Op-ed

Op-ed August 14, 2020

Opinion | The definitions of community and community data are too broad

Broad and unclear definitions increase the potential for wrongful interpretation, leading to harassment and regulatory capture.

Op-ed July 23, 2020

Opinion| Do India’s Covid-19 patients have a right to privacy?

By Sneha P

As India progresses through its ‘unlock’ phases, we can expect to see a proliferation of digital technologies to contain the novel coronavirus’s spread. In these efforts, conserving patient privacy would be critical.

Op-ed July 22, 2020

Opinion | The return of workers to cities isn’t a sign of normalcy

By Dr. Anup Malani & Vaidehi Tandel

Covid-ravaged cities may get a quick boost from returning workers but could yet lose their attraction

Op-ed July 15, 2020

Opinion | Don’t blame dense cities. They have been resilient

By Dr. Reuben Abraham & Vaidehi Tandel

It’s not density, but socioeconomic factors, State capacity, and lack of experience which explain case load

Op-ed July 9, 2020

Opinion | How can the BMC help Mumbai recover?

COVID-19 has taught us that raising revenues from sustainable sources, reinforcing financial literacy, autonomy of local administrations, and revising the current approach in planning expenditure are essential for good urban governance

Op-ed June 5, 2020

Covid is India’s Big Change to Fix Police–From Blunt Force Instrument to Civilian Service

By Priya Vedavalli & Avanti Durani

The COVID-19 outbreak has provided an opportunity to reimagine police, which requires a focus on the transformation of police-public relations and improving inter-agency coordination.

Op-ed May 18, 2020

Opinion | Our youth might not shield us from high Covid mortality

By Vaidehi Tandel & Paul Novosad

As of now, nobody knows whether the protective advantage of India’s youth will outweigh the disadvantage of its health dispositions and health system.

Op-ed May 8, 2020

Opinion | COVID-19: With guidance from govt, RWAs can play a crucial role in deploying community testing, overseeing quarantine across the country

By Vaidehi Tandel & Prakhar Misra

To further standardise the process of testing, RWAs will need to be given a standard operating procedure with an emphasis on ensuring no discrimination against those who may be sampled or test positive.

Op-ed May 6, 2020

Opinion | After eventual lifting of lockdown, behavioural science must form key part of India’s COVID-19 response

By Priya Vedavalli & Kadambari Shah

How much the virus spreads will, to a large extent, depend on how effectively we bring about and sustain these behavioural shifts.

Op-ed April 21, 2020

Opinion | COVID-19: COVID-19 a grim reminder for govts to improve sanitation, housing in cities to prevent pandemics; science won’t be enough

By Vaidehi Tandel

The ability to quickly overpower disease outbreaks through the use of science, innovation and technology had led governments to neglect their role in effective prevention of such epidemics