Indian Muslims, Marginalised Communities and Covid-19
| Main Author: | Zulfikar Ahmed |
|---|---|
| Format: | Book publication-section Journal |
| Bahasa: | eng |
| Terbitan: |
Academic Excellence, New Delhi
, 2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/5115734 |
Daftar Isi:
- This paper is about the novel coronavirus (COVID19) and its afflictions on Indian Muslims. After a few incidents amid Covid-19, the Muslim community became subject to heavily vitriolic attacks from various sections of society. Muslims, a highly stigmatized community and still backward in economic fields encountered serious difficulties to sustain their livelihood and continue to enjoy their human rights. Their economic vulnerability, less representation in formal sectors particularly in government jobs and ghettoized identity led to serious human rights violations of this community amid Covid19. The percentage of the non-working population is highest among Muslims in the country (census report, 2001-11). India's steps to contain Covid-19 have failed to curb anti-Muslim rhetoric. Discrimination will affect the country’s fight against the pandemic. The rhetoric has already led to violent attacks on Muslims. A 22-yearold man, accused of conspiring to spread Covid-19, was attacked in Delhi. In Punjab, Muslim herders were allegedly forced to throw away hundreds of litres of milk, because of rumours that they were spreading coronavirus through milk. Police arrested a man for beating a Muslim vegetable vendor. In West Bengal, small-scaled riot broken out as Muslims were stopped from using public toilets. A pregnant Muslim woman was refused to admit. This paper is based on insights from census, recent reports and data to argue certain historical reasons by credible bodies. To this end, the paper tries to examine the relation between a pandemic and its impact on marginalized communities like Muslims and few other communities which have been affected more severely because of their existing social and economic backwardness, more dependence on informal sectors, and its further implications.