<ul><li>The <keyword id="5482723" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Oversight-Board">Oversight Board</keyword> will have the final word on what content Facebook and Instagram should allow or remove, based on respect for freedom of expression and human rights. </li><li><keyword id="1508987" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sudhir-Krishnaswamy">Sudhir Krishnaswamy</keyword> is the only representative from India on the board.</li><li>Krishnaswamy is the India Vice Chancellor of the National Law School of India University, and co-founder of the Center for Law and Policy Research.</li></ul>Facebook <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/facebook-announced-the-first-20-members-of-its-oversight-board-that-will-decide-what-controversial-content-is-allowed-on-facebook-and-instagram/articleshow/75586376.cms">recently</a> announced the list of 20 members on its newly created Oversight Board. The Oversight Board will have the final word on what content Facebook and Instagram should allow or remove, based on respect for freedom of expression and human rights. Comprising independent members from around the world, the board also has a seat for Sudhir Krishnaswamy, the only representative from India. Krishnaswamy is the India Vice Chancellor of the National Law School of India University, and co-founder of the Center for Law and Policy Research, an advocacy organization that works for the rights of LGBTQ+ and transgender persons in India through impact litigation. The Oversight Board will begin hearing cases soon, although Facebook is still trying to figure out how the board will function and the operational challenges that will come its way because of the coronavirus pandemic. But the decisions made by the board will be made public, and Facebook will respond to them publicly. “We will publish our decisions on our website, while protecting the identity and privacy of those involved,” said Facebook. The 45-year old Krishnaswamy is one of the most noted academics in India. A visiting professor in the Ivy leagues of the world, he was also a legal consultant in the Prime Ministers Committee of Infrastructure, Planning Commission in 2006. “Content moderation and content control has been a problem in most jurisdictions around the world, India being one of the most affected. Content is currently being controlled by either private companies or the government. Creating a mechanism to oversee a private company is a radical decision; if this works, it provides us with a new way of handling content moderation for the future. It’s as important to democracy as it is to the market,” said Krishnaswamy. A Rhodes scholar and an Oxford graduate, Krishnaswamy was previously the director of the School of Policy and Governance and Professor of Law and Politics at Azim Premji University, as well as the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Visiting Professor of Indian Constitutional Law at Columbia Law School. He is also an author of the book “Democracy and Constitutionalism in India”. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/goa-may-be-the-new-thailand-says-ritesh-agarwal-as-oyo-pivots-to-a-new-strategy-driving-and-not-flying-destinations/articleshow/75591960.cms">“Goa may be the new Thailand, ” says Ritesh Agarwal as OYO pivots to a new strategy ⁠— ‘driving, and not flying, destinations’</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/biocon-chairperson-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-says-indias-covid-19-vaccines-will-enter-clinical-trial-in-9-months/articleshow/75591805.cms">Don’t hold your breath ⁠— Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw says India's Covid-19 vaccine will enter clinical trials in 9 months</a>

Meet the Indian on Facebook's oversight board which will police content on Facebook and Instagram

New Delhi, Apr 14 () Consumer electronics major Samsung India on Tuesday committed Rs 20 crore towards combating the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of its commitment, Samsung will donate Rs 15 crore to the PM-CARES Fund and Rs 5 crore to relief funds of state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where it operates manufacturing units, the company said in a statement. Samsung is already providing support to the local administration and community in Noida by equipping hospitals with medical equipment required in the preventive drive against the pandemic along with infra-red thermometers, public addressal systems and air purifiers, it said. Samsung is also providing food packets to local communities in Noida on a daily basis. "In our continuous endeavour to support the fight against Covid-19, Samsung today pledged a contribution of Rs 20 crore to the Union and State governments in India. Samsung will be donating Rs 15 crore to the PM Cares Fund, and Rs 5 crore to the states of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, to support the country's challenge against the pandemic," Samsung said. In addition, employees of the company across India are contributing a portion of their salaries. The company said it will match the employee contributions and donate the total amount to the PM-CARES Fund in the coming weeks. According to the latest report from the Union Health Ministry, the total number of COVID-19 cases has increased to 10,363, with the death toll at 339. Over the last few weeks, Samsung has also hastened deliveries of digital X-ray and digital ultrasound machines that it provides to government hospitals as part of its Samsung Smart Healthcare program. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3 in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus infection. Meanwhile, in a BSE filing on Tuesday, OnMobile Global said it is contributing Rs 50 lakh from its CSR fund to the PM-CARES Fund. Corporate India has been rushing in to help the government and citizens fight the pandemic in India. Tata Trusts and Tata group together have pledged Rs 1,500 crore, while Wipro Ltd, Wipro Enterprises Ltd and Azim Premji Foundation have together committed Rs 1,125 crore. A number of other companies are also extending support by providing sanitizers, masks and meals to people. KRH SR BAL ABMABM

Samsung India commits Rs 20 cr in fight against COVID-19

<ul><li>Every billionaire from Mukesh Ambani to Sunil Mittal to Ratan Tata to Azim Premji has donated to the Prime Minister's fund, some CEOs have taken pay cuts but that's not enough.</li><li>The unemployment rate in India has gone from about 8% to 23% in March and there are looming fears of more job losses and salary cuts when the middle class and poorer sections of the people need money to survive and, may be, for treatments. </li><li>The Narendra Modi government can replicate the US model of offering 'payroll protection' via incentive for those firms who do not fire people during the lockdown meant to curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.</li></ul>Every billionaire worth his salt from Mukesh Ambani to Sunil Mittal to Ratan Tata to Azim Premji has donated to the fund set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight coronavirus. Founders of many unicorn startups from Ola’s Bhavesh Aggarwal to Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma and many more have taken steps to contribute in their own way. Many top bosses have also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/ritesh-agarwal-to-take-a-100-pay-cut-oyo-sets-up-a-welfare-fund-for-coronavirus-hit-hotel-partners/articleshow/74950054.cms">taken pay cuts</a> but that’s not enough given how unprecedented the coronavirus crisis is. Just like the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/how-the-governments-new-lockdown-rules-will-affect-your-day-if-you-live-in-a-city/articleshow/75155813.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">new lockdown guidelines</a> for the commoners, may be it is time for Modi government to outline the steps the companies and business owners ⁠— the chest-thumping patriots on other days ⁠— must abide by. There seems to be a looming fear of layoffs, job losses, and salary cuts consuming public sentiment every day. If there is anything the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/migrant-workers-protest-at-bandra-railway-station-in-mumbai-demanding-to-go-home/articleshow/75143150.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Bandra incident has taught us</a>, it will take less than a spark to cause another round of coronavirus contagion aside from the fact that civil unrest is the last thing India needs. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75156256" title="Lockdown 2.0: Money and jobs gone, stranded migrants desperate to return home" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The level of unemployment in India went up from nearly 8% to 23% in March 2020, according to the <a data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy</a>. <div type="image" title="CMIE" msid="75156251" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The level of unemployment in India went up from nearly 8% to 23% in March 2020, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy. &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> We can’t save every job but we can save enough to stop the country and the society from imploding. And the Narendra Modi government can offer a helping hand like the Donald Trump administration in the US did with the <a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp">Paycheck Protection Program</a>. It is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75130701" title="India’s looming jobs crisis is starting to unravel within the first 21 days of coronavirus lockdown" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The US government agency for small businesses will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. India, as a developing country, may not afford to forego loans and therefore, the programme can be tailored to the Indian context. What are the specific steps that can be taken in India? <ol><li>The government should incentivise companies with the promise of cheap bank loans post lockdown, or tax-related incentives, as long as they have the same number of employees on their rolls as on July 1 compared to say March 31. For those who have already fired employees or staff, can be incentivised with zero-interest loans if they are able to rehire quickly and maintain salary levels.</li><li>The companies, individually or via industry lobbies, can create a separate fund, or a pool of funds that can be used to keep channel partners, distributors, dealers, and other nodes in the value chain afloat, and ensure that their staff and the salespeople are paid. The companies can either decide to forego the loan to the channel partners or get zero interest on it. </li><li>The government can either contribute a portion of the money (ike it has for the employee provident fund) to such funds right now, or ask banks to lend to these companies at zero/subsidised rates only for the purpose of keeping jobs intact.</li><li>Publicise these measures well enough that people are able to hold their employers (past or present) accountable. </li></ol>The big picture! The channel partners ⁠— from FMCG to automobiles to technology and other similar sectors ⁠— and the layers below them need to be supported so that once the lockdown lifts the chain can be revived at the earliest. The top four sectors together employ nearly 250 million in India. <div type="image" title="jobs" msid="75156326" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;India needs a jobs protection programme just like the one in the US announced by President Donald Trump.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> There are at least two intangible benefits that will arise out of this. The image of the company/promoter will get a huge fillip. Everyone in India knows how the <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/pkxDzBTGCNGCUdt7XdpRMN/What-now-Mr-Tata.html" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Tata Group’s 'clean' image</a> has survived generations despite many allegations and controversies. This will also help the employees appreciate the generosity of the employer and reduce attrition to a great extent. The level of mutual trust and respect between the company and employee may boost commitment and efficiency over the long term. Even during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, there have been some exceptions. Reliance Industries, for example, has declared that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/reliance-employees-who-earn-less-than-30000-will-be-paid-twice-a-month-in-the-wake-of-coronavirus/articleshow/74775193.cms">salaries will be paid </a>twice a month for those earning less than ₹30,000 a month. Capgemini India, Cognizant and others <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/capgemini-india-cognizant-and-others-who-are-giving-salary-hikes-in-times-of-coronavirus/articleshow/75151960.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">are giving salary hikes</a> despite business coming to a standstill due to the pandemic. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75117512" title="These are the job listings in top e-commerce companies posted after April 1" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> What is missing in the current support system and the stimulus? There have been many thousand jobs cut especially for those working on contract. Anecdotal evidence suggests that people employed with dealers, distributors, channel partners' sales staff of even big companies like Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Raymond, nearly all car makers, and in many more sectors, have already been ‘let go’. "Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is taking all necessary measures to protect the interests of its employees, support staff, distributors and partners during these difficult times. We are committed to working on their safety, employment, salary protection, and are taking several steps on these matters. For e.g., we recently offered COVID-19 medical insurance cover to all frontline sales force and distributor employees (loaders and delivery staff) where premium for the cover is paid by HUL," the company said in a statement in response to this report. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="74959653" title="OYO reportedly invokes ‘Act of God’ clause to suspend payments to hotel owners says report" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The government's $22 billion stimulus is trying <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/fm-nirmala-sitharaman-26th-march-speech-highlights-and-updates/articleshow/74825011.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">to support the poorest of the poor</a> with direct cash transfers, subsidised grain and cooking gas etc. the rich have the wherewithal to sustain a longer lockdown, but the same safety net is not available to those who are considered middle class in India, especially those who work in the unorganised sector. Even those earning, say, ₹50,000 a month may not have savings to sustain a family during a lockdown without a job and cash flow. However, Prime Minister <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/what-are-the-7-rules-during-lockdown-as-per-pm-narendra-modi/articleshow/75134637.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Modi expects him or her to continue paying</a> their domestic help, the guy who washes their cars or motorcycles etc. What is the private sector doing? Cribbing! One executive after another is arguing about how the government has not done enough to make this lockdown easier than what it is. Calculating! Companies across the board are making lists of people who can be fired. It is not like FMCG sales have come to zero but people lower in the value chain have . It is justified to a certain extent. <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/view-one-contagion-is-more-than-enough-for-india/articleshow/75153054.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">For example</a>, borrowers have been exempt from repaying loans for three months but the non-banking finance company who they borrowed from is not. As is the case with most bureaucratic decisions, this could be an oversight and this can, and should be corrected, soon. Clamouring! Aside from this, there is a clamour for everything from corporate tax cut to GST relief. Many of them have donated money to the PM-CARES fund but it is unlikely to trickle down to the exact value chains that companies have a stake in. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75143211" title="Hero MotoCorp supports lockdown extension, seeks stimulus package for India Inc" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> What should the companies do? Be realistic! The government or the companies or the billionaires, or any institution for that matter, cannot protect or save everyone but efforts have to be made to go as deep as we can reach with the support. Be generous! When a bank seems to be going down, one of the first steps that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) takes is to ask the promoter to bring in more capital. Other businesses can look at the current crisis the same way. Billionaire promoters may lead the way and bring some additional capital to the table, let it trickle down the value chains that will help them thrive during better times. It may be time for Prime Minister Modi to call for the support of his fans in India Inc to ensure that his poorer fans don’t get disillusioned or angry. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/no-lifts-no-group-lunches-and-other-guidelines-that-offices-factories-should-follow/articleshow/75154853.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">No lifts, no group lunches and other guidelines that offices, factories should follow</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/cabinet-to-approve-pension-contributions-advances-announced-by-the-fm/articleshow/75153467.cmshttps://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/cabinet-to-approve-pension-contributions-advances-announced-by-the-fm/articleshow/75153467.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Cabinet to approve pension contributions advances announced by the FM</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/all-agricultural-and-horticultural-activities-will-resume-from-april-20-and-create-jobs-for-daily-wagers/articleshow/75154111.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">New guidelines for all agriculture and related activities that can restart from April 20</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/what-narendra-modi-can-learn-from-donald-trump-2-trillion-stimulus-in-us/articleshow/74805256.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Inside the $2 trillion US economic stimulus⁠— and what locked-down India can learn from it</a>

India needs a ‘jobs protection programme’ like US and the billionaires must lead while the government helps

<ul><li><keyword id="44950" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kishore-Biyani">Kishore Biyani</keyword>, founder of Future Group, has many problems at hand. </li><li>His rising debt problem has only been further battered by the coronavirus pandemic. </li><li>Ratings agencies have all downgraded Future Retail, while its stock has crashed by 79% since December 2019.</li></ul>There was a time when Kishore Biyani was called the king of retail in India. The chain of Big Bazaar stores was the country’s first hypermarket retail outlet and rose to prominence with its “Sabse Sasta, Sabse Acha” (the cheapest and the best) philosophy. But today, Biyani is in trouble. Ratings agencies have downgraded Future Retail as the company’s piling debt is only set to get worse during the coronavirus pandemic. His family net worth has fallen from $1.8 billion to $400 million, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/anuraghunathan/2020/05/15/indian-retail-pioneer-faces-stress-test-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/#72c55f3c11ae">Forbes.</a> In the third quarter of FY20 ending December 2019, Future Retail posted a 15% fall in profit and a 3% fall in revenue. The disruptions due to COVID-19 pandemic will only make it worse. But that’s only a part of Biyani’s problems. Piling debt and no investors By March 2020, ratings agency ICRA had already placed a negative rating on Biyani’s company. “Icra notes the increase in debt is mainly on account of an increase in debt of the operating companies, with the total debt at the group’s listed companies increased to ₹12,778 crore as on 30 September 2019 from ₹10,951 crore as on March 31, 2019," the rating <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/biyani-s-loan-restructuring-may-come-with-an-exit-route-charted-by-lenders-11587299615628.html">agency said</a>. Biyani and his family hold a 33.5% stake in Future Group, but almost all of it has been pledged to lenders. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Company </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Percentage of pledged stake </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Future Lifestyle </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">99.78% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Future Supply (FSCL) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">97.62% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Future Consumer </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">92.97% </td></tr></tbody></table> And Biyani is now struggling to find investors. According to <a href="https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/future-group-appoints-ambit-to-seek-buyers-for-logistics-arm-11589971218656.html">reports</a>, Biyani has given the mandate to Ambit – the investment bank, to find buyers for Future Supply Chain. Future Consumer is currently looking to raise ₹300 crore through a rights issue. Reports also say that Biyani is looking to sell a major stake in Future Retail to Amazon and Blackstone. In January 2020, Amazon had already signed a long-term business agreement with Kishore Biyani’s Future Group. As per the deal, Amazon will become Future Retail’s authorized online sales channel. Future Retail’s share price has also been battered. <div type="image" title="Future retail." msid="75861353" hostid="261"></div> Coronavirus shatters retail For over two months now, malls are shut in India owing to the coronavirus lockdown. Credit rating agency CARE ratings has given the retail sector in India a ‘Negative’ outlook. “The impact on demand, which is expected to remain muted at least for the next three or four quarters, will be more in case of players with presence in non-essential items and luxury segments,” said the ratings agency in its report. Big Bazaar, which finds its outlets in malls too, has taken a big hit. The chain of stores don’t just sell grocery but a major source of its revenue comes from its apparel section which saw no sales for the lockdown period. ““Future Retail is only able to sell its lower-margin essential items, which has led to monthly sales declining by around 75% in March and April 2020 from normal levels, and continues to limit Future Retail’s ability to generate cash to meet working capital requirements,” <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/anuraghunathan/2020/05/15/indian-retail-pioneer-faces-stress-test-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/#77e2274a11ae">Fitch reportedly said citing ‘substantial risk’ to its rating.</a> And even after stores open, the precautions for coronavirus won’t come cheap at retail stores. “Operating costs will go up by 30-35% easily for small stores, larger stores will see costs going up by 10-15%,” <a href="https://www.cnbctv18.com/retail/future-retails-rakesh-biyani-says-new-coronavirus-sop-to-inflate-retailers-cost-up-to-35-5751931.htm">Rakesh Biyani</a>, Future Retail’s Managing Director, said in an interview. He also spoke about how maintaining social distancing at physical stores will also inch up costs. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the brick and mortar retail major has been under the throes of an economic slowdown last year, which has affected consumption and also taken a toll on consumer confidence, which slipped to a six-year low. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/azim-premji-investor-in-moderna-the-us-company-developing-covid19-vaccine/articleshow/75850005.cms">Indian billionaire Azim Premji is an investor in Moderna – the company whose coronavirus vaccine has showed early signs of positive results</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-railways-to-start-bookings-for-200-special-trains-from-may-21/articleshow/75859131.cms">IRCTC shares hit upper circuit after Indian Railways start bookings for 200 special trains from May 21</a>

Once India’s ‘retail king’, Future Retail promoter Kishore Biyani is straddling high debt, coronavirus and negative ratings⁠⁠— and nearly his entire stake is already pledged

<ul><li>Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> will be presenting the Union <keyword id="6358021" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget">Budget</keyword> amidst unprecedented circumstances. </li><li>The digital progress made in health and education has not reached everyone and the gaps need to be fixed. </li><li>The COVID-19 pandemic has also posed a risk to the battle against malnourishment and food coupons may be a way out.</li></ul>There are high expectations from the <keyword id="8420431" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2021">Budget 2021</keyword>, which comes about a year after India recorded its first confirmed COVID-19 case. With the pandemic severely disrupting business as usual, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting the Union Budget amidst unprecedented circumstances. The crisis has opened up opportunities in education and health but the new ideas have not been able to cross the social fault lines of an unequal society. So, it may be time to bridge those divides with innovative programmes like food coupons for the malnourished, and spending money to ensure that no one is left behind in all the digital progress made in health and education. The pandemic has underscored the importance of social sector schemes It is not all about challenges. The “new normal” has also created opportunities to build back better. One such opportunity is to prioritise and invest in what has traditionally been considered “social sectors”. One hopes that the pandemic has demonstrated beyond doubt that these so-called social sectors are, in fact, critical for economic progress and workforce productivity as well. Of course, the budget is not the only window of opportunity for the government to implement measures for strengthening these sectors but to the extent that the budget signals priorities and sets the tone at the highest levels, it is crucial that areas like health, nutrition, education and gender equality feature prominently. The budget must increase allocation for health as well as promote telehealth While India has fared much better on COVID-19 management than most would expect, the outbreak has also shone a spotlight on the underlying gaps and inequities in the health system in terms of access to and quality of physical infrastructure, human resources as well as drugs and medical devices. Further, the lockdown, which was a necessary response for gearing up the health system to respond to COVID-19, resulted in disruptions to some essential services in areas like maternal and child health, tuberculosis, and non-communicable diseases like cancer, cardiac ailments and chronic kidney disease. India is committed to ramping up its spending on health to 2.5% of GDP by 2025 as per the National Health Policy, 2017. However, in the post-COVID scenario, the government might need to consider achieving this level of spending on health before 2025. This will not only enable India to build a strong and resilient public health system to address the ongoing challenges faced by the population more effectively and equitably but will also ensure that the country is better prepared for such disease outbreaks in the future. A timely increase in spending is necessary to equip the already stretched health sector to cope with new and additional challenges posed by the pandemic, including a rise in mental health and stress-related issues. Further, the budget must emphasise initiatives for making full use of the opportunities that have emerged during the COVID era, most notably the adoption of digital health interventions, like telemedicine. The Indian government released the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines in March 2020 to enable access to remote healthcare consultations. By early December 2020, over 1 million teleconsultations had taken place through e-Sanjeevani, the Government’s telemedicine service, across 550 districts in the country. A survey of 800 physicians conducted by Boston Consulting Group between March-May, 2020, revealed a trend of accelerated digital adoption, with 85% of clinicians using digital platforms and telemedicine during the lockdown period. Going forward, there is tremendous scope to expand telemedicine services to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as well as rural areas, where the unmet need for access to quality healthcare is the highest. Nutrition sector Nutrition is another sector which has suffered from disruptions to essential services like mid-day meals in schools and hot, cooked meals in Anganwadi Centres, on account of the pandemic. <div type="image" title="anganwadi" msid="80477523" hostid="261"></div> For instance, under normal circumstances, 1.3 million Anganwadi Centres provide supplementary food to pregnant and lactating mothers as part of the Integrated Child Development Scheme. Adverse effects on livelihoods further exacerbate food and nutrition insecurity. Besides restoring programmes delivering essential nutrition services fully, the budget could also consider food purchasing assistance (in the form of coupons) for people from low-income backgrounds. Budget must provide the infrastructure needed for the have-nots to access online education In 2020, the government released the National Education Policy outlining several ambitious measures for transforming the education sector. It is crucial that the Budget supports the implementation of these interventions with the requisite financial allocations, in line with the overall plan to increase public spending on education to 6% of GDP from the current approximately 4.6%. Specifically, to tackle the challenges posed by COVID-19, it is essential to ensure adequate funds for enabling schools across the country to reopen with the necessary water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in place. <div type="image" title="classroom" msid="80477582" hostid="261"></div> Additionally, steps need to be taken to bridge the digital divide. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), ownership of smartphones in student households increased significantly between 2018 and 2020. However, the report noted that only one-third of school children were pursuing online education. Thus, while COVID-19 has undoubtedly given a fillip to the use of technology, it has also widened the digital divide, with students from underprivileged families finding it challenging to participate in online classes or access digital content. There is, therefore, a case for the budget to make a provision, perhaps in the form of a dedicated fund, for promoting manufacturing of equipment like tablets and providing an enabling digital ecosystem targeted at students who are currently getting left behind. The pandemic has hurt women the most both in terms of life and livelihood Finally, across sectors, COVID has worsened gender inequality in much of the world. Research conducted by Azim Premji University suggests that the work participation rate for Indian women reduced to 5.8% in August 2020 from 9.15% in December 2019. Women have also had to bear a disproportionate burden of caregiving during the pandemic. Contraceptive supply chains have suffered from disruptions, which could lead to an increase in the number of unwanted pregnancies as well as sexually transmitted diseases. Further, due to the confinement during the lockdown period, job losses, and absence of the usual support networks like Self-Help Groups (SHGs), instances of domestic violence are also believed to have increased over the last several months. Additionally, economic distress could lead to parents making choices about sending only male children to school, perpetuating intergenerational inequalities with respect to the education of girls. Restoring existing health, nutrition, and social safety programmes for girls and women in their entirety must therefore be a top priority. As of July 2020, there were around 66 Lakh SHGs formed under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission with over 70 million women members. This network of SHGs should be strengthened through credit linkages and access to digital literacy and tools to create suitable economic opportunities for women. Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author.

You Searched For "azim premji fraud case" and got 6 results

Meet the Indian on Facebook's oversight board which will police content on Facebook and Instagram

Sanchita Dash

Samsung India commits Rs 20 cr in fight against COVID-19

PTI

India needs a ‘jobs protection programme’ like US and the billionaires must lead while the government helps

Sriram Iyer

Once India’s ‘retail king’, Future Retail promoter Kishore Biyani is straddling high debt, coronavirus and negative ratings⁠⁠— and nearly his entire stake is already pledged

Sanchita Dash

From food coupons to a fund to provide laptops and tablets to the poor⁠— NITI Aayog’s public policy analyst has a wishlist too

Urvashi Prasad

Maharashtra identified 14 districts as red zones— here’s the complete list of containment zones in Mumbai and Pune

Navdeep Yadav