Corona Update: 30th Jan 2022

From the daily data as on 30th January 2022, it is clear that the third wave seems to be reversing now as every day the numbers of new daily cases are falling and soon the third wave will be over. The 7-days growth rate in daily confirm cases has fallen from 26.9% on 2nd Jan 2022 to -2.9% on 30th Jan 2022.

Apart from the fall in the growth rate in daily reported confirmed cases of COVID 19, the 7-days growth rate in the active cases has also fallen to -2.8% on 30th Jan from 21.9% on 9th January 2022. The new cases in most of the big metro cities are falling.

Corona Update: 23rd Jan 2022

From the daily data as on 23rd January 2022, it is clear that the trend of the previous week has reversed and the numbers of daily new infections had increased to the highest of the third wave at 3,47,041 to start falling. Like the previous waves, many peaks and troughs are expected. So this reversal in trend mightn’t be the final one. However, the ‘R’ value has fallen from 2.9 on 31st December 2021 to 1.57 on 21st January 2022. It is expected that in the next two weeks by 6th February 2022, the ‘R’ value would fall below 1 and after that the Corona curve is expected to start flattening. Also the 7-days growth rate in daily confirm cases has fallen from 26.9% on 2nd Jan 2022 to 3.7% on 23rd Jan.

Rising Inequalities in States

According to NITI Aayog's National Multidimensional Poverty Index, the highest percentage of the population in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh live in poverty in the country; while in Kerala, Goa, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu live the least percentage of population in poverty respectively. According to the survey, 51.91% of the citizens of Bihar, 42.16% of Jharkhand and 37.79% of the citizens of Uttar Pradesh are found to be living in poverty while on the other hand 0.71% in Kerala, 3.76% in Goa, 3.82% in Sikkim and 4.89% in Tamil Nadu are found to be living in poverty. Looking at these figures, it seems that these two sets of states are from two different poles, whereas the reality is that in the last seven decades, the Government of India has implemented similar schemes across the country. These figures are not only telling the differences in the distribution of income and wealth in different regions and states, but also show the difference in political and social thinking, discourse and legacies along with the process and the implementation of development schemes in these states.

Corona Update: 16th Jan 2022

From the daily data, it seems that the third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic has hit its peak (preliminary conclusion). However, to arrive at a strong conclusion, longer duration data with integrity and transparency in reporting by states is a compulsory condition. There have always been questions regarding the transparency and integrity of the reported data. So on the basis of just two weeks’ data, it is too early to arrive at a conclusive interference.

Disinvestment of PSBs is not a Solution

The government of India for decades has been pursuing the policy of disinvestment and was able to privatize many non-performing public sector undertakings (PSUs) since the implementation of liberalization, privatization and globalization (LPG). It has disinvested many non-performing firms from the manufacturing sector to services sector which are now healthy and growing. Such disinvestments have not only brought down the cost to the public exchequers but are contributing towards economic growth too. So as a whole disinvestment efforts should be termed successful. However, there had always been strong resistance to every single effort to privatize any PSU from the employees and political class citing many reasons.

Would the Conversion of AGR into Equity be Enough for Revival of Vodafone Idea

Finally the board of Vodafone Idea (VI) has approved the bailout package rolled out by the Department of Telecom (DoT) to rescue firms from the burden of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues. This will make the Government of India the largest shareholder in the company. The DoT rolled out this bailout package to provide breathers to the telecom operators from the burden of AGR dues. However, the most important question still remains unanswered. Would this conversion of AGR into equity be enough for the revival of Vodafone Idea?

Onset of Third Wave of COVID19 Infections

It is less than two weeks since the new cases of COVID19 infections have started witnessing significant increase and India is in the middle of the third wave of infections overtaking the peaks of the previous two waves. The rate at which the new infections are increasing is alarming and everyone must be careful observing social distancing and wearing masks.

The numbers of daily reported confirmed cases as on 9th January 2022 are very high in the very beginning of the third wave in comparison to the previous waves of infections. Daily reported confirmed cases may soon cross the second wave's peak in the month of January itself.

I Love Hating Ambanis and Adanis

The appointment of Mr. Paraga Agarwal as new CEO of Twitter Inc. had sparked the traditional and social media. Every social and traditional media platform was abuzz and floating with millions of congratulatory messages with pride. People are talking about the Indian CEOs of multinational companies from Staya Nadela to Sundar Pichai to Parag Agarwal. It's really good to pride in something good which can symbolize the success of the Indian system. Everyone does this, so we are! It’s very natural. But the irony of the whole story is that the same people hate Ambani, Adani and other businesses in the same breath! Isn't it strange to believe? Yes, but that’s true. Perhaps the constitutional socialist take reside in us!

भारत में सामाजिक न्याय और निर्धनता

नीति आयोग के बहुआयामी निर्धनता सूचकांक के अनुसार क्रमशः बिहार, झारखंड व उत्तर प्रदेश में देश में प्रतिशतता के आधार पर सबसे अधिक निर्धन निवास करते हैं जबकि केरल, गोवा, सिक्किम व तमिलनाडु में क्रमशः सबसे कम निर्धन निवास करते हैं। सर्वेक्षण के अनुसार बिहार के 51.91%, झारखण्ड के 42.16% व उत्तरप्रदेश के 37.79% नागरिक निर्धन हैं जबकि दूसरी ओर केरल में 0.71%, गोवा में 3.76%, सिक्किम में 3.82% व तमिलनाडु में 4.89% नागरिक निर्धन पाए गए हैं। इन आँकड़ों को देखकर लगता है कि ये आँकड़े किसी दो अलग-अलग ध्रुव के आंकड़े हैं जबकि पिछले सात दशकों में भारत सरकार ने एक ही तरह की योजनाओं को पूरे देश में लागू किया है। ये आँकड़े विभिन्न प्रदेशों में सिर्फ आय व संपति के वितरण में अन्तर ही नहीं बता रहे हैं बल्कि विकास की प्रक्रिया व क्रियान्वयन के साथ-साथ राजनैतिक व सामाजिक सोच व विमर्श के अन्तर को भी दर्शाते हैं।

Pollution, Mad Rush for Growth and Delhi

Post Diwali, Delhi had a proposal to impose a 2-day lockdown to deal with the very high level of pollution in the national capital. However, instead of imposing a 2-day lockdown, the government of Delhi ordered all the government offices, schools and colleges to function online from home which is to be lifted on 29th November 2021. The neighbouring city Gurugram had similar experiences and the Government of Haryana had to impose similar restrictions in Gurugram too like Delhi. However, the problem of pollution and high Air Quality Index (AQI) is not a new or once in a year instance but it is now a day to day problem. The average annual Air Quality Index in Delhi always remains above 150 for many years.