-TheWire.in The study also showed that most of the workers from far away states wanted to leave at the earliest. New Delhi: A survey of MIGrant workers in Gurugram, Haryana has revealed that the prolonged lockdown has left most of them without any savings and forced many to take loans. Also, while most of those who hail from far-off states like Assam, Bihar and West Bengal are keen to return to their...

-Hindustan Times Release the consumption survey. And ramp up research The Indian economy is set to contract this year. Economic policy must have two clear objectives. It must do all it can to ensure growth revival. And until that happens, the State must ensure that the poor are able to maintain at least basic standards of living. Achieving these goals requires detailed information about the economy. What were household incomes before the...

On June 5th this year, the Stranded Workers Action Network, comprising volunteers from various civil society groups, academics and students enrolled in university education, released its third report entitled ‘To Leave or Not to Leave? Lockdown, MIGrant Workers, and Their Journeys Home’. Among other things, the latest report states that nearly four-fifth of MIGrant workers (out of 5,911) who called SWAN volunteers for help (altogether 821 distress calls were made)...

-Scroll.in Fiscally austere policies will only serve to further escalate the revenue shortfall and debt problems. Several economists and businessmen have expressed their disappointment with the contents of the financial package announced by the government to face the unprecedented economic crisis brought about by the Covid-19-induced lockdown, the suddenness and severity of which had itself surprised many epidemiologists. The callousness toward the MIGrants and lack of immediate preparation to send them back –...

-Down to Earth Distress among marginal farmers and unavailability of food to MIGrant labourers has been largely ignored in Union government’s economic stimulus   Agriculture and allied activities are considered ‘essential’ and officially face no restriction to harvest and supply to the market, even in the middle of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. But an agrarian crisis stemming from systemic failures needs to be considered for immediate policy response. The current distress...