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Briefing
Prejudice against north-eastern region of India
Virus of racism
Racist prejudices against people from the north-eastern region in India come to the surface in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Unorganised sector
Left high and dry
The nationwide lockdown dealt a death blow to the livelihoods of lakhs of already beleaguered workers in the unorganised sector. Even as an exodus of migrant workers overwhelmed bus terminals in Delhi, State governments did little to reach out to the worst affected.
Interview: David Quammen
David Quammen: Pandemics are inevitable and costly
An interview with David Quammen, author of “Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic”.
Interview: Dr Naman Shah
‘Regional lockdowns would have been better’
Interview with Dr Naman Shah, infectious disease epidemiologist.
Legislative framework
Abdicating responsibilty
The Centre seeks to acquire disproportionate powers by using a PIL petition in order to silence criticism of the way it has handled the crisis.
Relief package
Economic policy: Conservatism rules
The inadequate “relief” package and the emphasis on monetary policy to mitigate the effects of the virus-induced shock indicate that making the necessary fiscal effort in terms of hugely enhancing spending to provide relief is not the Centre’s priority.
Enforced isolation and mental health
Mental health concerns
“Social distancing” is the antithesis of all that is considered therapeutic in mental health. Enforced isolation deprives human beings of social contact, the need for which is hard-wired into human brains.
Chasing the virus
While COVID-19’s onslaught has laid low the mighty United States and much of the developed world, in India there are differing perceptions on the 21-day lockdown strategy, which includes a low rate of testing, and its effectiveness in containing the infection.
Plight of migrant workers
Marooned in the city
The lockdown has only exposed the existing problem of the devalued and invisibilised labour of 100 million internal migrant workers and an economy that cannot ensure their sustenance and safety in the regions they work.
Government failure
Test not, find not
The government’s failure to detect, trace and isolate infected persons in the nearly two-month-long window of opportunity it had to protect people from the coronavirus shows its irresponsible handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
Economic impact
Economy in deep freeze
The Indian government has failed not only to address the health emergency posed by the virus but address the cataclysmic impact it would have on lives, livelihoods and productive capacity.
Inadequacy of public health system
Stung by scarcity
As the Indian health-care system is up against many odds in its struggle against COVID-19 with shortage of health care professionals, protective gear and ventilators, the relatively low rate of mortality may not be a cause for cheer.
Interview: Dr Naman Shah
‘Regional lockdowns would have been better’
Interview with Dr Naman Shah, infectious disease epidemiologist.
Impact on the marginalised
Double distress
The Central government announced the lockdown abruptly and with apparently no thought for how India’s millions of vulnerable and socially excluded people would be able to cope with the consequences.
Unorganised sector
Left high and dry
The nationwide lockdown dealt a death blow to the livelihoods of lakhs of already beleaguered workers in the unorganised sector. Even as an exodus of migrant workers overwhelmed bus terminals in Delhi, State governments did little to reach out to the worst affected.
Interview: David Quammen
David Quammen: Pandemics are inevitable and costly
An interview with David Quammen, author of “Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic”.
Government's response to the pandemic
Symbolism vs substance
The Prime Minister’s histrionics do not make up for his government’s failure to respond effectively and in time to the COVID-19 crisis.
Global response
Differing approaches
COVID-19 is stretching health care systems across the world, but the international community has not been able to get its act together so far to come up with an effective global response to the health crisis or its economic fallout.
Controversy
CJI Ranjan Gogoi's nomination to the Rajya Sabha: More than a sinecure
The nomination of former CJI Ranjan Gogoi to the Rajya Sabha within four months of his superannuation from the Supreme Court smacks of an unabashed bonhomie between the executive and the judiciary.
Kashmir
Chastened rivals
The release of Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah after prolonged detention points to a rethink and modified strategy on the part of the government and the N.C. leaders.
Impact on the marginalised
Double distress
The Central government announced the lockdown abruptly and with apparently no thought for how India’s millions of vulnerable and socially excluded people would be able to cope with the consequences.
Cuba's role
Cuba to the rescue
Cuba, which dispatched expert medical teams to over 59 COVID-19 affected countries, has come in for praise from the world over for its timely act of international solidarity.
Chasing the virus
While COVID-19’s onslaught has laid low the mighty United States and much of the developed world, in India there are differing perceptions on the 21-day lockdown strategy, which includes a low rate of testing, and its effectiveness in containing the infection.
Plight of migrant workers
Marooned in the city
The lockdown has only exposed the existing problem of the devalued and invisibilised labour of 100 million internal migrant workers and an economy that cannot ensure their sustenance and safety in the regions they work.
Economic impact
Economy in deep freeze
The Indian government has failed not only to address the health emergency posed by the virus but address the cataclysmic impact it would have on lives, livelihoods and productive capacity.
Government failure
Test not, find not
The government’s failure to detect, trace and isolate infected persons in the nearly two-month-long window of opportunity it had to protect people from the coronavirus shows its irresponsible handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
Inadequacy of public health system
Stung by scarcity
As the Indian health-care system is up against many odds in its struggle against COVID-19 with shortage of health care professionals, protective gear and ventilators, the relatively low rate of mortality may not be a cause for cheer.
Relief package
Economic policy: Conservatism rules
The inadequate “relief” package and the emphasis on monetary policy to mitigate the effects of the virus-induced shock indicate that making the necessary fiscal effort in terms of hugely enhancing spending to provide relief is not the Centre’s priority.
Enforced isolation and mental health
Mental health concerns
“Social distancing” is the antithesis of all that is considered therapeutic in mental health. Enforced isolation deprives human beings of social contact, the need for which is hard-wired into human brains.
Legislative framework
Abdicating responsibilty
The Centre seeks to acquire disproportionate powers by using a PIL petition in order to silence criticism of the way it has handled the crisis.
Government's response to the pandemic
Symbolism vs substance
The Prime Minister’s histrionics do not make up for his government’s failure to respond effectively and in time to the COVID-19 crisis.
Global response
Differing approaches
COVID-19 is stretching health care systems across the world, but the international community has not been able to get its act together so far to come up with an effective global response to the health crisis or its economic fallout.
Announcement
Dear Readers,The COVID-19-induced lockdown has changed our lives in unimaginable ways. India’s print medium is no exception. For the first time in the ...