Social Injustice in the Neoliberal Pandemic Era for Homeless Persons With Mental Illness: A Qualitative Inquiry From India

Abstract

The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge globally. It is much bigger than a bio-medical concern now with the multitudes of socio-economic, socio-political, socio-cultural, and psycho-social impact, which are likely to outlast the pandemic itself by far and long. The pandemic and the resulting challenges across societies highlighted the existing social injustices in a neoliberal world for historically marginalized populations like homeless persons with mental illness (HPMI). The nationwide lockdown in India to resist the spread of the virus posed a unique challenge to this vulnerable population. The present study thus attempts to understand the experience of HPMI during the COVID-19 induced lockdown through the theoretical framework of social justice vis-à-vis injustice. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted on seven HPMI rehabilitated in the community through an NGO situated in Kolkata, India. Seven stakeholders have also been interviewed to understand their experience in providing services to the HPMI during the COVID-19 induced lockdown. Analyses of the narratives have been done using initial coding, focused coding and axial coding through the process of constant comparison of constructivist grounded theory (CGT) methodology. Critical insights from the study bring out experiences of HPMI during COVID-19 as a victim of structural violence, highlighting their exclusion and victimization due to the existing marginalized status, living closer to the edge as a consequence of the lockdown, lack of awareness of the gravity of the pandemic situation. The experiences of the stakeholders, on the other hand, pointed out the role of community members and social workers in partially mitigating the challenges. This study indicates that to mitigate the aftermaths, stakeholders, including community members, need to work together for rebuilding and enhancing the strength and resilience of the marginalized populations like HPMI, who are historically victims of social injustice in the neoliberal pandemic era.

Challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and their providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

“…11 Some qualitative research has begun to explore the impact of COVID-19 on access to hand hygiene facilities, 12 healthrelated resources 13 and primary care 14 for the homeless population, as well as their experiences in the first months of the pandemic 15 or during periods of lockdown. 16 However, few qualitative studies have explored the impact of pandemic policies and procedures on people experiencing homelessness in…”

Community engagement and involvement in managing the COVID-19 pandemic among urban poor in low-and middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review and stakeholders mapping

“…The government, non-governmental organizations, good Samaritans/corporate sponsorship, and religious institutions all donated items’ [ 23 ]. ‘Members of non-governmental organizations came to see us on a regular basis and brought us dry food and water bottles, as well as transporting a few patients to hospitals’ [ 38 ]. …”

“…‘Members of non-governmental organizations came to see us on a regular basis and brought us dry food and water bottles, as well as transporting a few patients to hospitals’ [ 38 ].…”

“…The homeless and street dwellers hoarded the food donated by local NGOs and handed it to them [ 38 , 42 ]. Numerous family members borrowed money to meet their fundamental wants [ 19 , 26 , 28 ].…”