Natasha Trivedi
As rural Maharashtra reels under COVID-19 second wave, health experts blame govt's 'reactive' approach, unpreparedness
Firstpost spoke to students about the situation they faced as citizen volunteers in helping COVID-19 patients secure life-saving resources at the peak of the crisis in April
Centre's farm laws, non-execution of Forest Rights Act insidiously linked, say Maharashtra's Adivasi farmers at Azad Maidan
Along with roadblocks caused due to lack of ownership of land, Adivasi farmers in Maharashtra also faced massive losses of crop due to excessive rains and floods in 2019 and 2020, for which they are yet to receive compensation
'Protesting to protect our bread and butter': Farmers at Azad Maidan say MSP, mandis crucial to sustain families
The farmers protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, who have been mobilised under the joint banner of the 'Samyukta Shetkari Kamgar Morcha', is the second of its kind; it comes almost three years after big and small farmers part of the Kisan Long March swept the city in a wave of red and white
'COVID-19 cluster' at IIT Madras: Over 100 test positive, university issues 'lockdown' till Thursday for students on campus
The Tamil Nadu govt said though the results showed a 20 percent positivity rate, there was no need for concern as measures including aggressive contact testing are in place as per the protocol
reclamation.jpg?impolicy=website&width=640&height=362)
Mumbai's fisherfolk, already facing low income, fear losing boat parking space to Coastal Road Project
The proposed reclamation of the Lotus jetty near the Haji Ali Mosque in Worli not only threatens the delicate ecosystem of the area's shoreline but will also take away the largest boat parking space available to at least 100 small fishers in the area
COVAXIN controversy: Doctors in trial sites chosen by ICMR say human trials can’t be fast forwarded, anticipate 6-month observation period
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to begin human trials of COVAXIN last week. The vaccine has been developed in collaboration with the ICMR and National Institute of Virology in Pune.
Bharat Biotech has passed mandated protocols, animal testing and is now in clinical development of Covid vaccine, Dr Krishna Ella tells Firstpost
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, one of seven Indian companies involved in the indigenous production of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, received the green signal from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to begin human trials of 'Covaxin' last week.
Jharkhand's daily-wage labourers left out of PDS safety net fear starvation as employment dries up during COVID-19 lockdown
The white ration card has become a bane for many daily-wage workers in many districts of Jharkhand, especially Palamu, Simdega, West Singhbhum, and Bokar. More so, since the nationwide lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic has left them without any income for more than two months.
Hemant Soren govt says no hunger deaths in Jharkhand; activists question claim, say lack of accountability will hurt marginalised
In the past, Hemant Soren has repeatedly criticised the former BJP government’s “stoic silence” over hunger deaths in Jharkhand.
'CAA, NRC are not only against Muslims, but whole country': Student leaders lead charge against 'divisive' policy at Mumbai's Azad Maidan
Students, activists, and citizens gathered in south Mumbai's Azad Maidan for another large-scale protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register for Citizens (NRC) on Friday. Named 'Inquilaab Morcha', the gathering was one of the many nationwide protests in resistance to the CAA since the contentious law was passed by Parliament on 11 December.
Anti-tribal governance of Raghubar Das cost BJP Jharkhand: 'Local' Hemant Soren spoke to us in our language, nailed it with his campaign, say voters
With the Bharatiya Janata Party having lost in 26 out of 28 Adivasi-dominated constituencies in Jharkhand, the tribal community has emerged as a decisive voice against the saffron party in the 2019 Assembly election. Jharkhand is the fifth state that the BJP has lost in last one year.
Complete breakdown of welfare schemes like PDS, MNREGA in Jharkhand's Latehar district: Villagers blame loopholes, lackadaisical officials
While issues in the PDS scheme have affected people across Jharkhand, activists pointed to another factor that has contributed to the spate of starvation deaths - loopholes in implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA or NREGA), and the lack of accountability for its failure in the state.
As Jharkhand votes, no party discusses mob-lynching cases, self-appointed gau rakshaks: Tale of 3 affected villages, and how they are getting by without govt aid
The violence, which has largely taken a toll on marginalised population, has been on the rise under the BJP-led Raghubar Das government since 2016.
Jharkhand election: Rise of starvation deaths, breakdown of welfare schemes to influence tribal voting
The five-phase election beginning on 30 November is the first time the Raghubar Das government could face the ire of the electorate over the issue that has largely affected the state’s Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, which make up 38 percent of the population
Jharkhand polls: Land-grabs for power plant, dilution of Acquisition Act have turned Godda voters against Raghubar Das govt
Several Opposition parties, including the Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) and activists had in 2018 come together to object to the state government’s proposed amendments to the Act, dubbing the move a "death warrant"
In Jharkhand's Khunti district, 'pathalgadhi' movement takes centre stage ahead of upcoming Assembly election
Police visits — and the possible use of excessive force — have become frequent since violence erupted in a neighbouring village over the locally-driven Pathalgadhi movement in June 2018
Maharashtra polls: BJP's overconfidence, downplaying of local issues behind its reduced tally in crucial Vidarbha region
Although Fadnavis referred to BJP rebels who were unhappy with compromises made during the seat sharing and ticket distribution negotiations, the party’s reduced tally can also be traced to a 'rebellion' from voters in the agrarian-dominated Vidarbha region, which also has a sizeable tribal population
Maharashtra polls: 'Won't vote', says Bhil tribe in Beed; Fadnavis govt could face reckoning over water issue in drought-hit districts
The severity of drought in Maharashtra's Beed and Latur districts, three years after the Jaldoot Express carried 25 lakh litres of water into the parched Marathwada region, continues to be grim and could prove to be a matter of reckoning for the BJP-Shiv Sena government in the 21 October Assembly election.
Maharashtra polls: Yavatmal's Adivasi farmers 'prepared to fight' as govt's promise to fix land rights issue falls flat
Around 30,000 farmers from various parts of the state, including Yavatmal in Vidarbha, covered a distance of 180 kilometres from Nashik to Mumbai on foot, with the aim to gherao the Legislative Assembly building and press their demand for the full implementation of FRA, and also of the loan waiver the government had promised in 2017
Maharashtra polls: Villages in Chandrapur say will hold BJP 'accountable' in 21 Oct elections as NTFP-based self-employment takes hit
The mismanagement of the case by the forest department has cost at least 50 families in both the villages their primary livelihood, and voters have resolved to hold the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Shiv Sena combine government of Maharashtra 'accountable' in the election.