Daily Analysis of 'The Hindu' - 4th May, 2020 | Additional Study Material for UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


Why millions defied the lockdown
BRICS against COVID-19
Slow release
During Lockdown 3.0
No comfort in numbers 
The Nanded Lessons
Page 2


Why millions defied the lockdown
BRICS against COVID-19
Slow release
During Lockdown 3.0
No comfort in numbers 
The Nanded Lessons
Why millions defied the lockdown
?Collectively, they were more anxious than fearful, felt more
abandoned than angry, were lacking security not courage and were
dispossessed by the cities they had been working in with a dream to build
a better life.
?That a lockdown could shatter m igrant s’ dreams so completely proves
how little most of ‘India ’ knew them.
?Questions people asked initially betrayed their ignorance: Why are they
walking? Can they really walk 500 km? Do their bags have all they
owned? … all signs of discomfort among those with creature comforts.
?Poverty line to dignity line: People desperate to leave cities were poor
in assets, not in aspiration and self-esteem. They were earning a
livelihood not living on handouts.
Page 3


Why millions defied the lockdown
BRICS against COVID-19
Slow release
During Lockdown 3.0
No comfort in numbers 
The Nanded Lessons
Why millions defied the lockdown
?Collectively, they were more anxious than fearful, felt more
abandoned than angry, were lacking security not courage and were
dispossessed by the cities they had been working in with a dream to build
a better life.
?That a lockdown could shatter m igrant s’ dreams so completely proves
how little most of ‘India ’ knew them.
?Questions people asked initially betrayed their ignorance: Why are they
walking? Can they really walk 500 km? Do their bags have all they
owned? … all signs of discomfort among those with creature comforts.
?Poverty line to dignity line: People desperate to leave cities were poor
in assets, not in aspiration and self-esteem. They were earning a
livelihood not living on handouts.
?They were poor, but not in the way most people think of the poor –
and th at’ s because the popular understanding of poverty is badly
outdated.
?Especially in a country where you can drive from one of the pl an e t’ s
largest slums, Dharavi, to arguably the w orl d’ s most expensive
residence in just 20 minutes.
?When last estimated in 2011-12 nearly 22% Indians were below
that line. Since then the country’ s GDP has almost doubled and the
population has risen less than 10%, implying that the number of poor
should be less – much less – than they were a decade ago.
?How less? We don’ t know for sure.
?An illness, a job loss, death of an earning member … is all it takes
for a family in this zone to plunge back into poverty.
Page 4


Why millions defied the lockdown
BRICS against COVID-19
Slow release
During Lockdown 3.0
No comfort in numbers 
The Nanded Lessons
Why millions defied the lockdown
?Collectively, they were more anxious than fearful, felt more
abandoned than angry, were lacking security not courage and were
dispossessed by the cities they had been working in with a dream to build
a better life.
?That a lockdown could shatter m igrant s’ dreams so completely proves
how little most of ‘India ’ knew them.
?Questions people asked initially betrayed their ignorance: Why are they
walking? Can they really walk 500 km? Do their bags have all they
owned? … all signs of discomfort among those with creature comforts.
?Poverty line to dignity line: People desperate to leave cities were poor
in assets, not in aspiration and self-esteem. They were earning a
livelihood not living on handouts.
?They were poor, but not in the way most people think of the poor –
and th at’ s because the popular understanding of poverty is badly
outdated.
?Especially in a country where you can drive from one of the pl an e t’ s
largest slums, Dharavi, to arguably the w orl d’ s most expensive
residence in just 20 minutes.
?When last estimated in 2011-12 nearly 22% Indians were below
that line. Since then the country’ s GDP has almost doubled and the
population has risen less than 10%, implying that the number of poor
should be less – much less – than they were a decade ago.
?How less? We don’ t know for sure.
?An illness, a job loss, death of an earning member … is all it takes
for a family in this zone to plunge back into poverty.
?The downward spiral could also pull in people who are vaguely
defined as ‘lower middle class ’, especially the self-employed.
?The rapid expansion of the gig economy (Ola and Uber drivers,
courier delivery boys …) in recent years means there will be job
losses that won’t show up as job loss.
? Th at’ s because these jobs exist somewhere between the official
definition of employed and self-employed.
?One way to track poverty in all its dimensions is to replace the
poverty line with what McKinsey calls the Empowerment Line.
? It’ s a line at which everybody has access to 8 basic needs of life
with some dignity – drinking water, education, energy, food,
healthcare, housing, sanitation and social security.
Page 5


Why millions defied the lockdown
BRICS against COVID-19
Slow release
During Lockdown 3.0
No comfort in numbers 
The Nanded Lessons
Why millions defied the lockdown
?Collectively, they were more anxious than fearful, felt more
abandoned than angry, were lacking security not courage and were
dispossessed by the cities they had been working in with a dream to build
a better life.
?That a lockdown could shatter m igrant s’ dreams so completely proves
how little most of ‘India ’ knew them.
?Questions people asked initially betrayed their ignorance: Why are they
walking? Can they really walk 500 km? Do their bags have all they
owned? … all signs of discomfort among those with creature comforts.
?Poverty line to dignity line: People desperate to leave cities were poor
in assets, not in aspiration and self-esteem. They were earning a
livelihood not living on handouts.
?They were poor, but not in the way most people think of the poor –
and th at’ s because the popular understanding of poverty is badly
outdated.
?Especially in a country where you can drive from one of the pl an e t’ s
largest slums, Dharavi, to arguably the w orl d’ s most expensive
residence in just 20 minutes.
?When last estimated in 2011-12 nearly 22% Indians were below
that line. Since then the country’ s GDP has almost doubled and the
population has risen less than 10%, implying that the number of poor
should be less – much less – than they were a decade ago.
?How less? We don’ t know for sure.
?An illness, a job loss, death of an earning member … is all it takes
for a family in this zone to plunge back into poverty.
?The downward spiral could also pull in people who are vaguely
defined as ‘lower middle class ’, especially the self-employed.
?The rapid expansion of the gig economy (Ola and Uber drivers,
courier delivery boys …) in recent years means there will be job
losses that won’t show up as job loss.
? Th at’ s because these jobs exist somewhere between the official
definition of employed and self-employed.
?One way to track poverty in all its dimensions is to replace the
poverty line with what McKinsey calls the Empowerment Line.
? It’ s a line at which everybody has access to 8 basic needs of life
with some dignity – drinking water, education, energy, food,
healthcare, housing, sanitation and social security.