https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/amid-coronavirus-a-fresh-crisis-brews-in-the-indian-milk-industry
There is surplus milk production, while milk demand has slumped
RN Bhaskar
A fresh crisis is brewing in the Indian milk industry. The causes are two – the current lockdown conditions, and a milk surplus.
First, there is no denying that milk...
A modified version appeared at https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/milk-the-road-to-perdition-is-often-through-subsidies-5142591.html
Subsidies unmaketh the milk industry in India
Subsidies threaten an industry that can single-handedly change the fortunes of millions of dairy farmers in the country.
RN Bhaskar – 14 April, 2020
India’s milk industry – the largest...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/coronavirus-in-india-close-precious-metal-commodity-markets-urge-experts
Coronavirus lockdown requires precious metal commodity markets to be closed immediately
RN Bhaskar – 10 April, 2020
Experts in the commodity markets in India have appealed to the government to suspend all commodity trades in precious metals.
This is because hitherto, physical...
A modified version of this report appeared at https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/economy/policy/coronavirus-pandemic-indias-poor-healthcare-spending-is-hurting-the-fight-5123081.html
Coronavirus and health – India paints a sorry picture
If the coronavirus is battering India, don’t be surprised. India has not paid attention to health services. The worst performer is Maharashtra. Not...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/coronavirus-in-india-maharashtra-emerges-as-a-state-that-does-not-care-much-about-peoples-health
Coronavirus has taught Maharashtra that spending on health makes sense, and promoting slums doesn't
RN Bhaskar – 8 April 2020
As the coronavirus epidemic continues its rampage across India, it becomes clear that Maharashtra has been the worst affected.
But that should...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/amid-coronavirus-lockdown-govt-stresses-on-need-to-exempt-transport-of-all-agriculture-products-from-restrictions
Covid-19
Firefighting on the agriculture front
RN Bhaskar – 8 April 2020
The central government has moved swiftly to contain what could be both a humanitarian disaster and a political blunder. On 3 April, Ajay Bhalla, home secretary, government of India wrote...
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/coronavirus-pandemic-slums-are-new-hotspots-that-can-ravage-cities-5090381.html
Coronavirus: the epidemic could easily ravage cities through its many slums
RN Bhaskar -- 31 March, 2020
Last week, the government of Maharashtra formally acknowledged a new problem – slums (https://www.mumbailive.com/en/civic/coronavirus-spreads-to-mumbai-slums-and-chawls-in-ghatkopar-kalina-and-patel-as-4-patients-test-positive-for-covid19-47281). Coronavirus which had spread among the relatively affluent had now...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/amid-the-coronavirus-outbreak-heres-indias-toughest-question-can-indias-slum-dwellers-follow-a-lockdown
Covid-19: India’s agony of slums
RN Bhaskar - March 28, 2020
The sins of the past are to be heaped on the present. And nothing could be more frightening than slums – both for people outside and for those trapped inside. ...
Moneycontrol carried a modified version of this article at https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/coronavirus-pandemic-an-opportunity-to-overhaul-indias-ailing-healthcare-sector-5079501.html
Coronavirus II –
Needed an overhaul of medicare: more free testing, more accountability
RN Bhaskar
The first part of this series appeared at http://www.asiaconverge.com/2020/03/coronavirus-pandemic-risk-contagion-india/
On the night of 24 March, the prime minister informed...
https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/covid-19-march-will-soon-become-a-terrifying-sprint-in-india
Covid-19 -- the government has been caught swimming naked
RN Bhaskar
Today is Tuberculosis (TB) Day. Unlike coronavirus, where a vaccine has yet to be developed – it could take anywhere between a year to several years – tuberculosis has a...