Modi Govt’s New Land Policy for J&K Overturns 7 Decades of Land Reform

The Centre’s recent orders have paved the way for all citizens of India, not just the state subjects of Jammu & Kashmir, to buy ‘non-agricultural land’ in the erstwhile state. However, The Wire argues that, not only has this raised the fears of largescale demographic changes in the UT but has also paved the way for the “revival of a neo-jagirdari system”, as the revolutionary land reforms of 1950 - the Big land Estates Abolition Act - has also been abolished.

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कैसे चुनाव के आगे कोरोना जैसा वायरस भी फेल हो जाता है

The campaigns in run up to the Bihar elections have been marked by the complete disregard of the Covid-19 guidelines by politicians of all hues. Satyagrah reports that even the Prime Minister, who had exhorted the citizens to observe norms during the polls and the ongoing festival season, has fallen short - supporters at his rally paid no heed to the protocols. His political opponents have been worse – not even wearing a mask. Should the polls have been postponed until Covid was at bay?

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Voting with their feet, India’s young workers are remapping the metros

The pandemic has seen the highest rates of infections in India’s top metros. The Ken put together a custom index of economic indicators to show how the pandemic has hastened a trend of young professionals moving to “younger metros” like Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad. According to the story, lower costs, better living standards and the pace of job growth are pushing young people to move.

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Sathankulam Custodial Deaths: Those Left Behind

The Lede examined the report filed by the CBI in its investigation of custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district in June. The story shows how the criminal justice system failed its citizens, with a string of government officials including medical officers, the judicial magistrate, jailors and police officers neglecting their responsibilities and duties.

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Roti, kapda, makaan... and vaccine: Can it sway elections

Down to Earth reports on how a vaccine for COVID-19 has found its way to an election manifesto alongside the promises of Roti, Kapda and Makaan – ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections 2020. This marks the formal emergence of vaccine as a major manifesto item and a poll issue and highlights the impact of the pandemic on India’s polity. Interestingly, DTE points out that a vaccine was never on the list of promises when the nation suffered from smallpox and polio, even cholera in the past.

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