-Vikalp.ind.in The sharp contraction of India’s GDP in 20-21 Q1 (APRIl-June) of 23.9 per cent according to the quarterly estimates released by the National Statistical Organisation is a summary measure that need to be deconstructed to capture the ailing state of the Indian economy. The three sectors that suffered bigger contraction are respectively construction (-50.3%), trade hotels and restaurants (-47%) and manufacturing (-39.3%). Notably these are also the sectors that provided...

-Press release by the Right to Food Campaign dated 26th September, 2020 The Right to Food Campaign opposes all the three farm bills passed by the Parliament and urges the President of India to not give his approval to these bills. The Right to Food Campaign believes that the Union Government instead of protecting the rights of farmers by giving approPRIate PRIce for farm produce, strengthening Mandis and ensuring a system...

-The Indian Express The fight to retain the APMC despite its shortcomings is also a fight to extract a commitment from the government on maintaining state support to the agricultural sector. On Friday, September 25, farmers’ organisations across the country gave a call for a bandh to protest the three bills passed by Parliament. These bills, namely the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 (FPTC), the Farmers (Empowerment...

-The Indian Express Farm bills are seen by farmers to deliver freedom — not to them, but to PRIvate capital, writes Himanshu. On Friday, farmers’ organisations across the country gave a call for a bandh to protest the three bills passed by Parliament. These bills were passed amid protests by the Opposition parties, without discussion in Parliament. Even the government’s allies, such as the Shiromani Akali Dal, have raised apprehensions, lending their...

-The Telegraph Laws to hit procurement, say officials Calcutta: Three farm reform bills passed by Parliament recently may play havoc with the public distribution system in Bengal as the state government’s procurement programme is likely to get affected because of entry of big players. The Farmers’ Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on PRIce Assurance and Farm Services Bill and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill...