The pristine Killai backwaters—also known as Pichavaram mangrove forest—are a few kilometres from the temple town of Chidambaram on India's east coast situated at the confluence of Kollidam (Coleroon) and Vellar rivers. The Pichavaram is the second largest mangrove forest in India, spanning an area of 1,470 hectares (Selvam et al 2003). Apart from its scenic beauty and ecological importance, the backwaters are the lifeline for communities living in about 20 hamlets located along it. MGR Nagar—home to the Irular—is one among them.

Ground-level evidence from Tamil Nadu on the sudden disruption of supply chains for both non-perishable and perishable commodities has pointed to the adverse effects of COVID-19 on farming and farmers’ livelihoods. In Thanjavur, known as the ‘granary of south India’, and Pudukottai and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu state, farmers are unable to sell their produce. Without adequate storage facilities, they are staring not just at losses, but also lack of liquidity to prepare for the next planting season.

“Necessity is the mother of invention” – Plato

This is a famous phrase, indicating that a need or problem encourages creative efforts to meet the need or solve the problem. The world is currently going through a difficult time due to COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in an almost-complete shutdown of all activities across the globe. This is impacting millions of people but the most affected are poor or smallholder farmers.

Agriculture is the main source of income worldwide. However, in India there is a declining trend in the proportion of workforce employed in this sector, with many people seeking alternative employment. Here, Dr Pratheepa CM and Dr Rengalakshmi R from MSSRF and TIGR2ESS Flagship Project 1 describe the ability of two caste groups in rural Tamil Nadu to secure non-farm work.