-The Indian Express The states must engage NGOs, factories and charities including religious organisations to raise funds for meeting the expenditure on milk, eggs, cooking oil and vegetables, and even soaps and sanitisers. Nearly one-fifth of India’s labour force consists of internal migrants. As per the 2011 census, a quARTer of the urban population consists of migrants. These tend to be predominantly male, from the less developed northern states, in the lower...

-The Indian Express/ PTI They are distributing packets containing food grains and other essential items to residents of different localities and urging citizens to strictly follow the lockdown and not venture out of their homes. Mumbai: In a move aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, some city-based NGOs and political leaders have stARTed free distribution of essential items to people, pARTicularly those residing in slum pockets. They are distributing packets containing food...

-The Hindu Noting that the pandemic is seeing a “persisting and ever escalating spread” the United Nurses Association pointed out that nurses and health workers are exposed to infection. A Kerala-based 3.8 lakh-strong nurses’ association has approached the Supreme Court saying the government has not formulated a National Management Protocol for COVID-19 to address the serious concerns relating to imminent and extreme risks posed to the health and safety of medical personnel...

-The Hindu Survey cites logistics issues and absence of orders, among others, as reasons Chennai: About 71% of the MSME establishments were unable to pay either pARTially or fully the wages due for March 2020 either due to logistics issue or absence of orders, among other issues, according to All India Manufacturers Organisation (AIMO). AIMO, which is an apex trade body focused on the interests of the MSME sector, surveyed over 5,000 traders/MSMEs...

-The Indian Express/ PTI The immediate relief that migrant workers wanted was rations, then a promise of monthly support. About 83 per cent of them worried that they would not be able to find work at the end of the shutdown. New Delhi: A survey of 3,196 migrant construction workers whose livelihood has been disrupted after the announcement of the 21-day lockdown over COVID-19 paints a dismal picture of migrant lives, especially...