-IndiaToday.in In the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, most people do not have smartphones or proper access to the internet. The mandatory online registration for Covid-19 vaccination has made inoculation inaccessible for this belt. India’s vaccination policy mandates that all in the age group of 18 to 44 register themselves in advance using the CoWIN website, Aarogya Setu app or Umang app in order to get vaccinated against Covid-19. No walk-in vaccinations...

-The Hindu Savvy urban residents book slots in rural PHCs while villagers sans smart phones are unable to register The government-mandated online registration process for COVID-19 vaccination has starkly exposed the digital divide in Telangana, with the Internet savvy urban population cornering access while the poorer, less aware rural people are left out as the second phase is rolled out. Unable to find online slot in the Twin Cities, several urban residents are...

-Hindustan Times There has been limited assessment of the pandemic’s wider effects on the children of migrants. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, in response to a petition filed by NGO Child Rights Trust, asked for data from all states and Union Territories on children of migrant workers. Nitin Kumar’s eyes were full of despair as he waited along with his parents for a bus to Hardoi at Anand Vihar bus station on...

-The Hindu Notes several instances of govt pressure on media outlets Washington DC: In its 2020 Human Rights Report, the U.S. State Department said the harassment and detention of journalists critical of the (Indian) government in their reporting and on social media, has continued, although the government generally respected the freedom of expression. It also said government’s requests for user data from Internet companies had increased “dramatically.” The report, which is submitted each...

-The Indian Express The data released by UNICEF notes that more than 888 million children worldwide continue to face disruptions to their education due to full and partial school closures. As many as 1.5 million schools remained shut during 2020 due to the pandemic and lockdowns, impacting 247 million children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in India, according to data released by UNICEF Wednesday. “Online education is not an option for all...