-Hindustan Times A 2001 law protects farmers’ interests. But the seeds bill neutralises many of the enabling measures granted in it There is a draft seeds bill awaiting Parliament, which seeks to replace the old Seed Act of 1966. A law regulating seed production and trade is needed to ensure that farmers are protected against spurious seeds, and that seed producers are obliged to put only seeds of good and reliable quality...

-The Hindu The new Seeds Bill is tilted against farmers’ interests and loaded in favour of seed companies. After passing through at least two versions, Seeds Bill 2019 is now under Parliament’s consideration. The earlier versions of the Bill, in 2004 and 2010, had generated heated debates. The present version promises to be no different. In 1994, India signed the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). In 2002, India also...

-The Indian Express Sweden last week urged India to restore free movement and communication in Jammu and Kashmir. Days after Sweden raised the issue of human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told visiting Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde on Monday that the “right to life is the most basic human right” as he linked it to “cross-border terrorism”. This position is likely to form the template...

-The Indian Express Transgender Persons Bill has let down the community’s long struggle for self respect. The passage of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, has caused great disapointment to the transgender community in India that had urged the Rajya Sabha to refer the Bill to a select committee. The Bill failed to incorporate crucial recommendations of the Parliament Standing Committee and several depositions by the transgender and intersex community....

-The Hindu Workers’ union in Rajasthan adopts motto ‘Let there be dignity of labour and decent wages for work’ Jaipur: Unorganised workers from different sectors in Rajasthan, who formed their first-ever union two years ago, have sought recognition of their labour Rights for getting minimum wages, social security, monthly ration through public distribution system and implementation of law with the guarantee for 100 days of work in a year to each household. The...