Assessing Covid-19-related Economic Shock, Health Knowledge, and Access to Social Protection Schemes among Poor Women in Rural Bihar
Researchers
Researchers assessed the economic shock, health knowledge, and access to social protection schemes among poor women in rural Bihar in this descriptive study. The survey was conducted telephonically with women and self-help group members who were part of the Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana (SJY), a livelihoods scheme targeting ultra-poor households.
Project Summary
Location: Bihar ( districts of Patna, Nalanda, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Samastipur)
Sample: 1,010 ultra-poor women and self-help group (SHG) members
Timeline: May - July 2020
J-PAL Initiatives providing funding: N/A
Target group: Rural population (ultra-poor women (under the Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana (SJY) program) and SHG members in Bihar)
Outcome of interest: Health knowledge and awareness; Access to social protection schemes; Food security and nutrition
Covid-19 dimensions: Economic shocks on individuals, households, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs); Knowledge, attitudes, practices & beliefs; Access to government relief measures; Cash transfers; Food security
Mode of data collection: Computer-assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) / phone surveys
Nature of activities: Data collection (surveys)
Research paper(s): N/A
Project Details
In India, Covid-19 and the resulting national lockdown has led to a public health and economic crisis. Safe behaviors such as frequent handwashing and physical distancing are an important means for stopping the transmission of the virus. In response to the pandemic-induced economic shock to households, the Government of India and state governments in the country have announced various social protection schemes to help poor households withstand the adverse effects of the lockdown.
This descriptive study assesses the economic shock, health knowledge, and access to social protection schemes among a sample of poor women in rural Bihar. The survey was conducted telephonically with women who were part of the Bihar Rural Livelihoods’ Promotion Society (BRLPS) or JEEViKA's SHG network or the Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana (SJY), a livelihoods scheme targeting ultra-poor households.
Research Results
Results forthcoming.