High Frequency Monitoring of the COVID-19 Response in Delhi

Using administrative data of visitors to Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (primary health care centers), researchers conducted surveys with around 1,200 residents of Delhi every 7-10 days. The questionnaire was brief and focused on food and income security, awareness of and access to government relief schemes as well as knowledge of public health directives. The results from each survey round were shared with the Dialogue and Development Commission, Government of Delhi (DDC) in a written report, along with a real-time dashboard tracking variables at the district level.

The high frequency and granularity of the reports allowed the DDC to direct relief efforts to areas where their response could be strengthened. For example, surveys highlighted districts where a high share of respondents reported applying for the Delhi government's e-coupon ration scheme, but only a few had received its benefits, which resulted in the DDC directing more relief efforts to these areas. Apart from aggregate statistics, these high frequency surveys provided deeper insights on how the pandemic has affected various types of households, including migrant workers, permanent residents, and Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries.