A failure to hold companies to account for lesser labor abuses from late wage payments to excessive overtime creates a breeding ground for the worst forms of modern slavery to thrive, the top United Nations expert on human trafficking said. reuters.com/article/us-un-…

If we really want to end modern slavery for good, we need to strike at the heart of the reasons people are being exploited in the first place. It’s political choices, not individual criminals, that create the conditions for modern slavery to thrive. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

"As is typical in India, official arrogance, hyper-nationalism, populism and an ample dose of bureaucratic incompetence have combined to create a crisis." Read more at: economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/vie…

"But liberation from slavery is only one part of freedom: Without unconstrained choice, the absence of exploitation is not enough to make you free. Freedom can only endure if you continue to have control over your own choices and actions after liberation." ssir.org/articles/entry…

"The sheer life-saving nature of modern medicine makes it a tremendously important public good. Our founders recognised this and embarked upon the task to make modern medical care equitable, accessible, and affordable for all." fiftytwo.in/story/the-cure/

As someone recently put it: "the numbers are now becoming names." :-( gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds…

Quite an insightful interview of the BMC Commissioner. Might be instructive for public health officials and other municipal corporations to adapt to their contexts. youtube.com/watch?v=9-rvyP…

#OnThisDay 1981: A toddler with an ear for identifying classical composers appeared on That's Life. This is very sweet. "He's on with the Brahms' Fourth Symphony again."

India: What to Do? 1. Fight disinformation. AGGRESSIVELY 2. Increase vaccinations to >7 M/d (2.5 M/d currently) 3. Increase genomic sequencing to 3-5% (<1% currently) 4. Mask up. Limit/stop indoor & mass gatherings If done today, results may appear in 2-4 weeks Persevere!

Dainik Bhaskar sent 30 reporters across 27 districts to the banks of Ganga. They spotted nearly 2,000 bodies buried or floating by the side. bhaskar.com/local/uttar-pr…

"...labour transfers are deployed in the Uyghur Region within an environment of unprecedented coercion, undergirded by the constant threat of re-education and internment." bbc.com/news/world-asi…

"One in every four Indians still practice untouchability according to a study by NCAER and University of Maryland, USA. Equal and fair representation of Dalits is the only way out of this fractured existence." indianexpress.com/article/opinio…

"Breaking the cycle of modern slavery requires collaboration between anti-trafficking and development actors and joint investment in the independence, freedoms, and opportunities of women and girls." cfr.org/blog/how-creat…

"What is witnessed in the US is again a watered-down experience of the more penetrating caste prejudices in India, yet it appears, in covert forms, in codes and head nods." thequint.com/us-nri-news/wh…

“This apology is not just from me… we should issue a collective apology from this House for those people whose bodies were floating in the Ganga,” Jha said. youtube.com/watch?v=FXISFu…

“Why don’t we talk about Right to Health. No ifs, buts and maybes. The right to health, constitutionally guaranteed, should be linked to right to life. No hospital will have the gumption to play around with this." Jha Said. indianexpress.com/article/india/…

NEW: people worry when they hear "40% of hospitalisations are fully vaxxed", but this chart shows that's actually good news. The more people you vaccinate, the higher their share of hospitalisations, but the *total* number in hospital is a fraction of what it would otherwise be

Indian media called out again for spreading fake news! This time by FRANCE 24

I really enjoyed seeing the kids interview their dad here… youtu.be/uKlfqTz4-q4

“If we had got the wage increase last year, we could have at least eaten vegetables a few times a month. Throughout this year I have only fed my family rice and chutney sauce,” she said. theguardian.com/global-develop…