COVID-19: No golf tournaments as hundreds of migrant caddies face hardship

With the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) suspended and golf courses shut due to the coronavirus enforced lockdown, the daily-wage caddies are under great deal of financial stress with most worrying about their livelihood.

The fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed over 95,000 people globally, has triggered an economic meltdown, hitting sports hard across the globe and in the golf fraternity, it is the caddies who are the most affected as they depend on day-to-day work.

There are around 2500 to 3000 caddies in the NCR region with most being migrants. While many are regular caddies, others hundreds of others look for part-time jobs or alternate sources of income as there are no job guarantees.

Two-time Asian Tour winner Rashid Khan, the front-runner to qualify for Tokyo Olympics, believes more than anybody the caddies will have a tough time if the situation doesn't improve quickly.

"The lockdown is affecting the caddies a lot. They earn money on a daily basis, they don't have any other incomes. They have families, and have to pay rent. So it will be difficult for them to sustain if things don't improve," Rashid told PTI.

"Even my caddie (Imran Mohammad Ansari), who is from Mumbai, had texted me requesting for financial help. There are many caddies who are being affected."
"Fortunately, I have saved 30 % of the money that I have earned in my life. So I don't need help now as such. I can sustain my family."
"There are around 140 caddies who have come from outside. These people are in bigger trouble, they are not getting help."
"If it is not addressed these people will start going home and it might lead to another migration issue."