-The Hindu Spells of impoverishment during the pandemic were not infrequent, and lower castes and minorities bore the brunt of it Few observations survive the test of time. Fewer gain significance over time. Engel’s Law is a case in point. A version is that the poorer a family, “the greater the proportion of the total outgo which must be used for food. The proportion of the outgo used for food, other things...

-The Hindu Hunger Watch-2 finds income dip and hunger, despite no national lockdown. India’s second wave that didn’t see a national lockdown like in the first failed to significantly alleviate economic distress and hunger among the poor, according to a survey of 6,500 respondents in 14 States. The survey, Hunger Watch–2, was commissioned by the Right To Food Campaign and The Centre for Equity Studies from December–2021 to January 2022 to evaluate economic...

-The Hindu Economic hardship, chronic unemployment and farm distress appear to be at the centre of public discussion The Uttar Pradesh elections of 2022 are the most important Assembly elections in living memory. The poll outcome in India’s weightiest State will be a crucial metric of public sentiment ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Uttar Pradesh invites attention not merely because of its size but right now because of its centrality...

-The Hindu Business Line At present, panchayats make no contribution to the design of schemes. Their autonomy is negligible. This needs to change Decentralisation has long been recognised as an efficient instrument for promoting economic democracy, and delivering services to meet the needs of people. There are three different channels for decentralisation — political, administrative and fiscal. Political decentralisation promotes trust and cooperation between government agencies and citizens. Administrative decentralisation enables authority...

-The Hindu Cabinet clears ₹2.17 lakh cr. in additional Central and State funding to achieve target Having achieved only 55% of its target, the Centre has extended its deadline to provide pucca houses to all families in rural India by two years, to 2024. In a decision taken by the Cabinet on Wednesday, the flagship rural housing scheme, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, will be provided ₹2.17 lakh crore in additional Central and State...