-TheWire.in As a fresh spotlight hits India's rural employment programme, two suggestions have been offered to “repurpose” MGNREGA to utilise the additional labour force that have returned to their villages. Due to the sudden lockdown and resultant job losses, over one crore people have returned to their homes, some walking hundreds of kilometres, others using all conceivable means of transport – buses, trucks, trailers, concrete mixers, Shramik trains, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, auto...
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‘One Nation One Ration Card’ Could Have Changed How the Pandemic Affected Migrants -Bal Krishan Negi and Seema Bathla
-TheWire.in It is high time migrant workers were included in the ambit of the public distribution system. The government’s proposal for ‘one nation one ration card’ is a longstanding need for migrant labourers across the country. The proposed measure will provide workers not only with monthly food entitlements wherever they are living for work, but also improve their nutritional status. Tracing developments in the public distribution system (PDS), it can be seen that...
More »26 lakh migrant workers in halfway houses, says official data -Priscilla Jebaraj
-The Hindu This is an extreme underestimation, going by the other assessments made by Central and State governments, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s estimate of 8 crore stranded migrants. The Chief Labour Commissioner’s (CLC) office has counted over 26 lakh migrant workers stranded across the country, of which 10% are in relief camps or shelter homes, while 43% are in situ at workplaces and 46% are in other clusters. This is an extreme...
More »Centre's Economic Package Addresses Long Term Issues, Not Immediate Concerns of Farmers -Mayank Aggarwal
-TheWire.in Millions of agricultural labourers are currently under stress Due to the ongoing lockdown which has led to a loss in income, loss of jobs for migrant labour and a disruption in the supply chain. Following the stress on the agricultural sector by the COVID-19 related lockdown, the central Government has announced medium to long term relief measures as part of an economic package. However, the package has fallen short on immediate...
More »Civil society organisations mourn loss of life and livelihood Due to COVID-19 lockdown on 1st June
-Press Release by Right to Food Campaign dated 3rd June, 2020 1st June was observed as a Day of National Mourning to highlight the colossal loss of life and livelihood that continues because of the brutal lockdown and utter apathy of the central government and many state governments. On that day, people and civil society organisations (CSOs) across the country demanded accountability for the loss of life and livelihood Due to...
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