Delhi - Pandemic Diary of a Motorised Rickshaw.
Introduction
22 March
20 days after first reported case in Delhi, a 14-hour voluntary lockdown called Janta curfew is imposed.
25 March – 2 April
Closure of all public transport.
Some E-Rickshaw workers (ERW) stay back in the city for safe keeping their vehicles, while who left for their village home rent a parking space for a monthly charge of INR 600.
2020, 14 April – 31 May
Lockdown extended.
No income and rely on loans and minimum rational allowance of 20kg rice.
2020, 8 June
Unlock 1.0 with inter state travel reopening if there is an agreement between states.
Return of migrants
2020, 1 July
Unlock 2.0, as all state borders opened, and zonal restrictions introduced.
ERW return to work but with zonal restrictions with risk of heavy police fines, they can work in a smaller radius and 50% passengers capacity.
2020, 8 Aug
Unlock 3.0 with lockdowns on certain days.
Daily wages return to half of pre-pandemic levels, i.e. INR 400 but shifts increase to 8 to 10 hours per day.
2020, October
Lowest number of Covid cases since pandemic began but looming fears of a Winter outbreak
2020, December
Restrictions on public gatherings during festive period.
2021, 16 January
Vaccination drive begins.
ERW not eligible for first round of vaccines.
2021, 22 March
Second wave of Covid.
Some ERW take daily waged work in ferrying goods in market area for INR 50 to INR 150 per job.
2021, 19 April – 7 June
Delhi announces Lockdown 2.0. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal appeals to migrant workers not to leave.
Delhi Government provided INR 5000 cash relief to drivers of para transit vehicles, they must have PSV badge and driving license valid upto Feb 2020 to avail. 1.5 lakh avail but many don’t come forward as documents are not valid.
2021, 1 May
Vaccines open to all over age of 18.
ERW can get vaccine.
2021, 7 June
Second phased reopening with Unlock 1.0 in Delhi, zonal restrictions in place.
This time, ERW can work, income is INR 200-INR 300 but previous it was INR 700.
2021, 15 June
Daily death count begins to fall, Delhi goes into Unlock 2.0
Jul-Oct 21
Decline in death toll and active Covid cases.
Offices resume.
Nov 2021
Omicron.
In the new normal ERW subject to strict system of challans, as traffic police threaten hefty charges of INR 20,000 for minor traffic offences. Average incomes are around INR 13000 per month, with workers with e-rickshaws on loans and families with children and dependents struggling the most.