-ThePrint.in Once again, the prolonged period of Covid-19 pandemic crisis will shine the light on India’s state capacity. But should India depend only on its elite bureaucracy? As India completes the first week of its 21-day nationwide lockdown to battle the spread of the Covid-19 virus, it is increasingly clear that the worst is not over yet. If not another round of lockdown, India may witness at least similar measures that will...

-The Indian Express While Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underlined that this was the only way to fight COVID-19, the Home Ministry directed states to ensure effective sealing of the borders. As the lockdown that gradually started from last Sunday entered the second week, the government indicated it was not going to deviate from this containment and mitigation strategy against Coronavirus, despite initial hiccups through the week. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi...

-The Telegraph Too little, too late? Criticised for lack of protective gear, govt takes steps, ropes in Red Cross, pvt sector Only 3.34 lakh personal protective equipment (PPE) are available with hospitals in the country, the Union health ministry said on Monday, days after it was criticised for the shortage of protective gear for medical professionals at the forefront of the fight against the Coronavirus. In addition to the available PPE, 60,000 PPE...

-The Indian Express That migrants' health takes a huge beating in this process. That the already-malnourished will suffer immensely, says Chinmay Tumbe. Economist Chinmay Tumbe, author most recently of India Moving – A History of Migration and an Assistant Professor at IIM (Ahmedabad) spoke to Seema Chishti on the many implications of the surging crowds of migrants anxious to go home in the wake of the national lockdown. * Given the sudden rush...

-The Hindu The implications for workers are also manifold in terms of productivity, training, and overall well-being. The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the subsequent work-from-home imperatives and lockdowns have led to significant economic disruptions around the world. As several millions of workers across diverse sectors are asked to self-quarantine, an understanding of the impact of this shift and mitigation strategies becomes critical. The insights from prior studies on the...