Except in war-time, capitalism invariably seeks to control inflation by creating a recession; and this is so even when the inflation has been caused by an autonomous increase in capitalists’ profit-margins which are downward inflexible and hence would not be reduced by a recession. This strategy is pursued because a recession invariably lowers the demand for primary commodities and hence their prices; this serves to lower inflation.
IN discussions about the laws and policies passed and implemented by the Modi government in recent years, one crucial similarity is often overlooked. Many of the policies, such as the farmers' law, labour laws, environmental laws, and forest act, have been modelled after those of the colonial era. This point was repeatedly emphasised during the farmers' protests, which became one of the most radical and determined movements in independent India's history and lasted for a whole year at the borders of the capital.
The Social Audit Unit held 15,942-gram sabhas in every single ward of rural LSGs to audit projects worth Rs 4,000 crore completed through MGNREGA.
KERALA has become the first state in the country to complete a total social audit of the works carried out under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the state. The audit was held in the wards of each rural local self government (LSG) in Kerala through gram sabha meetings.
The BJP high command finally announced the first list of 189 candidates on April 11th late at night, after being subjected to hectic lobbying, threats, pressure tactics by candidates, and even senior leaders, as well as endless consultations, discussions, and postponements for several days. Eight sitting MLAs have been denied tickets, and most of them are unhappy, with some, including Minister S Angara, expressing their discontent openly.
SUMMER has well and truly set in all over India. Monthly average temperatures in February have been the hottest since 1901. Temperatures were unusually high in western India in parts of Maharashtra and Konkan, and areas in Rajasthan recording as much as 7 C (degrees Celsius) higher than normal.
THE Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ), in a statement issued on April 8, has strongly opposed the amendments made to the IT Rules 2021. The amendments in fact change the very nature and mandate of the Press Information Bureau, giving them virtual policing powers.
More than 19,000 OBC, SC and ST students have dropped out of IITs, IIMs and Central Universities in the past five years.
MORE than 19,000 students from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) have dropped out of central universities, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in the past five years.
THE observance of the centenary of Vaikom Satyagraha, one of the landmark social protest movements in Kerala, began on March 30. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin kick-started the centenary observance on April 1. Several other organisations also marked the occasion. They included the Indian National Congress, SNDP and some Hindu organisations. Almost all the Malayalam dailies carried articles and comments by eminent intellectuals and activists on the Satyagraha.
THE end of last month was marred by violent communal tensions and clashes in various parts of West Bengal. It is evident that organising Ram Navami processions has become a new tactic for Hindutva forces to incite communal activities and disrupt people's unity. Initially, the state government attempted to evade responsibility after failing to ensure law and order. The official statement was that a part of the police force did nothing to intervene. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee initially claimed that they were taking steps to maintain and restore peace.
THE All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), in a statement issued on April 11, has expressed its deep concern over mounting miseries of farmers and agricultural workers due to the recent spree of rainfall and hailstorm in different states, especially in north India. Unseasonal rain in Maharashtra, hailstorm and rains over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir have led to massive damage to crops.