Economy

We spoke to two eminent economists on issues concerning creation of urban employment guarantee schemes; both stressed on decentralisation and involvement of local governments.

Many economists concur on the need for an urban job guarantee scheme, à la MNREGA, but differences remain over how to make it work. The government doesn’t seem too interested either.

In the first of a three part series, we explore the need for a work guarantee scheme to mitigate the crippling effects of the pandemic on the urban poor.

Around 65 lakh pensioners went on a one day fast, demanding implementation of a Supreme Court order to the EPFO to increase their dues.

The author’s first word of advice in this oped: Don’t get obsessed with a ‘dream company’. Have a ‘dream industry’ orientation instead.

What started as an activity to pass time creatively during the lockdown were turned into a viable business by these indomitable women.

Hybridization has now moved up a notch. It is not just hybridization of jobs; it is also hybridization of how work gets done.

This is the time for the government to identify early stage start-ups practising sustainable tourism and help them scale up and create best practices to be replicated.

As a B-School Dean mentioned in a webinar, be ready to answer the question, “What did you do during 2020 that you would not have done any time else?”

Fruits and vegetables do not fall under the list of items procured by the government at minimum support price. And efforts to bring farmer and buyer together have had limited success.

As the future of work changes, we will see the future of meetings change dramatically too. The Zoom mania will die down as people start using tools that measure their productivity.

Delhi has set up a 12-member Committee on Economic Revival of the City, under technocrat Jasmine Shah, and comprised of representatives from the government, municipal corporations and industry.