:
Passage of the Women's Reservation Bill asap since women have provided themselves to be better leaders in the Covid crisis;
Drafting and passage of an anti discrimination law that extends to the private sector;
Quick action against the spread of fake news;
Sensitization of health care professionals and hospitals to prevent any form of discrimination;
Ensure steps taken to prevent child marriage and trafficking of girls identify who are most marginalized and therefore more vulnerable.