Community Development Reports
A Survey Report - COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted every aspect of our lives. Even before the onset of the crisis, the social and economic integration of young people was an ongoing challenge. Unless urgent actions
were taken, young people would likely to suffer severe and long-lasting impacts from the pandemic. This was at the time when the COVID-19 pandemic had rapidly translated into an economic crisis. The Survey aimed to capture the immediate effects of the pandemic on the lives of MSE's with regard to Income situation before lockdown and Income situation after lockdown, and in general Area wise survey data, Male/female entrepreneur, Age-wise data of entrepreneur, Business space ownership, Rent of business space, Number of hired employees in business, Monthly wages of hired employees, Number of dependents of entrepreneur, House hold expenses of entrepreneur. Over 1,819 responses were received from three areas Gilgit City, Danyore and Sultanabad. The survey population was representative of MSE's. The study finds the impact of the pandemic on economy of micro and small size entrepreneur deep and disproportionate. It has been particularly hard on women, entreprenur in lower -income region. A drastic drop of 64% income of MSE's seen during the outbreak. Household expense rose due to migration of many family members from other cities of the country. Monthly wages of hired
employees in MSE's also dropped due to controlled business situation. 60 % MSE's lost their job during pandemic situation. 57 % MSE's with rental business space were affected most as compared to one who had personal business space which is 43%.
Most of young entrepreneur aged 18-37 were involved in MSE's. This survey report shows the crisis has affected young women and men in employment differently, with young women reporting greater losses in productivity as compared to young men. 40 % of women entrepreneur and 60 % men were involved in MSEs, Severe disruption to learning and working, compounded by the economic crises, health crisis, has seen deterioration in people's mental well-being. People in lower-income area exposed to reductions in working hours and the contraction in income that result.