This policy briefing, by Dr Jo Howard and an Indian co-author (who must remain anonymous for reasons of personal safety) draws on research with religious minorities living in urban slums in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states in India.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had direct and indirect effects on religiously marginalised groups, exacerbating existing inequities and undermining the ambitions of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reach and include those ‘furthest behind’.
Religious inequalities intersect with other inequalities to compound vulnerabilities, particularly the convergence of low socioeconomic status, gender inequality, and location-specific discrimination and insecurity, to shape how people are experiencing the pandemic.
Findings from our research show that religiously motivated discrimination reduced their access to employment and statutory services during the pandemic.
Harassment and violence experienced by Muslims worsened; and loss of livelihoods, distress, and despair were also acutely experienced by dalit Hindus. Government response and protection towards lower caste and religious minorities has been insufficient.
See also…
Freedom of Religious Belief and People with Disabilities: Evidence from India (Policy Briefing)
Stop homogenising us: mixing and matching faith and beliefs in India and beyond (Analysis)
