2.37 billion people lacked access to adequate food in 2020 — that’s 320 million more as compared to 2019: Report
The United Nations report highlighted that poverty and inequality are underlying structural causes of food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms. More details here.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
‘Covax, a beautiful solution for vaccine equity, delayed because vaccine manufacturers not prioritising it’
COVID19 has sickened nearly 181 million people, and some
four million of them have succumbed to the disease. In a webinar, Soumya Swaminathan, the chief scientist at the World Health Organization stated that even after persistent calls to end ‘vaccine apartheid’ and promote equity in vaccine distribution, rich countries are not doing much.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
A week after Cyclone Yaas, people struggle for drinking water; their farmlands and fish ponds destroyed
A low death toll in a cyclone need not mean less damage, and Cyclone Yaas proves that. Millions have been affected by the cyclone – their houses have been damaged and sources of livelihoods wiped off. The repeated cycle of disasters in the region has trapped them in poverty.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Cancer survivor’s telemedicine centre links medics with villagers in remote areas
At 12 he was diagnosed with a type of bone cancer and his family struggled to get him treated. Now, at 27, Sandeep Kumar from Uttar Pradesh’s Sant Kabir Nagar runs ‘DigiSwasthya’ telemedicine centre that links up villagers with doctors to provide free medical consultation.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Explained: First case of ‘yellow fungus’ reported from Ghaziabad — why fungal infections are on the rise amidst COVID19
Experts have attributed the recent cases of black fungus and white fungus infections in India as an aftermath of COVID19 infection and an extremely compromised immune system. Is the same applicable for yellow fungus? More details here.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Cyclone Tauktae: 33 people reportedly dead, several fishermen missing and fishing boats badly damaged
The extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae that made a landfall in Gujarat last night has left a trail of destruction along the western coast of India. Damages still being assessed.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
COVID19 impact: 15 million salaried workers lose job permanently, women workers suffer worst
Between December 2019 and December 2020, around 230 million people across India dived below the minimum wage threshold, finds a recent report by the Azim Premji University. Several people in rural India have lost their jobs since the lockdown last March.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Teachers’ union threatens to boycott UP panchayat elections and vote-counting exercise
At least 32 teachers in Lakhimpur Kheri district have died of COVID19 due to poll duties, alleges the state-level body of the Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh, a teachers’ union. It has appealed to the State Election Commission to postpone the ongoing panchayat polls and has also threatened to boycott the vote-counting scheduled for May 2.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
“We were hoping to go back to our jobs… but Corona has again ruined all prospects”
With the second wave of COVID19 causing unprecedented loss of lives since the pandemic began, residents of rural India narrate their experiences of last year’s lockdown.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Amid rising COVID19 cases, migrant workers in rural UP anxious about another lockdown
Having returned to their villages from cities a year back, migrant workers in rural Uttar Pradesh have exhausted their savings and were hoping to get back to their workplaces after Holi festival. But what is holding them back is the fear of another lockdown as corona cases surge due to the ‘second wave’ of COVID19.