MAHANIRBAN CALCUTTA RESEARCH GROUP (Calcutta Research Group) is offering short-term media grants to reporters, journalists, and media practitioners for investigative studies on the following topics: (a) Frontline Covid warriors like lower level health workers at block and Gram Panchayat or local municipality level, ASHA workers, and nurses and doctors; (b) Initiatives of solidarity with migrant workers undertaken by various civil society organisations, local clubs, municipal councillors, small groups of people,...

-Down to Earth More than a dozen organizations from the hill state have come together to highlight dangers of climate change, exacerbated by exploitation of land, forests and water The glacial disaster in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district has a strong message for the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh, which has a similar geography, topography and climate: To rethink the model of development being followed, particularly with regard to the exploitation of its hydroelectric...

-The Indian Express These vulnerabilities of the informal sector became even more prominent as the entire country went into a state of suspension due to the lockdown enforced as a state response to the pandemic. Finance Minister Nirmala SITharaman in her budget speech referred to the implementation of the four labour codes, closing the process that started 20 years ago. She also mentioned a handsome Rs 15,700 crore for MSMEs, more than...

-The Hindu Many of the Delhi Police personnel deployed at the city borders where farmers are protesting the new agricultural laws are part-time farmers themselves or have fathers who work the fields At the Singhu border protest SITe, a head constable looks over rows of steel barricades and barriers to lock eyes with his father on the other side. Both stand their ground. The duo may be on oppoSITe sides of the farm...

-Livemint.com/ PTI Finance Minister Nirmala SITharaman while presenting Budget 2021-22 earlier this month had announced the privatisation of Public Sector Banks To facilitate the privatisation of public sector banks, the government is likely to bring amendments to two legislations later this year. Amendments would be required in the Banking Companies (AcquiSITion and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 and the Banking Companies (AcquiSITion and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 for privatisation, sources said. These Acts...