Radhika Sharma

A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India released last week examined the state of public health infrastructure in Karnataka. Among the many things detailed in the report, it was found that the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) had, between 2017-18 and 2021-22, not procured all the essential drugs that were indented from health institutions across the state. For example, of the 761 essential drugs that health institutions submitted a written order to the corporation for in 2020-21, only 238 were procured and 55 were allowed to be procured by the institutions locally. None of the checked health institutes had the required number of very essential and most essential drugs during the audit period. Read here: https://lnkd.in/gzyrrNqB

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Political Disputes Over Central Government Schemes in India Readmore: https://lnkd.in/eSMWWMXq In recent times, the rift between India's central government and various opposition-led state governments has deepened, leading to significant political and financial standoffs. Central government schemes initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which aim to benefit the public, have been met with resistance from opposition parties, resulting in potential losses for the citizens. Controversy Surrounding Scheme Names A significant point of contention arises from the branding of these schemes. Opposition parties express discomfort with schemes being associated with PM Modi’s name, fearing that it overshadows their contributions and misleads the public into believing these initiatives are solely central government efforts. This unease leads to opposition-led state governments attempting to rebrand or outright reject these schemes. Opposition to Ayushman Bharat Yojana The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, a flagship health scheme providing free treatment up to ₹5 lakh, has faced hurdles in states like Delhi, where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has yet to implement it. This has left many residents unable to access the benefits of the scheme. Similarly, West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has blocked several schemes, questioning the necessity of associating the PM’s name with them. #PoliticalDisputes, #IndiaGovernmentSchemes, #CentralVsState, #ModiSchemes, #AyushmanBharat, #SamagraShikshaAbhiyan, #PMShreeYojana, #OppositionResistance, #FinancialBlockage, #StateGovernmentChallenges, #EducationalReforms, #HealthcareSchemes, #MamataBanerjee, #ArvindKejriwal, #IndianPolitics, #GovernmentSchemes, #PublicWelfare, #PoliticalTensions, #StateVsCentre, #PolicyImplementation,

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The Press Club of India demands swift action from the Election Commission and police regarding the recent attack on journalists. They believe journalists should never be subjected to fear or physical harm while performing their duties. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 - https://lnkd.in/gu_xPBF4 #JournalistAttack #PressFreedom #ElectionCommission #PressClubOfIndia #SafetyOfJournalists #EPN #EPNews

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OCCRP, George Soros, and Rahul Gandhi: The Triangle That Divides Indian Politics   Readmore: https://lnkd.in/eWupiQGF  India’s politics is once again in the spotlight as the BJP accuses Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of being part of a global controversy aimed at creating trouble for the country. The BJP alleges that Rahul Gandhi is linked to the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and billionaire George Soros, who are supposedly working together to destabilize India.  Readmore: https://lnkd.in/eYVYxjeb The allegations against Rahul Gandhi, George Soros, and OCCRP have triggered a significant political storm in India. While the BJP frames this as a matter of national sovereignty, Congress dismisses it as a diversion tactic. The controversy raises critical questions about the role of international actors in domestic politics and the thin line between accountability and political maneuvering. In the coming months, the unfolding developments will likely shape the narrative leading up to the 2024 general elections, potentially influencing public perception and electoral outcomes.   #georgesoros #occrp #sambitpatra #BJP #usfunding #dualcitizenship #indianpolitics #bjpvsrahulgandhi #corruptionreporting #investigativejournalism #leaderofopposition #indianeconomy #politicalaccusations #destabilisingindia #bjpallegations #rahulgandhicontroversy

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What prompted the inexplicable choice for RBI governor? Read more at: https://lnkd.in/ehc3MhMX Story by Furquan Moharkan, Ujval Nanavati.

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https://wp.me/p8cDQ4-ccQ Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Power of Social Media in Elections! In India, 1 GB of data typically costs around ₹13, significantly less than the approximately $6 it costs in the US. This affordability has fuelled a remarkable expansion, with India boasting the world’s third-cheapest mobile data rates, following Israel and Italy. Consequently, a diverse range of individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds across the nation are embracing online connectivity at an unprecedented rate. Kakali Das Sanjeev Sarma Maheen Amjad Parismita Goswami Agrita Chhibber Chulakshi Saubhagya Ranathunga #election #election2024 #socialmedia #electionandsocialmedia #facebook #tiktok #youtube #whatsApp #Meta #twitter #X #Instagram #Google #Mahabahu #narendraModi #RahulGandhi #NitinGadkari #arvindkejriwal #bjp #Congress

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The #election season in India drives significant growth in the news genre on Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST): Amagi Report More here: https://lnkd.in/gKbsA3X8 #OTT | #Ottstreaming | #FASTindustry | #CTV | #mediastreaming | #advertising | #newschannel | #entertainment | #growth | #business

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What are analysts thinking about Indian elections? If we were to retrace ourselves from the loud election ecosystem of India & think about what would India need politically for its rise, what would it be? We talked with a former political strategist, Chandra Mishra and analyst, Dr. Kaush Arha from Atlantic Council as well as journalist & author sunita aron, currently a consulting editor with Hindustan Times to guage what India needs. The one common thought that everybody highlighted was the role of the opposition and why a government with a majority as well as a strong opposition are important to maintain a balance in Indian democracy! #indianelections2024 #indiavotes #indiandemocracy #roleofopposition

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Here's a full fledged interactive on election results in India in the past two Lok Sabha elections (held in 2014 and 2019) along with up-to-date phases and turnout data for the ongoing elections in 2024. There are filters to choose to drill the data down further; State/UT dropdown to zoom into States for results data; an urban-cluster dropdown because urban constituencies are highly populous but geographically small and you can see all this in a map based view or a simple list. The interactive was done entirely using d3.js and some python programming, while the underlying data was taken from the Election Commission of India, Trivedi Centre for Political Learning's LokDhaba and the SHRUG database (that provided the building blocks for constructing urban/rural classifications for parliamentary constituencies). The fun part - I used the help of GPT-4's "Code Assistant" extensively to get the visualisations done. Gen-AI, again, has truly revolutionised coding and product development. Please see the interactive here - https://lnkd.in/g4_ApwHR .. and share this with others. We are hoping to use this to display- and parse live data on election results day as well. Fingers crossed.

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Indian Media: When Remaining Independent Becomes the Last Option https://lnkd.in/gpPEqV4C #IndependentMedia #IndianMedia #DigitalMedia #PressFreedom #Funding #Journalism #IndependentJournalism

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Mistakes in journalism can have dire consequences, potentially inflaming communal tensions. Sometimes, these errors are intentional, aimed at spreading hate and inciting conflict; other times, they are simply human errors. The recent dominance of the Indian media in shaping narratives has been both brutal and condemnable, driven by clear ill intentions, with numerous instances of blatant falsehoods. On the other hand, one example involves Reuters correspondent Ruma Paul. She reported quoting a police officer from Chittagong, who later denied making such comments. Moreover, her report inaccurately described a slain lawyer in Chittagong as representing a Hindu monk—a claim that has been debunked by several sources, including the interim government. In both instances, the necessity for accountability is clear. Accountability in journalism is essential. Reputable news organizations have guidelines that compel journalists to verify the information they disseminate. Therefore, it is both reasonable and necessary to expect Reuters and Ruma Paul to offer explanations and, if necessary, accept responsibility for their mistakes. Nevertheless, media professionals and people in the authorities must be careful not to foster an environment that endangers journalists like Ruma Paul, either online or offline. Online violence, particularly against female journalists, represents a severe threat to press freedom today. This includes not just verbal assaults but also threats to personal safety, doxxing, and sexualized violence, all aimed at silencing and marginalizing female journalists. This surge in targeted attacks aims to intimidate, silence, and stigmatize women journalists, potentially restricting their participation in public discourse. It's crucial to understand and address online abuse, as it directly impedes women journalists' ability to exercise their right to free expression. I urge those in power and my peers in journalism to exercise caution and ensure that they avoid contributing to a climate that might encourage violence against journalists. #bangladesh #journalism #freepress #india

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Has sale of rights--streaming (OTT), satellite (television), and music--become one of the biggest motivating factors behind making Hindi films today? Has the domination of regional films on India's box office collections become total and uncontested? Hi friends, I explore these factors in my article. I have attached the complete article in a screenshot form. Here is the link to my article : https://lnkd.in/dgwDx2Wa

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What does Yashwant Deshmukh, one of India's top pollsters and political commentators, predict about voter turnout and potential scenarios for the 2024 #LokSabhaelection on counting day, June 4? Watch here:

The Finance Ministry is working on a new risk management system that would ensure products coming from free trade agreement (FTA) countries meet the value addition norms. The system will play a major role going forward as India is increasingly signing FTAs and has liberalised entry norms for select partners. It’s noteworthy that India’s annual concessions to different FTA partners has reached nearly Rs 75,000 crore and loopholes could prove costly.

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Govt defends Great Nicobar project amid criticism, cites national interest 👉 https://mybs.in/2dYG1DD #EnvironmentalImpact, #IndigenousRights, #NationalInterest, #EcologicalBalance, #DevelopmentVsConservation, #ProtectTribalCommunities, #SustainableDevelopment, and #IslandConservation. 

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Food for thought! One of the biggest incongruities in Indian journalism is the habit of describing a 'general' category person or groups as 'upper caste', in and out of context. Let's not talk about how the western media portrays our caste system. Now, there is no category called 'upper caste' in our quota system. We have SCs, STs, OBCs, etc and since 2019 (at the Centre) General EWS (economically weaker sections from the general category). In the case of SCs and STs and OBCs, most media organisations describe them more or less the way they are officially classified. They are also referred to as Dalits or backward castes, respectively. Editors should wake up to reality and refer to the so-called upper castes as the 'general' category, especially in election-related stories that talk about vote banks and in write-ups on quotas. Why do we have a knee-jerk impulse for substituting 'general' with 'upper-caste'? This journalistic preoccupation is reaching absurd proportions. It extends beyond Hinduism and to Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and so on. Some Christians call themselves 'upper-caste' Christians just because they belong to the general category! And media organisations also oblige by terming them 'upper-caste Syrian Christians'. Can't we stop this practice unless it is absolutely necessary to tell the reader about the caste / religious background of a person or a group? This dehumanises the underprivileged and endows unearned privilege on the others. It is politically correct to use terms like 'OBC voter' or 'SC candidate'. For all the others, terms like 'general candidate' or a 'general-category Christian leader' should be used (if it is a must for you to identify them by their so-called social status). Interestingly, EWSs among the upper castes are classified as EWS general. Which means ‘general’ is sort of a synonym for the formerly privileged classes while the ‘creamy layer’ (who do not get quota benefits among OBCs is called ‘OBC creamy layer’) concept applies exclusively to OBCs. They are technically in the general list but are still identified as ‘OBC creamy layer’. And let's not forget, the expression "upper caste" is just notional!

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