Reportage
Sip of death: A Kol tribe toddler and her great-grandmother dead; several villagers suffer diarrhoea due to polluted water in Mirzapur, UP
A two-year-old girl and her great-grandmother died following severe diarrhoea in Dadra village of Mirzapur. At least 11 more villagers were hospitalised, and three remain critical. The Jal Nigam has collected the ‘contaminated’ water samples for testing. Villagers claim they have been forced to drink polluted water for decades.
Brijendra Dubey
Load off their backs, despair in their hearts
Thousands of palledars (porters) in Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi who are not formally recognised as labourers fight for survival during the pandemic, even as government support bypasses them.
Akash Pandey
After the second wave, COVID19 cases again start rising in India; Maharashtra, Andhra, Kerala, Delhi register an increase
In the past couple of days, a number of Indian states have started to register an increase in the daily COVID cases. Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab have reported an increases. However, daily cases continue to drop in Uttar Pradesh.
Shivani Gupta
Explained: Delta Plus variant — how risky is it? Are COVID19 vaccines effective?
The Delta Plus or the AY.1 variant of the COVID19 virus has been reported from the Indian states of Kerala, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Union government has issued an advisory to these three states to take measures to contain the outbreak. Here’s what we know so far.
Gaon Connection
‘Rice and wheat in India are lot less nutritious than they were 50 years ago’
Whereas the country is now producing record foodgrains, the presence of essential nutrients in rice and wheat has fast depleted over the course of 50 years, a recent joint study has shown. What has led to the decrease in nutrients? Is the soil overburdened with higher yields? What newer breeds of rice and wheat are needed? Details here.
Divendra Singh
A monthly hike of Rs 1500 for ASHAs in Maharashtra; strike called off but frontline workers far from satisfied
At least 77,000 frontline health workers across Maharashtra called off their week-long strike after the state government announced a monthly honorarium hike. An expensive smartphone will also be provided to them. Data for dead ASHA workers still being compiled.
Shivani Gupta
Water mills of Uttarakhand seek government support
For hundreds of years, gharats or water mills, have been helping hill communities crush grains into flour. Many of them now lie in ruins. How did such a vibrant culture crumble?
Bhim Singh Rawat
Seeds of change: Using seeds of kusum, karanj and imli, tribal women in Jharkhand turn agri-entrepreneurs
At least 4,000 kisan didis and tribal women in Simdega district are earning livelihoods by collecting, selling and extracting oils from seeds of the forest produce that were otherwise sold at a throwaway price to middlemen.
Shivani Gupta
Explained: Double burden of COVID19 and Tuberculosis
Is there a direct link between Coronavirus and tuberculosis? What are the long-term impacts of delay in TB diagnosis due the pandemic? What’s the integrated approach for prevention and care of COVID-19 and TB patients? Details here.
Gaon Connection
Software to determine which COVID19 patient needs a ventilator
Using certain parameters, a software determines who needs early access to a ventilator. This will help avoid the panic, like during the second wave where everyone was seeking oxygen and ventilator beds. The software is being used in three COVID care centres in West Bengal.