EVALUATING THE REACH AND ADEQUACY OF COVID-19 WELFARE INITIATIVES: PRIMARY EVIDENCE FROM ERODE DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU
https://doi.org/10.65725/JCMCE/2/3/002
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN MANAGEMENT, COMMERCE AND ECONOMICS (JCMCE)
ISSN: 3108-3501
Volume 2 Issue 3, July -September 2026
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic simultaneously disrupted livelihoods and increased healthcare costs, creating a compound shock for vulnerable households. This study evaluates the reach and perceived effectiveness of government relief packages among 250 COVID-19-affected households in Erode District, Tamil Nadu, surveyed during 2022-2023. The sample comprised 155 rural and 95 urban households. Descriptive statistics, rural-urban comparisons, chi-square tests, and selected regression results reported in the ICSSR project were used. Free rice reached 209 households (83.6%), and 236 households (94.4%) received at least one Tamil Nadu relief benefit. However, 181 households (72.4%) reported no support from Central Government schemes, only 29 (11.6%) received doorstep relief, and 100 (40.0%) considered the assistance insufficient. Private hospital treatment among 67 respondents generated a total expenditure of ₹8.141 million, with mean expenditure higher in urban households (₹185,842) than in rural households (₹144,063). Health insurance helped only 10 households (4.0%), while PMJAY cards were reported by three households (1.2%). Debt was the principal lockdown coping strategy for 145 households (58.0%), followed by savings for 72 (28.8%). Rural-urban differences in reliance on debt and savings were modest, but rural households were the most severely affected. The evidence indicates that food relief achieved broad coverage, whereas cash adequacy, delivery systems, Central scheme penetration, and health-financing protection were weak. Emergency welfare policy should integrate universal food support with automatic cash transfers, portable registration, regulated private treatment prices, and effective insurance-based financial protection
Authors: Dr. M. Saravanakumar, Dr. M. Priyadharshini
Keywords: COVID-19, government relief, household vulnerability, out-of-pocket expenditure, health insurance, Tamil Nadu.