-TheWire.in The nature of their work has exposed female workers to a higher degree of abuse and exploitation in the absence of an underlying social or economic safety net An indifferent government’s response to the current pandemic and its economic impact is now presenting a set of scenarios that is likely to exacerbate deep-rooted inequities, otherwise entrenched in different socio-political, economic forms. One particular group worst affected by the economic crisis, particularly within...
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Centre's 'Surplus' Rice to Ethanol Move Goes Back to a March Meeting Chaired by Modi -Kabir Agarwal
-TheWire.in The decision, which has been severely criticised as it comes in the wake of rising hunger in the country, was defended by the government as being needed to manufacture alcohol-based hand sanitisers. New Delhi: A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 3, 2020 all but cleared the way for the government’s much-criticised decision to convert ‘surplus’ rice to ethanol, information obtained by The Wire via the Right...
More »Through rain and floods, Assam’s community workers battle pandemic -Tora Agarwala
-The Indian Express Floods might be as old as Assam, but fighting a pandemic in these swirling waters is a whole new challenge for even the most seasoned health worker. GUWAHATI: It is the wind that has helped Pratima Barman plan her day as an accredited social health activist (ASHA) in Assam’s Dibrugarh district for seven years now. In the sapori (island) village where Barman lives, a strong gusty wind, coupled with...
More »How Have the Centre’s Food Distribution Schemes Performed So Far? -Kabir Agarwal
-TheWire.in Food distribution under the PMGKY and Atmanirbhar Bharat package has been marked by delays. New Delhi: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) till the end of November. Under the scheme, 800 million ration card holders who are beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NSFA) are entitled to five kg additional grain (wheat or rice) per month per person....
More »Clutching at straws -TK Rajalakshmi
-Frontline.in The government uses specious arguments on COVID deaths and recoveries in comparison with other countries to cover up for its ill-thought-out strategies. On June 1, while briefing the media, the Joint Secretary (Health), Lav Agarwal, presented several PowerPoint graphs showing how India’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was on a par with, if not better than, many countries vis-a-vis mortality and recovery rates. This was on a day when the number...
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