Coronavirus | Why States don’t have enough money for the COVID-19 battle (and what the Centre can do) | The Hindu In Focus Podcast
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus | Why States don’t have enough money for the COVID-19 battle (and what the Centre can do) | The Hindu In Focus Podcast

The Hindu  

A running theme during this lockdown period and of the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in general so far is that decision-making has been largely centralised while the fact is that it is the States that bear responsibility for the real frontline battles against the pandemic. At different phases in our history there are ebbs and flow toward greater decentralisation or greater Central control. More immediately, States are desperately short of funds, especially now with economic activity being almost absent for the past month-and-a-half. Guest: M. Govinda Roa: Member, Fourteenth Finance Commission and former Director, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.

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History of this topic

Covid-19: Why the Centre Has Rushed a Multi-disciplinary Team to Manipur
3 years, 5 months ago

Covid-19: Why the Centre Has Rushed a Multi-disciplinary Team to Manipur

News 18  

The Union Health Ministry had on Tuesday flagged eight states that were exhibiting a reproductive number or R-value of more than one. Central Government deploys a multi-disciplinary team to Manipur in view of rising number of COVID-19 cases being reported in the state.The team will aid state’s ongoing efforts in #COVID19 management. — Mansukh Mandaviya August 4, 2021 Also, of …

COVID-19: Centre should rise to the occasion and take control of situation, not abandon states in dire straits
3 years, 7 months ago

COVID-19: Centre should rise to the occasion and take control of situation, not abandon states in dire straits

Firstpost  

India’s federal structure provides for power to the Central government for some major decisions and autonomy for states on many others. Again, typically last year, all citizens, and yes, including the First One, were exhorted to beat and bang metal plates, to beat the s…t out of COVID-19. This time around the man on the street, ambulances and hospitals, the …

COVID-19- "Extricate Every Single Drop Of Your Strength And Dedicate Yourself To The Protection Of Your Own People": Uttarakhand HC To State Govt.
3 years, 7 months ago

COVID-19- "Extricate Every Single Drop Of Your Strength And Dedicate Yourself To The Protection Of Your Own People": Uttarakhand HC To State Govt.

Live Law  

Underling that under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, it is the foremost duty of the State to protect the lives of the people, the Uttarakhand High Court on Monday issued a slew of specific and general directions to the State Government regarding COVID management. State Did Not Pay Heed To Expert Warning About COVID Second Wave : Uttarakhand …

COVID-19: New governments have no time to celebrate poll win, they must jump into pandemic war immediately
3 years, 8 months ago

COVID-19: New governments have no time to celebrate poll win, they must jump into pandemic war immediately

Firstpost  

It is time for the new governments to live up to the hopes of the electorate and take effective steps to curb the second wave of coronavirus. As the Trinamool Congress emerged as the clear winner in the West Bengal Assembly election, Mamata Banerjee said that combating the COVID-19 situation will be the topmost priority of her government and dedicated …

The great financial crunch: How the pandemic sank Indian states
3 years, 9 months ago

The great financial crunch: How the pandemic sank Indian states

Live Mint  

BENGALURU : Financial year 2020-21 was catastrophic for the finances of most Indian states, which were in any case already reeling from an economic downturn over the past few years. FRBM and austerity Under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, passed in 2003, states are mandated to keep their fiscal deficit within 3% of their gross state domestic product. …

States pass their own virus aid, not waiting on Washington
3 years, 10 months ago

States pass their own virus aid, not waiting on Washington

Associated Press  

— Not waiting for more federal help, states have been approving their own coronavirus aid packages, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to help residents and business owners devastated by the the pandemic’s economic fallout. “It’s great news that states are doing well, many seeing revenues higher than projected, and are able to help their citizens during this pandemic,” he …

Covid-19: SC asks 4 states to submit status report on steps to tackle worsening situation
4 years, 1 month ago

Covid-19: SC asks 4 states to submit status report on steps to tackle worsening situation

India Today  

The Supreme Court on Monday sought an affidavit from the governments of four states -- Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Assam -- on the steps taken by them to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. The apex court has asked all the states to file status reports on steps they have taken, steps intended to be taken and help needed from Centre …

Centre allows states to spend up to 50% of disaster response funds to fight COVID-19
4 years, 3 months ago

Centre allows states to spend up to 50% of disaster response funds to fight COVID-19

Firstpost  

The money from SDRF can be used to boost health infrastructure such as quarantine facilities, labs and oxygen generation plants, and to purchase ventilators and PPE kits, said the MHA New Delhi: The Centre has allowed states to spend up to 50 percent of the money from the State Disaster Response Fund to boost infrastructure such as quarantine facilities, testing …

Centre Allows States to Spend Up to 50 per cent of Disaster Response Fund to Fight Covid-19
4 years, 3 months ago

Centre Allows States to Spend Up to 50 per cent of Disaster Response Fund to Fight Covid-19

News 18  

The Centre has allowed states to spend up to 50 per cent money from the State Disaster Response Fund to boost infrastructure such as quarantine facilities, testing laboratories, oxygen generation plants and purchase of ventilators and PPE kits to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. In a communication to chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, the Union Home Ministry said …

Sobering assessment: The Hindu Editorial on RBI’s annual report
4 years, 4 months ago

Sobering assessment: The Hindu Editorial on RBI’s annual report

The Hindu  

Three weeks after its monetary policy committee decided to hold fire on interest rates amid accelerating retail inflation, the Reserve Bank of India has forecast more pain for the economy. Its assessment of the economic landscape and its prognosis for near-term prospects posit a stark picture: of demand hollowed out by the severe shock to private consumption, public finances strained …

Coronavirus-ravaged states seek for more funds from Centre
4 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus-ravaged states seek for more funds from Centre

Live Mint  

India’s soaring coronavirus numbers are threatening its economic recovery and sharpening differences between states and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s federal government. While Punjab will receive ₹660 crore of the disaster relief fund, the amounts are “chicken feed” compared to the magnitude of the states’ needs, Badal said. Covid grant States could lose as much as ₹1.5 trillion of sales tax …

Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: Chief medical superintendent in UP's Ambedkar Nagar district succumbs to COVID-19; state reports 389 new cases today
4 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: Chief medical superintendent in UP's Ambedkar Nagar district succumbs to COVID-19; state reports 389 new cases today

Firstpost  

11:20 PM Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Coronavirus Pandemic Latest Updates In poor regions, easing virus lockdowns brings new risks As many countries gingerly start lifting their lockdown measures, experts worry that a further surge of the coronavirus in under-developed regions with shaky health systems could undermine efforts to halt the pandemic, and they say more realistic options are needed. Brazil, Mexico, …

Coronavirus Outbreak: Centre releases Rs 6,195 crore to 14 states as additional resources to fight virus’ impact; Kerala gets Rs 1,276 crore
4 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Centre releases Rs 6,195 crore to 14 states as additional resources to fight virus’ impact; Kerala gets Rs 1,276 crore

Firstpost  

The government on Monday released Rs 6,195.08 crore to 14 states as the second equated monthly instalment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant New Delhi: The government on Monday released Rs 6,195.08 crore to 14 states as the second equated monthly instalment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant as recommended by the Finance Commission. The grant had been …

Coronavirus | ‘Confusion’ within central government in fight against COVID-19, says Congress
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus | ‘Confusion’ within central government in fight against COVID-19, says Congress

The Hindu  

The Congress on Saturday said there was “confusion” within the central government in its fight against the novel coronavirus and wondered how would India tackle the pandemic if officials continued to speak in different voices. Referring to “differing” comments made by some officials on the COVID-19 situation in the country, Congress senior spokesperson Ajay Maken said the government should tell …

Coronavirus | Kerala scrambles for funds as Centre tightens purse strings
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus | Kerala scrambles for funds as Centre tightens purse strings

The Hindu  

The health and economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the fiscal woes of the Kerala government, which is battling a grave resource crunch and a hostile political dispensation at the Centre. Land revenue has come down from ₹19.65 crore to ₹2.70 crore, State Excise duty from ₹193.08 crore to ₹22.83 crore and motor vehicle tax from ₹298.42 …

5 North-Eastern states completely COVID-19 free: Jitendra Singh
4 years, 8 months ago

5 North-Eastern states completely COVID-19 free: Jitendra Singh

India TV News  

Five out of the eight Northeastern states are completely coronavirus-free and the remaining three have not added any new COVID-19 positive case in the last few days, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Monday. The minister said five Northeastern states -- Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Tripura -- are totally coronavirus-free while three other states -- Assam, Meghalaya, and …

Coronavirus | South Asia needs a humanitarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Ranil Wickremesinghe
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus | South Asia needs a humanitarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Ranil Wickremesinghe

The Hindu  

The SAARC Secretariat should play an active role in the region’s response to COVID-19, along with “someone in-charge”, according to Sri Lanka’s former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The World Bank’s Chief Economist for South Asia recently told The Hindu that managing migrant returns, service sector revenue losses and ensuring food security for the poorest will emerge key priorities for the …

Coronavirus India Roundup April 20: Over 500 deaths, Goa declared COVID-19 free, states ease out of lockdown
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus India Roundup April 20: Over 500 deaths, Goa declared COVID-19 free, states ease out of lockdown

Firstpost  

A total of 1,553 cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours, along with 36 deaths. A pizza delivery man tested positive for COVID-19 on April 14, triggering a scare for those he delivered to as well as his close contacts. Yogi Adityanath’s father passes away; he won’t perform last rites The UP CM’s father, Anand Singh Bisht, passed away …

Coronavirus lockdown | Maharashtra seeks ₹10,000 crore for 5 months
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus lockdown | Maharashtra seeks ₹10,000 crore for 5 months

The Hindu  

Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday sent an SOS to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Centre to rescue Maharashtra from an economic mess as a result of the lockdown following the novel coronavirus outbreak. The Centre should provide an economic subsidy of ₹10,000 crore each for the next five months, increase the cap on fiscal …

A narrowing window: The Hindu Editorial on extension of India coronavirus lockdown
4 years, 8 months ago

A narrowing window: The Hindu Editorial on extension of India coronavirus lockdown

The Hindu  

It appeared inevitable, and the Centre has accepted the view of several States to extend the national lockdown for the novel coronavirus until May 3. While announcing the extension, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of incentivising areas that avert a spike in cases — over 10,000 nationally — through rigorous enforcement of the restrictions. Although the Home Ministry’s original 21-day …

Coronavirus lockdown: How can the poor survive without cash in hands, asks Chidambaram
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus lockdown: How can the poor survive without cash in hands, asks Chidambaram

The Hindu  

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday asked the Centre to explain how the poor could survive the lockdown without cash in hands. “If true, will the government please explain how the poor can survive the lockdown without cash in their hands to buy food and medicines. Interactive map of confirmed coronavirus cases in India “Centre won’t give money to …

Coronavirus outbreak: Centre mulls lockdown extension as states go ahead with cluster containment, tally crosses 4,700
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus outbreak: Centre mulls lockdown extension as states go ahead with cluster containment, tally crosses 4,700

India Today  

Coronavirus hotspots across the nation were identified and put under a cluster containment plan by the state governments on Tuesday as the national tally of the deadly diseases crossed the 4,700-mark. Several states, including Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, also announced plans to ramp up the tests, while numerous leaders across the country urged the people to strictly follow the lockdown …

Coronavirus | Centre releases ₹11,092 crore under State Disaster Risk Management Fund
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus | Centre releases ₹11,092 crore under State Disaster Risk Management Fund

The Hindu  

Union Minister of Home Affairs on Friday approved the release of ₹11,092 crore under the State Disaster Risk Management Fund to all the States to take measures for containment of COVID-19 pandemic. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot suggested to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday that the Centre release ₹1 lakh crore to tackle the pandemic and the ramifications of …

Covid-19: Centre and states must work together | Opinion
4 years, 9 months ago

Covid-19: Centre and states must work together | Opinion

Hindustan Times  

As the crisis faced by India’s migrant workers has shown, the Union government’s centralised, command-and-control approach of managing the coronavirus pandemic will not work. Migrant workers head home on Day 5 of the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed by the government to curb the spread of coronavirus, New Delhi, March 29, 2020 Once it became evident that migrants were leaving inhospitable …

Coronavirus | President asks Governors, LGs to mobilise voluntary, religious organisations to contain spread
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus | President asks Governors, LGs to mobilise voluntary, religious organisations to contain spread

The Hindu  

President Ram Nath Kovind Friday asked Governors and Lt Governors of states and union territories to mobilise voluntary and religious organisations to aid the effort to contain the spread of coronavirus, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. The President began the conference by exhorting to the collective strength of the society and urged Governors, LGs and Administrators to mobilise volunteers of Indian …

Coronavirus | 80 districts in lockdown to contain virus spread
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus | 80 districts in lockdown to contain virus spread

The Hindu  

All train, metro and inter-State transport services across the country were suspended on Sunday till March 31 as the death toll from COVID-19 rose to seven nationwide, and the number of confirmed cases stood at 396. COVID-19 | Interactive map of confirmed coronavirus cases in India Only essential services “State governments will issue orders allowing only essential services to operate …

COVID-19: Congress seeks cash transfers
4 years, 9 months ago

COVID-19: Congress seeks cash transfers

The Hindu  

The government needs to outline measures to help people whose livelihoods have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Opposition parties said on Saturday. COVID-19 | Interactive map of confirmed coronavirus cases in India “The government has to put in place broad-based social protection measures, including direct cash financial help to these sections,” she said. Calling for a comprehensive sector-wise …

Coronavirus | Congress seeks cash transfers
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus | Congress seeks cash transfers

The Hindu  

The government needs to outline measures to help people whose livelihoods have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Opposition parties said on Saturday. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in a statement, said COVID-19, which followed demonetisation and the slowing down of the economy, had been a huge setback to millions of daily wage earners, MGNREGA workers, ad hoc and temporary …

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