Pandemic effect

   Around 80 per cent of working Indians have experienced income loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and over 90 per cent of them are bracing themselves to bear more hardship in the future, said a study by Generali on consumer sentiments during the COVID-19 crisis.

   Half the Indian working population now work from home. According to the study, 95 per cent or almost all Indians surveyed expect some form of relief in the case of income loss. Some 53 per cent of those who have experienced losses expect help from the government, 60 per cent are planning to dig into their savings and investments, while 39 per cent expect help from family members.

   Significantly, 40 per cent of Indians expect their employers to step in with some form of relief. As per the study, 30 per cent of the Indian respondents — who are adults living in large cities perceive the COVID-19 threat as a severe national....