Shows
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 9: Unpacking the Crisis in AfghanistanTwo weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal from the region, the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. Major cities fell in a matter of days as the Afghan military and government collapsed rapidly. Chaos ensued as Afghan citizens thronged the airport to flee, some even clinging on to the wheels of a US military aircraft, in a desperate bid to escape the country. What does a takeover by the Taliban mean for Afghanistan, particularly its citizens who have enjoyed the freedoms of the last 20 years? How were the Taliban able to get control so quickly...2021-08-1944 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 8: An Inside View of Delhi Government's Oxygen Control RoomSharma discusses what it was like to be in the thick of that control room, confronting a crisis of deep distress but also concerns of managing the health system in the midst of constant SOS messages about lack of basic supplies and most importantly, oxygen. He speaks about the role of the courts in fixing responsibility and bringing in some transparency to the process of allocation. Finally, Sharma elaborates on the logistical and technical complexities in ramping up oxygen supply and its distribution across hospitals.About the SeriesThe second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic...2021-07-1658 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 7: Dissecting India's Problem of Economic InequalityDr Ghatak who has written extensively on the inequalities of the Indian economy walks us through the issue of widening inequality in the context of the pandemic, unpacks the growth versus inequality debate, and discusses the long term implications the pandemic has posed. He explains the impact on the informal sector, intergenerational mobility, and discusses the dynamics of potential recovery.About the SeriesThe second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic poses serious challenges that need immediate attention. The collapse of an already strained health system, vaccine supply shortage, an unprecedented economic crisis and sharpening inequality...2021-07-0954 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 6: Unpacking India's COVID-19 Vaccination StrategyMukhopadhyay who has been closely tracking the vaccine policy walks us through the different phases of the vaccine strategy across the country. He sheds light on the many inequities of the policy, the state of private supply, the role of the Supreme Court, the Centre-State dynamic and more. He further discusses how the digital inequity was built in with the CoWIN app from an economic, linguistic, and spatial standpoint. Finally, Mukhopadhyay share's his perspective of where we are today vis-a-vis our goals on achieving universal vaccination. About the SeriesThe second wave of the COVID-19 p...2021-07-021h 02
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 5: Realities of COVID-19 in Rural IndiaBehar walks us through his experiences over the last few months visiting different parts of the country that were ravaged by the virus. He sheds light on the stigma associated with COVID, the challenges of documenting death, and the state of India's health infrastructure. He further discusses the levels of economic deprivation, condition of hunger, the potential for schools reopening and more. Finally, Behar share's his perspective on what we need to do now, in advance of a potential third wave. About the SeriesThe second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic poses serious challenges that need imme...2021-06-2454 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 4: Responding to the Spread of COVID-19 in Rural IndiaUnlike last year during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the second wave witnessed the virus making inroads into rural areas of India as well. To discuss this and more, Yamini Aiyar (President and Chief Executive, CPR) speaks to Abhijit Chowdhury (Chief Advisor, Liver Foundation, West Bengal) in this episode of India Speak. Chowdhury discusses what the on-ground realities look like in rural India. He sheds light on how the health system in these areas can be prepared to respond to this unfolding crisis. Finally, he discusses what it will take to achieve universal vaccination for all...2021-06-1732 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 3: Impact on Jobs, Incomes, Inequality and PovertyThe State of Working India 2021 report by the Centre for Sustainable Employment (CSE) at the Azim Premji University finds that the pandemic has further increased informality and led to a severe decline in earnings for the majority of workers resulting in a sudden increase in poverty. In particular, the poor, women and younger workers have disproportionately borne the brunt of the pandemic. To discuss key findings of the report and more, Yamini Aiyar (President and Chief Executive, CPR) speaks to Amit Basole (Associate Professor of Economics and Head, CSE, Azim Premji University) in this episode of India S...2021-06-1046 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 2: Impact of the Second Wave on Unemployment and Labour Force ParticipationThe second wave of the pandemic saw localised lockdowns across India that brought economic activities to a halt. What has been the impact of this on unemployment and labour force participation? In this episode of India Speak, Yamini Aiyar (President and Chief Executive, CPR) speaks to Mahesh Vyas [Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE)]. Through its surveys, CMIE has been closely tracking the health of the Indian economy, particularly the labour market, consumer sentiment and investment patterns. Vyas sheds light on the trends in unemployment and labour participation rates during t...2021-06-0350 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 1: Impact of the Second Wave on the EconomyThe Indian economy was going through an unprecedented slowdown that was exacerbated by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant national lockdown. Just as the economy was showing signs of recovery, the country has been hit by the virulent second wave. With multiple localised lockdowns, a halt on mobility and economic activity and an unprecedented health crisis, this time, the ravages of the pandemic are being felt across the nation, even rural areas. What has been the impact of the second wave on India’s economy and how does it differ from the first wave? In...2021-05-2833 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 50: Confronting the Crisis of Air PollutionListen to the 50th episode of ThoughtSpace (above) featuring Shibani Ghosh, Santosh Harish and Yamini Aiyar.
While air pollution levels are unsafe across the country, all-year round, they spike to dangerously high levels during the winter months in North India. This year, as the country confronts the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenge of air pollution is even more pressing, given increasing evidence of levels and transmission of the infection being exasperated by pollution. How can India solve this public health emergency?
In the 50th episode of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with...2020-11-2046 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 49: Why are Farmers Protesting Against the Government’s Agricultural Reforms?Listen to the forty-ninth episode of ThoughtSpace featuring Mekhala Krishnamurthy, Ajay Vir Jakhar and Yamini Aiyar.
The Government of India passed three farm reform bills- The Farmers’ Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, in the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. The passage of these bills has led to widespread protests by farmers across the country. It has also raised critical concerns over the direction in which agricultural reforms should go, the nature of these three bills an...2020-09-281h 00
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 48: How to regulate India’s economy to enable growthIn the 48th episode of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Dr KP Krishnan, Professor at the National Council of Applied Economic Research and former IAS officer.
As we debate the future of the Indian economy, the issue of regulation has emerged consistently as a crucial fault line. How does India design regulatory systems in ways that are effective, constrains capital where needed, but at the same time builds markets, enables the unleashing of animal spirits, and protects labour and citizens? These are critical roles the state is meant to play, but given...2020-08-1259 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 47: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Impact on EducationIn the 47th episode of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Dr Rukmini Banerji, CEO of Pratham, India’s leading NGO in the space of elementary education. Pratham has been playing an active role during this pandemic to connect with students and communities across the country and partner with governments to support learning.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the closure of schools for over five months, and they are unlikely to reopen any time soon. This not only affects students and parents in the here and now, but is likely to have an...2020-07-2744 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 46: The Coronavirus Pandemic: How can India learn to live with the virus?In the forty sixth episode of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Dr Jishnu Das, Senior Visiting Fellow at CPR and professor at Georgetown University.
As India begins to unlock, after three months of the world’s strictest lockdown, cases of COVID-19 are increasing in many parts of the country. This has put into question the effectiveness of the lockdown and our ability to flatten the curve. This presents us with important challenges for our public systems, especially the healthcare system, as it now rushes to cope with increased mobility and economic activity, an...2020-07-1735 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 45: Agriculture Reforms: Are the recent reforms likely to double farmers’ incomes?In this forty-fifth episode of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Dr Mekhala Krishnamurthy, Senior Fellow and Director of the new State Capacity Initiative at CPR and Associate Professor at Ashoka University.
In the last few weeks, the government of India has made significant announcements on reforming agriculture, particularly the regulatory framework for managing agriculture markets in India. These changes have been described as pathbreaking, long-term changes that will significantly alter the terms of trade in favour of the farmer. What are these reforms, what do they mean in practice, and what impact...2020-06-1952 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 43: The Coronavirus Pandemic: How is the pandemic shifting labour-capital relations?In episode 43 of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Dr K R Shyam Sundar, one of India's leading researchers on labour laws, and professor at the Xavier Institute of Management, Jamshedpur.
In a bid to revive the economy in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, several state governments issued ordinances with respect to labour reforms that have further skewed the dynamics of labour-capital relations in India. These reforms have come under significant scrutiny and some steps have been taken to address the more draconian ones, but these debates have put a spotlight on...2020-06-011h 13
Politics of COVID-19 Podcast - The SyllabusEpisode 42: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Will the pandemic lead to a shift in the global order? Podcast: India Speak: The CPR Podcast (LS 26 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: Episode 42: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Will the pandemic lead to a shift in the global order?Pub date: 2020-05-19Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationIn episode 42 of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Ambassador Shyam Saran, India’s former foreign secretary and Senior Fellow at CPR.
The coronavirus pandemic is a global crisis of an unprecedented nature that is reshaping the global order. Countries are grappling to control the sprea...2020-05-2144 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 42: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Will the pandemic lead to a shift in the global order?In episode 42 of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Ambassador Shyam Saran, India’s former foreign secretary and Senior Fellow at CPR.
The coronavirus pandemic is a global crisis of an unprecedented nature that is reshaping the global order. Countries are grappling to control the spread of the disease by announcing lockdowns and closing borders. Economies have come to a grinding halt, and many countries, including India, have seen a rise in the narrative around self-reliance and self-sufficiency. With travel within and across countries barred, citizens are turning to technology communicate across borders. Si...2020-05-1944 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 41: The Coronavirus Pandemic: How to Secure Lives of Migrant WorkersIn episode 41 of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with members of the Stranded Workers Action Network (SWAN) initiative on the limitations of India’s social security architecture and the need to rethink what it means to be a welfare state. Our guests include Anindita Adhikari, PhD student at Brown University and a member of the Right to Food and Right to Work movements; Seema Mundoli, faculty member at the Azim Premji University; and Sanjay Sahni from Muzzaffarpur, Bihar, who is part of the Samaj Parivartan Shakti Sangathan and NREGA Watch in Bihar.
On Ma...2020-05-1344 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 40: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Data and Technology Implications on Citizen-State RelationsIn episode 40 of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Ananth Padmanabhan, Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research and Dean of the Daksha Fellowship; and Sahil Deo, co-founder of CPC Analytics and faculty at Daksha Fellowship.
Historically, pandemics have been watershed moments in altering citizen-state relations. In the context of COVID-19, data and technology are the underlying vehicles fuelling and powering these changes. States like South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Israel have done a stellar job of handling the unfolding coronavirus pandemic by testing, contact tracing, isolating, and quarantining. But underlying this...2020-05-0749 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 39 | Part 2: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Impact of the lockdown on Tuberculosis CareIn episode 39, part 2 of ThoughtSpace, co-hosts Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, and Dr Jishnu Das, Professor at Georgetown University and Senior Visiting Fellow at CPR, speak with Dr Madhukar Pai, Professor and Director of McGill Global Health Programs and International TB Centre; Nandita Venkatesan, a journalist, TB survivor and TB disability advocate; and Dr Sarthak Rastogi, consultant pulmonologist at the Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai.
In part 1 of the seventh episode of the CPR ThoughtSpace series on coronavirus, our guests, talked to us about how access to medication and new diagnoses of TB patients have...2020-04-2737 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 39 | Part 1: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Impact of the lockdown on Tuberculosis CareIn episode 39, part 1 of ThoughtSpace, co-hosts Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, and Dr Jishnu Das, Professor at Georgetown University and Senior Visiting Fellow at CPR, speak with Dr Madhukar Pai, Professor and Director of McGill Global Health Programs and International TB Centre; Nandita Venkatesan, a journalist, TB survivor and TB disability advocate; and Dr Sarthak Rastogi, consultant pulmonologist at the Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai.
On a regular day, tuberculosis (TB) claims over 1,000 lives in India. This is without the coronavirus pandemic. While the government and health care system’s energies have been focussed on co...2020-04-2739 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 38: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Impact on Unemployment and Labour Force ParticipationIn the 38th episode of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Dr Mahesh Vyas, MD and CEO of Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy.
As the economy comes to a grinding halt and businesses close for the duration of the lockdown, the big question we look at in this episode is the impact of the lockdown on unemployment, labour force participation, and the overall income levels of both individuals and business. The economy had not yet recovered from the previous shocks of demonetisation and GST; the lockdown has accentuated concerns around labour force...2020-04-2035 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 37: The Coronavirus Pandemic: A Global PerspectiveIn episode 37 of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar and Dr Jishnu Das speak with Dr Christiana Iyasere, Dr Saumya Das and Dr Nim Pathy.
While India goes into lockdown 2.0 and determines the best strategies to stop the spread of COVID-19, countries across the world have adopted myriad approaches to tackle the outbreak. In this episode, we step away from India to look at what is happening across the world, especially in the United States of America. We also delve deeper into understanding epidemiological models – what is required to build sound models and to what extent can they accurately predict th...2020-04-1754 min
The Pragati PodcastEp. 135: A Mission Mode Health Response to COVID-19?Can India's health and healthcare systems ramp up on mission mode to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic? What should we know about India's messy public and private healthcare systems before we think about a pandemic response?Yamini Aiyar discusses what India can do and how, on Episode 135 of The Pragati Podcast.The Pragati Podcast is a weekly talkshow on public policy, economics and international relations. hosted by Pavan Srinath.Yamini Aiyar is the President and Chief Executive of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Delhi. Her research interests are in the field...2020-04-1500 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 36: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Addressing the Food Crisis In IndiaIn episode 36 of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Pravesh Sharma, former IAS officer and CEO of Kamatan Farms Pvt. Ltd., and Dr Mekhala Krishnamurthy, Senior Fellow at CPR.
The agriculture economy in India came to halt with the 21-day national lockdown. Supply chains have broken down, labour is in short supply and there has been a surge in food prices, leading to a drop in food availability. This comes at a time when farmers were gearing up to harvest the rabi crop and have raised issues about the difficulty anticipated in harvesting...2020-04-1346 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 35: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Dealing with the Economic CrisisIn the 35th episode of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar, President & Chief Executive of CPR, speaks with Dr Rathin Roy, Director of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP).
The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent 21-day national lockdown have brought the Indian economy to a standstill. This comes at a time when India’s economy and public finances were already under considerable strain. It is with this backdrop that India must think about how it can deal with the current crisis and rebuild its economy once the immediacy of the public health crisis dissipates. How should the government ge...2020-04-0841 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 32: The NRC Quagmire: Why is Assam on Edge?In the 32nd episode of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar (President and Chief Executive, CPR) speaks to Sanjoy Hazarika (Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and Honorary Research Professor, CPR) about the implications of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Assam.
The passage of the CAA was met by a fierce reaction in the northeastern part of the country, particularly in Assam. Assam has also witnessed the National Register of Citizens or the NRC process. What were the reasons behind this process and how did it unfold? Why are the people of Assam protesting against the CAA and...2020-03-2930 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 33: The Coronavirus Pandemic: How Prepared is India?In the 33rd episode of ThoughtSpace, Yamini Aiyar (President and Chief Executive, CPR) speaks with Dr Jishnu Das (Senior Visiting Fellow, CPR and professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy and the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University).
As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, the Indian government responded to the threat by imposing an unprecedented 21-day lockdown. The lockdown’s stated objective is to buy time to slow the spread of the disease and ‘flatten the curve’, a phrase that everyone is all too familiar with now. But what does flatten the curve...2020-03-2933 min
India Speak: The CPR PodcastEpisode 15: Understanding Land Conflict in IndiaThe Land Rights Initiative at CPR recently completed a study of Supreme Court cases on land acquisition in India from 1950 to 2016. This study examines land disputes along various metrics, as well as analyses litigation under the newly enacted Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act) for the three year period, 2014 to 2016.
In this episode of the podcast Dr Namita Wahi, a Fellow at CPR who heads the Initiative, unpacks the findings of the study, delving particularly into the massive imbalance between the state and land-losers, and highlights possible ways...2017-04-1840 min