Most of the city's slum dwellers are either domestic workers, day labourers, rickshaw pullers or basically low-income earners, who find it difficult to make ends meet even under normal circumstances. Due to the recent crisis regarding coronavirus, many employers have laid off these people to minimise the risk of infection. Since a lion's share of their earnings is spent on house rent, it would go a long way in alleviating the slum dwellers' sufferings if the slum landlords waive their rents for a few months.

The print and electronic media can take an initiative in this regard by offering to publish or broadcast interviews with those who do so. It is likely that such a move would elicit a favourable response since many of the landlords have political or community leadership aspirations and could use some publicity. The authorities may also intervene to help provide a valid solution to ease the burden faced by the residents of the slums.

Moinuddin M Nasrullah, by email