-Down to Earth Poor, marginalised to be worst hit; Economic productivity to be jeopardised too A new report by the World Bank suggests India could soon become one of the first places in the world to experience heatwaves that break the human survivability limit. Climate Investment Opportunities in India’s Cooling Sector said the country is experiencing higher temperatures that arrive earlier and stay far longer. India has witnessed a concurrent increase in meteorological...

-Hindustan Times Farm-insurance claims have risen due to extensive crop damage caused by extreme weather conditions this year, but some farmers are angry at being given a pittance as compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Krushna Raut, a farmer in Maharashtra’s Parbhani district, stared in disbelief at a message on his mobile phone, which showed ₹1.76 had been transferred to his bank account towards his crop-insurance claim. He first thought...

-The Hindu Strong and effective gender-responsive policies and institutions of work that are oriented towards human-centred recovery needed in the Asia-Pacific region, says Gilbert F. Houngbo “Integrated policy agenda for a human–centred recovery that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient” is the theme of the 17th Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) beginning in Singapore on Tuesday. In his report on the theme, ILO Director-General Gilbert F....

-Moneycontrol.com The fertiliser subsidy stood at Rs 1.62 lakh crore in the previous financial year. The government's fertiliser subsidy will rise to Rs 2.3-2.5 lakh crore in this fiscal but the bill may fall by 25 per cent in the 2023-24 financial year with moderation in global prices, according to industry body FAI. Fertilisers Association of India (FAI) expressed concern that the fixed cost of urea has not been increased affecting the viability...

-Moneycontrol.com The development comes amid growing evidence that Indian kids, even those from affluent backgrounds, have much lower values for height and weight against WHO standards. One expert warned that nearly 30% of Indian children under 5 are malnourished and by using the new standards, the government may show that to be just 15-20% The Indian government, for the first time, has initiated moves to develop country-specific growth standards for children amid...