For millions of daily wage workers in India, a cough is more than an inconvenience—it can be the first sign of a disease that robs both health and livelihood. Tuberculosis (TB) doesn’t just attack the body; it dismantles financial stability, forcing families into a spiral of lost income, debt, and hardship. When every day’s wage is a lifeline, even brief illness can tip a household into crisis. Understanding this dual burden is the first step toward breaking the cycle and building a path to recovery.
TB’s Double Blow: How Tuberculosis Destroys Health and Livelihood for India’s Daily Wage Workers
A widespread crisis
TB strikes hard across India, and daily wage workers—those who earn by the day as labourers, rickshaw pullers, or domestic helpers—are among the most vulnerable. The Central TB Division’s Annual TB Report 2022 estimates that over 2.6 million people in India fall ill with TB each year, with a significant chunk being from low-income groups like daily wage earners.1 The Stop TB Partnership India notes that 60% of TB-affected individuals lose their jobs or income due to prolonged illness, pushing families into poverty.2 This isn’t just a health crisis—it’s an economic one. For workers earning ₹200-300 daily, a single sick day can mean no food on the table.
Why they are hit the hardest
Why are daily wage workers hit so hard? TB thrives in crowded, under-ventilated spaces—common in construction sites or urban slums where these workers live. The Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) highlights that malnutrition, a frequent companion of poverty, weakens their immunity, making TB more likely and severe. 3 A study by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) found that 70% of TB patients from this group face treatment interruptions due to work demands or lack of funds for transport to clinics. 4 The disease’s symptoms—fatigue, fever, and cough—force them to rest, but rest means no pay, creating a vicious cycle. Families suffer too; children often drop out of school to support meagre incomes, and spouses take on extra burdens.
· TB and daily wage workers
· Tuberculosis in India 2023
· Economic impact of TB
· TB and poverty in India
· TB livelihood loss
The ripple effect on families
The consequences of TB extend far beyond the patient. With treatment lasting 6–9 months, even free drugs under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) can’t cover lost wages. The PHFI study reveals that 45% of TB-affected households borrow money or sell assets to survive.⁴
For a rickshaw puller, a month off work might mean selling his only bike—his livelihood. Spouses and children, exposed to TB at home, face higher infection risks. UNICEF India reports that 10% of paediatric TB cases are linked to household transmission from working parents.⁵ This intergenerational impact makes urgent support systems essential.
Key ways TB affects daily wage workers
- Lost income: A single sick day can erase a day’s earnings (₹200-300).
- Treatment gaps: 70% miss doses due to work or travel costs.4
- Family strain: 45% borrow money or sell assets to survive. 4
- Health risks: Malnutrition doubles TB severity risk. 3
- Child impact: 10% of child TB cases stem from home exposure. 5
Persuading change starts with us. Share this story with friends, advocate for workplace TB policies, or volunteer with local health drives. For daily wage workers, every bit of support can mean a return to work and a healthier family.
Time to Act
TB’s impact on daily wage workers and their families is a call to action. With 2.6 million cases annually and a 60% income loss rate, the stakes are high.1,2 This isn’t just their fight—it’s ours.
By fostering community support, enhancing policies, and spreading awareness, we can lift these families from the shadows of TB. Together, let’s build a future where no worker sacrifices health for hunger.
The fight against TB is not just about medicine; it’s about dignity, stability, and the right to a healthy life. By recognising the unique challenges faced by daily wage workers and implementing a compassionate, comprehensive strategy that addresses both their health and economic needs, we can move closer to building a truly TB-free India.
This is an educational initiative supported by Mylan Pharmaceuticals Private Limited (a Viatris company).
References:
1. Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (2022). Annual TB Report 2022. https://tbcindia.gov.in/WriteReadData/Annual%20Report%202022-23.pdf
2. Stop TB Partnership India. (2023). Economic Impact of TB on Vulnerable Populations. https://stoptbpartnershipindia.org/reports/economic-impact-tb-2023
3. Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP). (2022). Guidelines for TB Management. https://tbcindia.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=2&sublinkid=4792&lid=2801
4. Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). (2023). TB and Livelihood Loss Among Low-Income Groups. https://phfi.org/research/tb-livelihood-study-2023
5. UNICEF India. (2022). Child TB and Household Transmission Report. https://www.unicef.org/india/reports/child-tb-transmission-2022