Reportage
Two years on, Babulal Singh yet to receive Rs 2 lakh for his paddy procured by the govt
Aggrieved by repeated changes and constant delays in paddy procurement and payment, protesting farmers in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh submitted a list of seven demands to the District Magistrate. At least 23 farmers await their payment of over Rs 42 lakh. Many are unable to sell their paddy at the procurement centres.
Brijendra Dubey
Farmers in Bihar brave lathis to buy urea which is in short supply
Sleepless nights, long lines, stampedes and over priced fertilisers plague farmers in Bihar who have struggled through the year, first to fertilise their paddy crops and now their wheat fields. Even if they are willing to pay a lot more, farmers are unable to access urea and DAP, and this is likely to affect crop yield.
Rahul Jha
Shut for the past 28 years, a sugar mill in Bihar owes its workers and farmers over Rs 37 crore
From producing 40 per cent of the country’s sugar between 1960 and 1970, Bihar now contributes a paltry two per cent. Today 18 of the state’s total 33 sugar mills are locked up. Warisaliganj Sugar Mill in Nawada is one such factory that owes crores to its workers and sugarcane farmers, who are left in the lurch.
Suman Shekhar
Omicron is not common cold, dangerous to suggest it is ‘just a mild’ disease: WHO
The World Health Organization has cautioned that the new variant of concern is not ‘just a mild’ disease. It warned of increasing deaths among the vulnerable and elderly. Meanwhile, India confirmed its first Omicron-related death yesterday. More details here.
Gaon Connection
COVID19: Health Ministry issues new guidelines for home isolation; night curfew imposed in Delhi
The health ministry’s revised guidelines mentioned that over the past two years, it has been seen globally as well as in India that the majority of cases are either asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms. Details here.
Gaon Connection
From royal patronage to penury, the dwindling of the ironmongers, Lohagadiyas
The Lohagadiyas, who had the patronage of the maharajas of Mewar and wrought swords for royalty, are now a nomadic tribe with no land to call their own, no access to education and with a skill no one has use for anymore.
Sachin Tulsa Tripathi
Banswara’s migrant tribal labourers are now proud organic farmers
Rural distress pushed the adivasi population of Banswara, Rajasthan to seek work far away from home. But now, with support from a local non-profit and the state government, several migrant families have returned home and taken up organic cultivation that is bearing fruit.
Laxmikanta Joshi
UP govt promises hike in honorarium of anganwadi workers ahead of polls; the workers want the assurance in writing
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an increase in the monthly honorarium of anganwadi workers from Rs 5,500 to Rs 8,000. However, the anganwadi workers want the assurance in writing, as they say they have been promised the increase since 2017, and nothing has come of it.
Shivani Gupta
A village in Bihar goes organic, transforming the lives of its women
From blistered hands and racking coughs to financial savings and bright smiles – this is the story of women of Kedia in Bihar who took up organic farming. It has not just improved the health of their families and the soil, but also transformed their own lives.
Nidhi Jamwal
Delhi’s daily COVID19 cases surpass 4,000 mark, 81% of cases between Dec 30-31 infected with Omicron
Meanwhile, nationwide 33,750 fresh COVID19 cases and 123 deaths were recorded. With 10,846 recoveries, the country’s active caseload stands at 145,582.