Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::printArticle() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 73
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Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
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Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Code Context


        trigger_error($message, E_USER_DEPRECATED);

    }
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 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php.'
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deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::printArticle() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 74
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php, line 162
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 88
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98

Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
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&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.&lt;/p&gt;

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&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Excerpts:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&amp;rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&amp;rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &amp;mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &amp;mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. Covid-19 has been called the &amp;ldquo;inequality virus&amp;rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &amp;ldquo;middle-class India&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;worked from home&amp;rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Image Courtesy: The Statesman&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always...&#039;,
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&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;He has also been part of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people&amp;rsquo;s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Excerpts:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&amp;rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&amp;rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &amp;mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &amp;mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. Covid-19 has been called the &amp;ldquo;inequality virus&amp;rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &amp;ldquo;middle-class India&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;worked from home&amp;rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Image Courtesy: The Statesman&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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$metaTitle = &#039;Interviews | Nikhil Dey, RTI activist and founding member of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), interviewed by Rakesh Kumar (TheStatesman.com)&#039;
$metaKeywords = &#039;Covid-19,Inequality,Farm Laws,Public Consultation,Pandemic,Lockdown,MGNREGA,National Food Security Act,NFSA,One Nation One Ration Card,Transparency,RTI Act,Right to Information,FCRA,Civil Society Organisations&#039;
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NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always...&#039;
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NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always..."/>
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                <strong>Nikhil Dey, RTI activist and founding member of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), interviewed by Rakesh Kumar (TheStatesman.com)</strong></h1>
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                <p style="text-align:justify">-The Statesman</p><p style="text-align:justify">NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.</p><p style="text-align:justify">He has also been part of the organisation&rsquo;s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people&rsquo;s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Excerpts:</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?</em></p><p style="text-align:justify">A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.</p><p style="text-align:justify">The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?</em></p><p style="text-align:justify">A. Covid-19 has been called the &ldquo;inequality virus&rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &ldquo;middle-class India&rdquo; &ldquo;worked from home&rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.</p><p style="text-align:justify">It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Please <a href="https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI" title="https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI">click here</a> to read more.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Image Courtesy: The Statesman</strong></p>               </font>
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&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;He has also been part of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people&amp;rsquo;s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Excerpts:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&amp;rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&amp;rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &amp;mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &amp;mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. Covid-19 has been called the &amp;ldquo;inequality virus&amp;rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &amp;ldquo;middle-class India&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;worked from home&amp;rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Image Courtesy: The Statesman&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always...&#039;,
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	&#039;id&#039; =&gt; (int) 59051,
	&#039;title&#039; =&gt; &#039;Nikhil Dey, RTI activist and founding member of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), interviewed by Rakesh Kumar (TheStatesman.com)&#039;,
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	&#039;description&#039; =&gt; &#039;&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;-The Statesman&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;He has also been part of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people&amp;rsquo;s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Excerpts:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&amp;rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&amp;rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &amp;mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &amp;mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. Covid-19 has been called the &amp;ldquo;inequality virus&amp;rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &amp;ldquo;middle-class India&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;worked from home&amp;rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Image Courtesy: The Statesman&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always..."/>
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                <strong>Nikhil Dey, RTI activist and founding member of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), interviewed by Rakesh Kumar (TheStatesman.com)</strong></h1>
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                <p style="text-align:justify">-The Statesman</p><p style="text-align:justify">NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.</p><p style="text-align:justify">He has also been part of the organisation&rsquo;s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people&rsquo;s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Excerpts:</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?</em></p><p style="text-align:justify">A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.</p><p style="text-align:justify">The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?</em></p><p style="text-align:justify">A. Covid-19 has been called the &ldquo;inequality virus&rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &ldquo;middle-class India&rdquo; &ldquo;worked from home&rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.</p><p style="text-align:justify">It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Please <a href="https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI" title="https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI">click here</a> to read more.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Image Courtesy: The Statesman</strong></p>               </font>
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&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.&lt;/p&gt;

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&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Excerpts:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&amp;rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&amp;rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &amp;mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &amp;mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. Covid-19 has been called the &amp;ldquo;inequality virus&amp;rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &amp;ldquo;middle-class India&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;worked from home&amp;rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Image Courtesy: The Statesman&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always...&#039;,
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&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;He has also been part of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people&amp;rsquo;s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Excerpts:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&amp;rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&amp;rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &amp;mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &amp;mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;A. Covid-19 has been called the &amp;ldquo;inequality virus&amp;rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &amp;ldquo;middle-class India&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;worked from home&amp;rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;Please &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI&quot;&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; to read more.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p style=&quot;text-align:justify&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Image Courtesy: The Statesman&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&amp;rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always...&#039;
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NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always..."/>
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                <strong>Nikhil Dey, RTI activist and founding member of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), interviewed by Rakesh Kumar (TheStatesman.com)</strong></h1>
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                <p style="text-align:justify">-The Statesman</p><p style="text-align:justify">NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.</p><p style="text-align:justify">He has also been part of the organisation&rsquo;s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people&rsquo;s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Excerpts:</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?</em></p><p style="text-align:justify">A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.</p><p style="text-align:justify">The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?</em></p><p style="text-align:justify">A. Covid-19 has been called the &ldquo;inequality virus&rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &ldquo;middle-class India&rdquo; &ldquo;worked from home&rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.</p><p style="text-align:justify">It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Please <a href="https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI" title="https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI">click here</a> to read more.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Image Courtesy: The Statesman</strong></p>               </font>
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		'description' => '<p style="text-align:justify">-The Statesman</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">He has also been part of the organisation&rsquo;s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people&rsquo;s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Excerpts:</strong></p>

<p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?</em></p>

<p style="text-align:justify">A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?</em></p>

<p style="text-align:justify">A. Covid-19 has been called the &ldquo;inequality virus&rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &ldquo;middle-class India&rdquo; &ldquo;worked from home&rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">Please <a href="https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI">click here</a> to read more.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Image Courtesy: The Statesman</strong></p>
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NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always...',
	'disp' => '<p style="text-align:justify">-The Statesman</p><p style="text-align:justify">NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.</p><p style="text-align:justify">He has also been part of the organisation&rsquo;s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people&rsquo;s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Excerpts:</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?</em></p><p style="text-align:justify">A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.</p><p style="text-align:justify">The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?</em></p><p style="text-align:justify">A. Covid-19 has been called the &ldquo;inequality virus&rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &ldquo;middle-class India&rdquo; &ldquo;worked from home&rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.</p><p style="text-align:justify">It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.</p><p style="text-align:justify">Please <a href="https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI" title="https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI">click here</a> to read more.</p><p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Image Courtesy: The Statesman</strong></p>',
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	'title' => 'Nikhil Dey, RTI activist and founding member of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), interviewed by Rakesh Kumar (TheStatesman.com)',
	'subheading' => null,
	'description' => '<p style="text-align:justify">-The Statesman</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">He has also been part of the organisation&rsquo;s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people&rsquo;s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Excerpts:</strong></p>

<p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre&rsquo;s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government?</em></p>

<p style="text-align:justify">A. India cannot afford to increase farmers&rsquo; distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify"><em>Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people &mdash; especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers &mdash; many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight?</em></p>

<p style="text-align:justify">A. Covid-19 has been called the &ldquo;inequality virus&rdquo; in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of &ldquo;middle-class India&rdquo; &ldquo;worked from home&rdquo;, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify">Please <a href="https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/saturday-interview-covid-exposed-indias-inequality-1502962069.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true&amp;fbclid=IwAR1f4XCXU_EH9I8qLKvUiAc6pVxJPwVZdgG2mHjD2v5A0JUag_j9POQehyI">click here</a> to read more.</p>

<p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Image Courtesy: The Statesman</strong></p>
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NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation&rsquo;s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always...'
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Nikhil Dey, RTI activist and founding member of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), interviewed by Rakesh Kumar (TheStatesman.com)

-The Statesman NIKHIL DEY is one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS). Since 1990, he has been a full-time MKSS activist and a member of the organisation’s decision-making collective. A leading social activist, Dey has always been involved in grassroots struggles for land and payment of minimum wages. He has also been part of the organisation’s involvement in some groundbreaking campaigns such as people’s Right to Information and Right to Work leading to landmark legislations like the RTI Act and the MGNREGA. In an interview with RAKESH KUMAR, Dey spoke on a range of vital issues concerning the people, especially the underprivileged, marginalised, and voiceless sections. Excerpts: Q. Farmers have been protesting on the roads against the Centre’s three farm laws for months.What is your assessment of this stand-off between farmers and the central government? A. India cannot afford to increase farmers’ distress any more. The agriculture sector employs a majority of people, and feeds the country with the least return on investment. Reform cannot mean profit for traders at the cost of the producers. When the very people who are supposed to benefit from something condemn the measure, the reform programme should go back to the drawing board. Months of warning from affected farmers were not heard in Delhi. The laws were bulldozed through Parliament without being discussed in a Select Committee. And public consultation was not even considered. The government has used every tactic to break the spirit of the protesters, including charging them with anti-terror laws. But their unlimited resilience braves new heights with each passing day. The protests have continued to be disciplined and peaceful. If the government still does not accede, there will be a heavy price to pay for this everwidening chasm between the central government and the farmers of India. Q. The continuing Covid pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people — especially the poor, marginalised and vulnerable people and migrant workers — many of whom have been without any employment.What must be done to address their abysmal plight? A. Covid-19 has been called the “inequality virus” in the Oxfam International Report on Inequality 2020-21. In fact, Covid-19 did not just affect everyone negatively, but exposed and enhanced the depth of inherent institutional inequality that exists in India. A lockdown announced with four hours notice was a clear indication that the rulers do not care about the concerns of the majority of poor workers. Unorganised workers lost their jobs and accommodation in millions. Most government employees, the Supreme Court, the corporate sector, and all of “middle-class India” “worked from home”, stocked up at home, ate at home, and increased their wealth while the vast majority of others, ate less, slept less, and searched desperately for work back in their villages they had left to seek work. It was the rights-based laws, most notable amongst them being the MGNREGA and the National Food Security Act that saved millions of people from starvation and death. Tragically, as the pandemic rears its head in its second wave, both laws have faced budgetary cuts as high as 30 per cent. Inequality in India has to be addressed to fight poverty, and Covid, and many other inherent ills. Please click here to read more. Image Courtesy: The Statesman