Decontrolling Drug Prices

ON September 22, 2014, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) withdrew at the behest of the central government, which was bowing to the pressure from drug companies, its July 10 order capping the prices of 108 life-saving drugs. These drugs are essential for treating a whole range of diseases from diabetes to cancer, to tuberculosis, to HIV/AIDS to cardiac diseases. The sequence of events is as follows.

AIDWA Demands Full Protection to Meerut Woman

The following is the press statement issued by the All India Democratic Women’s Association on October 13.

Jayalalithaa’s Conviction and After

SPECIAL Judge and 36th Additional Sessions Judge John Michael Cunha delivered a historic judgment in Bengaluru on September 27, 2014, holding the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu and the general secretary of the AIADMK, Selvi J Jayalalithaa guilty of charges of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentenced her, along with three others, to four years of simple imprisonment. She was also asked to pay a fine of Rs 100 crores.

Kisan Jathas Creating Waves in Rural Bengal

WEST Bengal Provincial Krishak Sabha (AIKS) started Krishak Jathas throughout the state on October 15. The jathas will crisscross entire rural Bengal for five days. The jathas, mainly at block level, will travel across all villages in the state, mobilising thousands of peasants and agricultural workers, rural poor in an unprecedented manner in recent memory.

Hudhud Ravages Visakhapatnam

THE very severe cyclonic storm Hudhud inflicted serious damage to the coastal city of Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh as it made landfall at Kailasagiri on the outskirts of the city at 11:30 am on October 12. It also seriously affected the north coastal districts of the state along with few coastal areas in Odisha. The prior warning by the Cyclone Warning Division of India Meteorological Department and its exact prediction of path of the cyclone reduced the loss of lives to 35 persons.

AIKS Protests against Import of Natural Rubber & Fall in Its Prices

THE All India Kisan Sabha, in a statement issued on October 12 has strongly protested against the import of natural rubber that causes fall in rubber prices and brings havoc in the life of around ten lakh rubber producer households especially in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa and North Eastern states. The average price of natural rubber in 2010-11 was Rs 240 per Kilogram. In the last three years it has come down heavily and now stands at Rs 110 per kilogram and small farmers are selling for Rs 95 per kilogram.

Youth in Kerala on Indefinite Hunger Strike

THE Left Democratic Youth Federation, a common platform of Left and democratic youth organisations in Kerala has launched a massive indefinite hunger strike in front of the State Secretariat building in Thiruvananthapuram, demanding the lifting of ban on recruitment and withdrawal of new tax hike.

History or Political Advocacy

“PARTISANSHIP”, at its broadest, writes eminent historian E J Hobsbawm, “may merely be another way of denying the possibility of a purely objective and value-free science, a proposition from which few historians, social scientists and philosophers would today totally dissent.

Do not Resile from the Existing Patent Law & IPR regime

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on October 13-14, 2014. It has issued the following statement.

50th Anniversary of CPI(M)

THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) is observing the 50th anniversary of its formation. The Party that was born at the Seventh Congress held in Kolkata (from October 31 to November 7, 1964) has advanced facing many trials and tribulations. On this occasion, we remember and pay homage to the thousands of comrades who became martyrs for the cause of the Party and the movement.

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