-The Hindu They are at the bottom of the pyramid and have little Access to healthcare, say migration experts S. Irudaya Rajan and Ginu Zacharaia Oommen. Migrants labourers have been among the worst hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most Indian migrants in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are at the bottom of the pyramid in their host countries. Infected in large numbers, and with limited Access to healthcare, that is...
More »SEARCH RESULT
A time for extraordinary action -T Jayaraman & Tejal Kanitkar
-The Hindu An unprecedented scale of state investment is required to lift up the Indian economy Even before the full impact of COVID-19 on the health of Indians is clear, the economic impact of the measures required to deal with the pandemic are already posing grave problems. The Indian economy was in dire straits even before COVID-19 reached our shores. Specifically, the lockdown and other movement restrictions, backed by scientific and political...
More »Survey team led by economist Jean Drèze finds the food distribution system in Jharkhand faulty
-Press release by Right to Food Campaign, Jharkhand chapter, dated 10th April, 2020 Members of the Right to Food Campaign (Jharkhand chapter) conducted a quick survey of essential facilities in rural areas during the first week of April 2020. “Observers” dispersed over 50 blocks in 19 districts of the state were asked to check the local facilities (ration shops, dal-bhat kendras, anganwadis, among others) and report their observations over the phone....
More »Amartya Sen writes: Overcoming a pandemic may look like fighting a war, but the real need is far from that
-The Indian Express Amartya Sen writes: Tackling a social calamity is not like fighting a war which works best when a leader can use top-down power to order everyone to do what the leader wants — with no need for consultation. In contrast, what is needed for dealing with a social calamity is participatory governance and alert public discussion. We have reason to take pride in the fact that India is the...
More »Farmers are at their wits’ end -R Ramakumar
-The Hindu As global trade falls and supply disruptions persist, a prolonged lockdown will adversely affect food security The COVID-19 pandemic has led to global concerns on the state of agriculture and food security. On the one hand, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned of a “food crisis” if countries do not protect vulnerable people from hunger and malnourishment. On the other, farmers face a stalemate as they are unable...
More »