Rapid Urbanisation Turns Mumbai into Heat Island

IT has been proved by the works of many scientists that the changing dynamics of increased urbanisation has resulted in the change in energy balance, especially in the metropolitan cities like Mumbai.

Privatisation of BPCL: A Hazardous Sell-off

THE Narendra Modi dispensation, in its second term, is advancing its privatisation drive at a perilous speed. The government is on a selling spree getting rid of public sector industries, which are the backbone of our economy, one by one. The move to sell majority shares of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is the latest in the list. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has already invited request for proposals from eligible parties to work as transaction and legal advisors, and asset valuers for five PSUs, including BPCL.

Lakhs of Jobs Lost as Modi Govt’s Policies Fail

INDIA is in the grip of a deep economic crisis, the depth of which is being under-estimated by mainstream media, apologetic economists and, of course, by the ruling government itself. What is officially known and analysed are things like the dip in economic growth (it is down to 5 per cent), declining investment, stagnating bank credit, fall in private consumption expenditure and other such macro-economic indicators.

Motive behind Reduction of ESIC Contribution

THE press release of the government in the late evening of June 13, announcing reduction in the contribution for Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme hit the pages of national press on June 14.The move appears to be good in that workers will be able to enjoy ESI benefits with a lower contribution as the medical and other benefits rendered by the ESI Corporation (ESIC) will continue to be the same. CITU and the Left trade unions vehemently opposed the role of the government. Sections of the media criticised them for taking such a critical view.

CPI(M) Submits Note in All Party Meeting

Below we publish the note submitted by Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of CPI(M), at the meeting of heads of all political parties represented in parliament on June 19, 2019.ON behalf of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), I express my thanks for being invited to this meeting and present our views. The listed agenda consists of five issues: (a) ways to improve the productivity of the parliament; (b) one country one election; (c) building of a New India in the 75th year of Independence; (d) programme and commitments to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary; and

SFI Opposes Three Language Formula

THE Students Federation of India(SFI), through a press statement released on June 2 has responded to the proposed draft National Education Policy released by the HRD ministry. It has opposed the idea of the imposition of three-language formula from primary level of school education. The SFI does not stand as pro or anti to any language as the multi-linguistic nature of India should always be exercised and celebrated. The SFI has stated that it wants the government to step forward to preserve and care for each and every regional language to celebrate the linguistic diversity of India.

Systematic Attack on the Rural masses by the BJP Government

UNDER the pressure of long struggles of working peoples’ organisations for the right to work including the All India Agricultural Workers Union(AIAWU), the UPA-I government which came to power with the Left support, brought in a National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. This was later renamed as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). SUCCESS OF MGNREGADespite all its limitations and problems in implementation, MGNREGA has proved its utility in rural India in periods of economic and agrarian distress in the last decade.

PMFBY: Profiting from Farmers’ Distress

AMONG the series of schemes launched (or repackaged) by the Modi led NDA government, one of the most toxic is the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Its purpose is to provide crop insurance to farmers, that is, if the crop fails due to some non-preventable reason like weather calamity etc, then the farmers will be compensated for this loss.

Slow Strangling of MGNREGS

HERE is a little known but chilling fact about the rural job guarantee scheme (MGNREGS): between April and mid-December this year, about 1.28 crore people who demanded jobs were turned back. This refusal to give work has been happening every year but it has increased after the Modi government came to power and it has already hit a record high with over three months still left in this financial year.Meanwhile from different states, there are reports of protests by labourers over delayed wages, blocked accounts, missing money, and no work.

The Movement on Old Pension Scheme and the Politics of UPA and NDA

THE new economic policy initiated by the Narsimha Rao government in 1991 has widened the gap between the rich and the poor manifold. The liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation policies have hit the basic services like health, education hard and made them highly expensive.

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Peoples Democracy

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