By Ishwar Awasthi, Puneet Kumar Shrivastav*  The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017 to provide timely labour force data. The 2023-24 edition, released on 23rd September 2024, is the 7th round of the series and the fastest survey conducted, with data collected between July 2023 and June 2024. Key labour market indicators analysed include the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR), which highlight trends crucial to understanding labour market sustainability and economic growth. 

Counterview Desk Dr. GN Saibaba’s untimely demise a loss to the academic and human rights community, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has said in a statement, demanding  that his wife should get all benefits from Delhi University, which Dr. Saibaba was denied by non-restoration.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The death of Prof. G.N. Saibaba in Hyderabad should haunt our judiciary, which failed to grasp the immense pain he endured. A person with 90% disability, yet steadfast in his convictions, he was unjustly labeled as one of India’s most ‘wanted’ individuals by the state, a characterization upheld by the judiciary. In a democracy, diverse opinions should be respected, and as long as we uphold constitutional values and democratic dissent, these differences can strengthen us.

By Shankar Sharma*  A recent news article has raised credible concerns about the techno-economic clearance granted by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for a large Pumped Storage Project (PSP) located within a protected area in the dense Western Ghats of Karnataka. The article , titled "Where is the hurry for the 2,000 MW Sharavati PSP in Western Ghats?", questions the rationale behind this fast-tracked approval for such a massive project in an ecologically sensitive zone.

By Ross Bennett-Cook*  Travel is on the rise again. According to the UN’s tourism agency, international travel for all purposes reached 97% of its pre-pandemic level in the first quarter of 2024. In some regions such as Africa and Europe, arrivals are already surpassing these levels. Indian travellers, in particular, are adding to this growing trend – no nation’s outbound tourism market is growing faster. In response to this rapidly expanding travel boom, Indian airlines ordered record numbers of new planes in 2024.

By Megan Bryson*  With his delighted expression, round belly, bald head and monastic robes, the “Laughing Buddha” is instantly identifiable. However, astute observers might wonder why this Buddha does not look like the historical Buddha , who lived in India about 2,500 years ago.

By Harsh Thakor*   Professor G.N. Saibaba’s passing is an immense loss to the Indian democratic movement. He was one of the most courageous and intellectually sharp voices against the proto-fascism that he himself fell victim to. My encounters with him remain etched in my heart, as he carved a permanent niche among the crusaders for the emancipation of mankind. Saibaba represented the criminalization and terror faced by those who champion the cause of the oppressed. Though his body has perished, his spirit lives on in the hearts of the marginalized across India, whether in forests, plains, or cities, where the flames of resistance continue to flicker against corporate-backed fascism.

By Vikas Meshram*  Children's fundamental rights are those essential rights required for every child's survival, growth, development, and protection. Safeguarding these rights is not only crucial for their well-being but also essential for the country's bright future. Children are the pillars of society, and it is the responsibility of every community to provide them with a strong, secure, and opportunity-filled environment.

By Leoni Connah* This year’s local elections in India’s northernmost territory of Jammu and Kashmir were the first since the national government controversially stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status in 2019. It’s also the first local election in Muslim-majority Kashmir since 2014.