SUSPEND LABOUR LAWS FOR 2-3 YEARS: EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATIONS
Why in news? The Representatives of 12 employers’ associations and industry bodies on 9th May asked the government to suspend labour laws for the next two to three years to help industry come out of the present crisis. The Labour and Employment Ministry will handle by being sympathetic to the requirements of the industry and would […]
VANDE BHARAT MISSION
Why in news? The Vande Bharat Mission to bring stranded Non-Resident Keralites back home in the wake of a global lockdown following the COVID-19 pandemic got off to a firm start with two flights from the Gulf carrying 363 passengers touching down at the Cochin and Karipur airports on 7th May 2020. Vande Bharat Mission India […]
GOVT CLEARS “ROADBLOCK” TO FAST-TRACK PMEGP PROJECTS
Why in news? In a significant policy decision, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has done away with the role of District Level Task Force Committee (DLTFC), headed by the Distt. Collectors, in recommending the proposals under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP), thereby simplifying the entire procedure. As per the […]
E-NAM PLATFORM MOVING TOWARDS ONE NATION ONE MARKET
Why in news? 200 new mandis were added to the e-NAM platform from 7 States and by the end of May 2020 there will be around one thousand Mandis joining the e-NAM platform for marketing of Agricultural produce said the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. With the aim to reach the last mile […]
IT’S ABOUT FOOD, NUTRITION AND LIVELIHOOD SECURITY
Introduction The current national lockdown to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the problems of food, nutrition and livelihood security confronting a large number of rural people, in particular, migrants to cities. Some measures have been announced, such as: Provision of additional rice or wheat, some pulses and oil free of cost Rs. 1,000 cash […]
RELIGION AND FREEDOM: ON INDIA AND COMMUNAL VIOLENCE
Introduction Religious freedom is of paramount importance, not because it is about religion, but because it is about freedom. USCIRF Characterisation of India The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) characterised India as a country of particular concern, in its annual report. The Indian government repudiated the report. The U.S. has used arguments of […]
ONLY 30 LAKH FOUND MGNREGA WORK IN APRIL 2020
Why in news? Although the Centre gave explicit instructions to reopen its flagship rural jobs scheme from April 20, only 30 lakh people were provided work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in April, about 17% of the usual, government data show. In mid-April, only 1% of the usual number of […]
USCIRF DOWNGRADES INDIA IN 2020 LIST
Why in news? The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has downgraded India to the lowest ranking, “countries of particular concern” (CPC) in its 2020 report. India was categorised as a “Tier 2 country” in last year’s listing. This is the first time since 2004 that India has been placed in this category. The […]
COVID-19 A GREATER IMPACT ON WOMEN
Introduction: Inequality exposed The pandemic is exposing and exploiting inequalities of all kinds, including gender inequality. The Lockdowns increase the risk of violence towards women trapped with abusive partners. Recent weeks have seen an alarming global surge in domestic violence while support services for women at risk face cuts and closures. The threat to women’s […]
PROTECTING THE POOR FROM BECOMING POORER
Need to take a long-term view Economically vulnerable groups are being forced to sacrifice disproportionately more for the better health of society. To mitigate these deprivations, it is necessary for government safety net programmes to provide broad-based long-term support focused on specific vulnerable populations. Social inequities are seen in the current COVID-19 pandemic — note, […]