FRONTLINE Magazine - May 22, 2020

In this issue

SHIFTING THE BLAME

BLAME GAME

Faced with the failure of its lockdown-centric strategy, the Centre blames the States and the people for the rising graph of COVID-19 infection in the country. Grossly inadequate Union health budgets and the long-term failure to build a robust public health infrastructure have compounded the crisis.

7 mins

How A Virus Evolves

The mutations of SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study, have led to the emergence of a dominant virus type, Type A2a, distinctly different from the original virus, Type O, that emerged from Wuhan, and spreading with much higher frequencies than the original version.

10+ mins

In search of a road map

It is now increasingly clear that the government did not think through and provide for the consequences of the lockdown.

10 mins

Clueless captain

As the nation longs for relief from the pandemic and the economic misery caused by an ill-planned lockdown, the government prefers symbolism over substance, exposing its lack of meaningful leadership.

10+ mins

‘Disdainful neglect of public sector must end'

Interview with Professor K. Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India, and member of the ICMR’s high-level technical committee on COVID-19.

8 mins

Dystopian pipe dream

The reluctance of the Narendra Modi regime to extend fiscal support to those in real need of help during a prolonged lockdown suggests that it is promoting further concentration of capital. Dire consequences await the economy and the polity.

10+ mins

The way forward on migrant issues

Even as Kerala and Odisha have taken proactive measures for migrant welfare in the wake of the lockdown, a permanent solution to migrants’ problems may lie in the implementation of the report of the first-ever task force on migration that was submitted to the Centre in 2017.

10+ mins

Job Offers Withdrawn, Internships Now Unpaid

Engineering and business school graduates stare at a bleak future as job offers are withdrawn or revised, while delays in joining dates add to the climate of uncertainty.

5 mins

RISING TREND

There are no signs of any let-up in the COVID case numbers well into the third phase of the lockdown even as issues of violation of physical distancing norms, mistreatment of front-line health workers, inadequate public health infrastructure and increasing distress among the poor come to the fore in most States, besides of course the low testing numbers and haphazard screening and isolation of suspect cases.

10+ mins

The iron hand is out

The coronavirus pandemic has come in handy for governments to tighten their hold by curbing civil liberties and cracking down on political opponents, critics and vulnerable sections of people, including migrant labour.

10 mins

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FRONTLINE Magazine Description:

India's National Magazine.

Frontline, the fortnightly English magazine from the stable of The Hindu, has been a distinguished presence in the media world for the past 27 years. As per the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) Q4, Frontline’s average issue readership is 152000. Its journalism is characterised by in-depth, insightful reporting and analysis of issues and events at the regional, national and international levels. It excels in long-form journalism. The topics Frontline covers range from politics, economics and social issues to the environment, nature, culture and cinema. Its cover stories are comprehensive. No other magazine reports world affairs as exhaustively as Frontline does. Its science coverage has won international acclaim. Intellectually stimulating books reviews and informative, exciting photo features are regular items on the Frontline menu. The magazine has remained particularly focussed on people's concerns and has therefore refused to accept uncritically the policies and programmes of successive governments. It has fought, and supported the battles against, social evils. Its fact-based, non-sensational stories with a strong human interest component have had an impact on decision-making at regional and national levels. In the process it has become a "compulsory read" for those who value truthful reporting and analysis. An important factor that sets Frontline apart from other magazines is its progressive orientation: it is unflinchingly secular, democratic and pro-people. Naturally, it has built up a loyal, intelligent and socially conscious readership