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Covid-19 crisis: How can India ensure that agricultural markets work in a socially distanced manner?

April 13, 2020

(Scroll.in; Gurpreet Singh and Nivedita Sharma )

To keep agricultural markets operational while maintaining the norms of social distancing, FPOs can play a crucial role. These should be empowered with all support to ensure smooth operations of agricultural supply chains avoiding distressed sales during the lockdown period.

COVID-19 Lockdown: Prospects for Labour Mobility and Employment

April 10, 2020

( Gurpreet Singh )

The employment conditions may worsen as a number of businesses will be permanently affected due to COVID-19 lockdown. To avoid an increase in unemployment, policies should be prioritised towards the rural economy.

What Does the COVID-19 Lockdown Mean for Food Security?

April 6, 2020

(The Wire; Gurpreet Singh )

At a time when the Rabi crop is ready for harvest and the Kharif crop will be sown, quick and effective policy responses are required.

How Reliable are The Tax Revenue Projections in Union Budget 2020-21?

February 19, 2020

( Suraj Jaiswal )

Taxes are the biggest source of revenue for the Indian government. In 2017-18, the latest year for which the centre and states combined data is available, out of the combined centre-state estimated expenditure of Rs. 48.6 lakh crore, about Rs. 30 lakh crore (62 percent) was to be financed through tax revenue.

While Malnutrition Rages, Nutrition-Related Schemes Get 19% Less Funding

February 13, 2020

(IndiaSpend; Happy Pant and )

Budget 2020 does not address the financial and resource shortages affecting nutrition interventions in India, an analysis of budget data shows. Public provisioning for nutrition is important given the persistently high levels of malnutrition in India.

Improving Road Safety in India - The Need of the Hour

February 11, 2020

( Vijayta Mahendru )

Few years ago, a friend of mine, Brazilian, remarked – “Indian roads are the closest to anarchy that I have ever felt”. Incidentally, last month, the famous comic from US, Gabriel Iglesias aka Fluffy after his visit to India, made a 25-minute-long stand-up about his experience on the same issue.

Can India meet its new ambitions for sanitation and water?

February 11, 2020

(IRC Wash; Trisha Agarwala )

India, once “vilified as the nation with the biggest population of open defecators in the world” declared it became open defecation free (ODF) in October 2019. This was the result of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) or Clean India Mission.

Shrinking Education Budget Has Hit Scholarships For Students From Deprived Communities

January 30, 2020

(IndiaSpend; Protiva Kundu )

Substantial reduction in the education budget over the last five years has reduced allocations for scholarships given to students from marginalised communities, affecting their ability to stay in the education system, shows an analysis of government data between 2015-16 and 2019-20.

Is Rent Control the Means to Affordable Housing?

January 3, 2020

( Drishti Rastogi )

Delhi is one of the biggest and fastest growing metropolises, not just in India but in the world. As Delhi approaches its mammoth task of building the Master Plan 2041, we recognize that one of the major challenges before the planners continues to be provision of affordable housing.

Making DISHA meetings effective at the level of Districts-Possible options

December 31, 2019

( Nilachala Acharya )

Public goods and services are characterised by non-rivalry in consumption and non-excludability in provision. Hence, it is very difficult to ascertain the effectiveness of public provisioning using any tool or method, which can measure effectiveness of public expenditure.

How is DISHA implemented on the ground: A reality check?

December 27, 2019

( Nilachala Acharya )

Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, announced the formation of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DDCMC), termed as “DISHA” in July 2016.

Financial Performance of MGNREGS in Balasore District, Odisha

December 20, 2019

( Naresh Kumar Nayak and Mampi Bose )

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) aims to provide secure livelihood opportunities to the rural population of the country by generating 100 days of employment to each household in every financial year.