Reportage
The lockdown hits orange farmers hard
Many farmers had hoped for good profit following the prolonged monsoon last year and were even expecting a windfall after production in China halted due to coronavirus. But they are now staring at losses due to the inclement weather that damaged crop and the lockdown that affected transportation
Arvind Shukla
India needs faster testing to deal with coronavirus
The low test rate of coronavirus in India continues to be a matter of constant discussion. Why did India start the screening so late? Why is the number of testings so low? From January 18 to March 23, India received 15 lakh people from abroad. Were all of them examined? Are these people under supervision of the health department?
Neetu Singh
Lockdown: In the mass exodus, many are stranded hungry and in desperate need of help
The labourers, most hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, are in great distress, as they are stuck in the absence of any transport
Kushal Mishra
“We were stuck in Wuhan. We were told that everything would be back to normal after the first quarantine, but …”
“We remained at home from January 23 to February 26. We ate whatever we had. The supermarkets didn’t have much stock. Eventually, the supermarkets were asked to shut shop. The government didn’t help us at all”
Neetu Singh
Centre, state governments issue orders exempting many agriculture and allied activities from the lockdown
The farmers will be able to go to their fields freely. They will also be able to take their crops to the mandi. So, now the lockdown will not affect agricultural work. However, farmers have been urged to observe coronavirus guidelines at all times
Arvind Shukla
Around 139 million internal migrants have been left out from the benefits of relief packages
These measures by the state and the central governments are restricted to beneficiaries under existing schemes, which do not include migrants who are unable to get themselves registered
Nivedita Jayaram
Dialysis patients not getting consumables or easy access to hospitals during the lockdown
Lockdown: Suppliers of dialysis consumables are reporting a shortage; kidney failure patients are finding it difficult to reach hospitals for dialysis without which they run the risk of dying
Nidhi Jamwal
Coronavirus lockdown: What can be done immediately to help the vulnerable population
Covid-19’s spread and subsequent lockdowns have created economic havoc in the lives of millions employed in the informal sector and those working as casual labour. Here are some suggestions
Reetika Khera
The Central government’s Rs 1.70 lakh crore relief package for the poor cuts no ice
Members of the Right To Food Campaign and organisations working with informal sector workers demand wider measures to support the poor and vulnerable during coronavirus pandemic
Nidhi Jamwal
“Remember Contagion, the sci-fi movie? Coronavirus is now as real as the sun rising in the East”
Just like in most of the Hollywood movies, the doomsday hits the greatest city in the world – the New York City — this microscopic virus too has done the same. New York is now an epicenter