Somesh Jha &Amp; Archis Mohan

Stories by Somesh Jha &Amp; Archis Mohan

The coming vegetable crisis

The coming vegetable crisis

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2020

There have been several instances of traders dumping fruits and vegetables outside mandis. Or of farmers dumping produce outside their villages or feeding them to their animals.

60 officers to address worker issues during shutdown

60 officers to address worker issues during shutdown

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2020

The labour ministry has made public a list of 60 officers -- essentially labour commissioners in 20 regions across the country -- along with their e-mail address and contact numbers. They will deal with distress calls from workers who are working under the 'central sphere'.

Why India may defeat coronavirus

Why India may defeat coronavirus

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2020

'What is hindering us is the fear for the disease.' 'For those below the age of 55 years, it's a mild disease.' 'So take care of yourself, your family and your parents.'

Delhi govt asks trade unions to help find labour

Delhi govt asks trade unions to help find labour

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2020

The Centre and state governments are struggling to restart at least some industrial activity as it becomes apparent that the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) could be extended beyond April 14, and stocks of essential commodities need replenishing across the country. State governments, particularly those like Delhi that witnessed an exodus of migrant workers after the lockdown was announced, say there are not enough labourers in the city to work in factories and warehouses.

Govt begins mapping migrant workers to work out relief package

Govt begins mapping migrant workers to work out relief package

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2020

The Union home ministry and the labour ministry have asked state governments to coordinate with the chief labour commissioner's (CLC's) office to give a comprehensive data of all the migrant workers by April 11.

Government takes up pay cut, layoffs with India Inc

Government takes up pay cut, layoffs with India Inc

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2020

A senior official in the central labour commissioner's office said the efforts of the government were to resolve the cases amicably and not to press for legal action against employers. "Everyone is going through tough times. We could initiate legal action if we want but that's not the idea. We want to address the issues amicably," the official said.

Many MPs not keen to donate funds to PM CARES

Many MPs not keen to donate funds to PM CARES

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2020

Many feel that the money from their MPLADS should go directly to a district hospital in their respective constituencies rather than a central fund like PM CARES. Archis Mohan reports.

Revealed: Politics behind the long walk home

Revealed: Politics behind the long walk home

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2020

The Centre and state governments bonded and then fell apart during the longest lockdown walk.

The coronavirus flight: How Indians helped Indians

The coronavirus flight: How Indians helped Indians

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2020

Bureaucratic insensitivity gave way to compassion with the state administration, police and passersby joining forces to help the stream of Indians fleeing Delhi.

Why migrant labourers have little choice but to head home

Why migrant labourers have little choice but to head home

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2020

Around 81 per cent of the workers constitute the unorganised sector - devoid of any social security cover and outside the purview of a complex set of labour laws.

Bonanza for around 30 mn industrial workers

Bonanza for around 30 mn industrial workers

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2020

The Seventh Pay Commission had decided to choose the CPI-IW as the index for adjusting inflation for central government employees.

RBI to rejig financial year in line with government's

RBI to rejig financial year in line with government's

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2020

Taking advantage of the RBI's different accounting year, the Centre had started demanding an interim dividend till the time the latter's final balance sheet is prepared (usually in August). To address this anomaly, an expert committee led by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan had recommended aligning the RBI's financial year with that of the government.

WhatsApp Pay gets nod, eyes lion's share of market

WhatsApp Pay gets nod, eyes lion's share of market

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2020

Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp has secured regulatory approval for launching its digital payment platform -- WhatApp Pay -- in a phased manner, close to two years after the US-based company's pilot run.

Why EPFO blocked accounts of 1 mn employees

Why EPFO blocked accounts of 1 mn employees

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2020

The government has found about 900,000 beneficiaries of its flagship job formalisation scheme, the PMRPY, were ineligible in the first place as they were part of the formal economy even before the inception of the scheme. The EPFO has also recovered Rs 222 crore so far from the employers concerned.

Will bank customers pay for higher depositors' insurance?

Will bank customers pay for higher depositors' insurance?

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2020

'The banks cannot pass on the hike in premiums to its customers, according to the norms. The premium won't go up substantially in any case and may be hiked to 12-13 paise (per deposit of Rs 100 a year),' Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar said.

Govt wants Rs 10,000 cr interim dividend from RBI to bridge fiscal gap

Govt wants Rs 10,000 cr interim dividend from RBI to bridge fiscal gap

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2020

This demand comes at a time when the government is falling short of its revenue targets due to dwindling tax and low disinvestment receipts. It could account for the dividend in the upcoming Union Budget on February 1. RBI is, however, yet to take a final call on the government's demand and might decide on this at its central board meeting scheduled for February 15 in New Delhi.

Bengal becomes 4th state to pass anti-CAA resolution

Bengal becomes 4th state to pass anti-CAA resolution

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2020

Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan are the other three states to pass a resolution opposing the contentious legislation, reports Archis Mohan.

What BJP wants in Budget: Not tax cut, but solutions to 'real problems'

What BJP wants in Budget: Not tax cut, but solutions to 'real problems'

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2020

Sources said much has been done to ease the tax burden of the middle classes in the last five years, and that such a measure affects only a limited segment of people when the focus should be to put money in rural areas. Archis Mohan reports.

RBI plans to put weak private lenders under the hammer

RBI plans to put weak private lenders under the hammer

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2020

The banking regulator is seeking an early exit mechanism for private banks under Prompt Corrective Action.

JNU fallout: Professor quits statistics panel

JNU fallout: Professor quits statistics panel

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2020

C P Chandrasekhar, who has served on key statistical panels in the past both as a chairman and member, said he was present in the campus when the ruckus broke out on Sunday and found the incident "disturbing" and "unprecedented", and that it further undermined the faith in the system. Somesh Jha reports.