-The Hindu The methodology behind the OECD’s numbers, that suggests negative support, has pitfalls and limitations The ongoing stalemate between the farmers protesting over the recently passed farm laws and the government has sparked an interesting debate regarding the level of agricultural support. Many media reports, based on data by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), have ostensibly stated that the support provided to Indian agriculture is extremely low or...

-The New Indian Express Budget 2021-22: Rising poverty, falling health parameters, worsening educational outcomes, inadequate housing and widespread unemployment are the biggest challenges facing the Indian economy. MYSURU: From a distance, a house at Harthale, Nanjangud, looks like any other in the locality. But you step inside, and you will find recycled wooden windows and doors procured from demolished buildings, broken ceramics for surface, mud concrete blocks made out of building waste,...

-The Indian Express The Centre is within its rights to enact laws promoting barrier-free trade of farm produce (inter- as well as intra-state) and also dismantling stockholding restrictions. But that can be only after the farmer has sold. In November 2019, the Fifteenth Finance Commission submitted its interim report, wherein it proposed special “performance based incentives” to states that carried out agriculture sector reforms. These reforms specifically pertained to their enacting and implementing...

-Newsclick.in While Covid-19 affected all areas of life, it was access to healthcare where it had the maximum effect. So inpatient admissions, outpatient care or operations saw declines of up to 40%. Declines were also seen in deliveries, antenatal care and immunisation of children. States with a large private health sector also suffered as charges were increased substantially so that profits remained unaffected. So the message is clear–give adequate budgetary allocations...

-Fourth MGNREGA tracker by Peoples' Action for Employment Guarantee (PAEG), released on 10th December, 2020 The latest tracker of the Peoples' Action for Employment Guarantee (PAEG) focuses on the state of implementation of MGNREGA in the country. Highlights of the Tracker: 1. 1.3 crore Job Cards issued this year. 2. 13 percent unmet demand. 97 lakh households have had their demand unmet at some point in the year. 3. While over 1 crore more Households...