-The Telegraph The state’s expert advisers assert that the earlier lower counts were not deliberate but the outcome of a lack of clear definition of Covid-19 deaths Bangalore: A paradoxical rise in Kerala’s Covid-19 mortality rate despite a shrinking epidemic ahead of omicron’s emergence reflects diligent death auditing under political pressure, public demand and good record-keeping lacking in other states, health experts have said. The auditing efforts had till Monday added over 16,900...

In the previous news alert, we looked at the under-nutrition problem in the Bundelkhand region in terms of 3 indicators -- proportion of children under 5 years who are stunted (height-for-age); proportion of children under 5 years who are wasted (weight-for-height); and proportion of children under 5 years who are underweight (weight-for-age). However, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data also indicates that severe under-nutrition like severe wasting and anaemia among...

-Down to Earth Almost 90% of COVID-19 hospitalisations under the scheme took place in 4 states The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), India’s flagship health insurance scheme launched in 2018, provided cushion to only 14.25 per cent of people hospitalised for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) between April 2020 and June 2021.  The scheme’s failure during the pandemic was expected. Since health is a state subject and PM-JAY is implemented by the...

-Press release by National Coalition on the Education Emergency (NCEE) dated January 4, 2022 We note with concern, that governments are considering or planning school closure as Covid cases are on the rise. Delhi, Goa and Haryana governments have ordered school closure. karnataka TAC has recommended a TPR of 2 percent to close schools and colleges. This will spell a disaster for children. Schools have recently opened after remaining mostly closed since...

-TheQuint.com At least a dozen incidents of hostility, vandalism and violence against Christians have been reported across India. In the final month of 2021, there has been a huge spike in attacks on Christians by vigilantes, including several by Hindutva groups. At least a dozen incidents of communal hostility, vandalism and violence targeting Christians have been reported across India this December. From a mob vandalising a Christian school in Madhya Pradesh, to attacks on...