-Down to Earth Any health shock causes entry into poverty for most of those who suffer from it We are living through a time of extreme adversity. The entire country is in lockdown in an attempt to survive the threat of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Economic activity is at a standstill. All plans and goals, whether related to sustainable development or otherwise, have gone for a toss. There is simply no chance...

-The Hindu Business Line Boasting a determined political leadership, Kerala has set a record of sorts in flattening the Covid-19 curve On January 18, KK Shailaja — “Shailaja Teacher”, as she is popularly known for her no-nonsense, science teacher demeanour — summoned a meeting of the Kerala health department, a ministry she had efficiently steered through unprecedented floods in 2018-19 and the outbreak of Nipah virus. There was no cause for alarm...

-The Hindu They amount to an inhuman and illegal treatment, say journalists’ bodies A public interest petition was filed on Thursday in the Supreme Court that certain media organisations have issued termination notices, imposed wage cuts and unpaid leave to their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. A joint petition filed by National Alliance of Journalists, the Delhi Union of Journalists and the Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists said this amounted to an “inhuman and...

-India Spend Team The public distribution system (PDS) is meant to play a key role in disbursing government support to the poorest Indians during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. However, the system leaves more than 100 million people excluded from its reach, as per academics Jean Drèze, Reetika Khera and Meghana Mungikar, because the central government uses 2011 population figures from the last census to calculate state-wise PDS coverage. Under the National Food...

-TheWire.in 'Disaster management' has become the new vehicle for suspending the fundamental rights of the people and there is a danger that this may become the new normal even after the coronavirus threat has subsided. When the debate last week should have been over how quickly the lockdown can be lifted, several chief ministers, including KCR of Telangana has  – which has had a modest number of positive cases and deaths –...