Covid-19: From bad to worse for women workers
Context: The COVID-19 pandemic has destroyed millions of livelihoods and led to a sudden and large increase in poverty and a massive disruption of the labour market in India. Women workers, in particular, have borne a disproportionate burden. As the country meets the challenge of the second wave of the pandemic, it is crucial to […]
The crime of enforced disappearances must end
Context: After the February 2021 military launched a coup d’état to overthrow the democratically elected government in Myanmar, the democracy movement in Myanmar is at a critical juncture with the military committed to suppressing the people’s movement and the police carrying out unimaginable acts of violence and oppression against those demanding freedom of expression and […]
Reforming medical education
Context: India’s health systems have been confronting numerous challenges. In order to effectively address these challenges, our health systems must be strengthened. NITI Aayog’s recently put across a proposal for allowing private entities to take over district hospitals for converting them into teaching hospitals with at least 150 seats. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice (Social Sector […]
Activists in Karnataka on Child Marriages in Lockdown
Context: Some activists and organisations of Karnataka have raised the issue of increased child marriages in Lockdown with the Ministry of Women and Child Development. According to a report published in December 2020 by ChildLine India, the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have proved to be new drivers of child marriages in rural Madhya Pradesh. […]
Asha workers lack protective gear & tools in UP
Context: Asha workers – the thousands of frontline workers tasked with surveillance and monitoring of COVID-19 in rural Uttar Pradesh are suffering from absence of proper protective gear and equipment. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice (Government Schemes and Intiitatives) Dimensions of the Article: What is ASHA? The details task assigned to ASHA workers under National Health […]
A National Health Service in India
Context: The current surge in COVID-19 infections has exposed problems amounting to near-chaos throughout Indian healthcare, even if the pandemic has also brought to light Herculean attempts by medical staff, patients’ families, and governments to try and cope with what has been called a tsunami, one which is rapidly getting worse. In effect, COVID-19 may […]
Rajasthan MLA Local Area Development (LAD) Fund
Context: The Rajasthan Government has approved a proposal to provide Rs. 3 crore each from the MLA Local Area Development (LAD) Fund to mobilise resources for Covid-19 Vaccination of the people in the age group of 18 to 44 years. For meeting the expenses, the fund for each legislator has been increased from Rs. 2.25 […]
SC declares Maratha quota law unconstitutional
Context: A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court unanimously declared a Maharashtra law which provides reservation benefits to the Maratha community, taking the quota limit in the State in excess of 50%, as unconstitutional. The SC said: The Centre alone is empowered to identify socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC) and include them in […]
‘One Health’ approach that targets people, animals
Context: Discussions that took place around World Veterinary Day, on April 24, 2021, focused on acknowledging the interconnectedness of animals, humans, and the environment, an approach referred to as “One Health”. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice (Issues related to Health, Government Interventions and Policies) Mains Questions: What is One Health and what is India’s approach towards […]
Vande Bharat: One of the top civilian evacuations
Context: The Vande Bharat Mission (VBM), which started repatriating Indians stranded abroad due to COVID-19 and the resultant lockdowns since May 7 2020 has turned out to be one of the largest evacuations of civilians by a country. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice, Governance (Government Policies & Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: India’s Evacuations in the […]