COVID-19 is changing consumer behaviour and how

Bharath N, 40, who is part of the ITeS workforce in Bengaluru, has been working from home since mid-March, a little before the Indian government imposed a lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Living in an apartment complex, Bharath’s consumption patterns are defined by government orders, community rules and regulations, his corporate’s responses and the self-care imposed on himself and family.

Being a habitual newspaper (print version) reader, Bharath now misses his dailies as his apartment association banned the entry of newspaper vendors, domestic workers and food and other products’ delivery staff. He now accesses news through news apps, e-papers and social platforms. But he would like to go back to print versions of newspapers as and when the lockdown ends.

Given that he works from home, he doesn’t use the public transport, the Metro, too now. The Metro services are shut now, but when it resumes after the lockdown, he’s not likely to use it. He’d rather choose a private mode of transport to avoid the risk of infection at crowded places.