Skip to main content
COVID-19 & the city

COVID-19 & the city

By Tacit Urban Research Network

'COVID-19 & the city' is an interview podcast by Hyderabad Urban Lab (hydlab.in) as a part of the Tacit Urban Knowledge Network (taciturban.net.in). Through these podcasts we talk to researchers about the pandemic's implications on urban life in India. The aim is to try and understand the situation we are faced with by asking pertinent questions, to grasp the impact that lockdowns are having on livelihoods, restricted supply of various commodities, restricted movements of people, its implications on women's safety, on the local economy and businesses, and much more.
Currently playing episode

Lockdown and Agriculture (Part II) - Agrarian Distress and Long -Term Impact on Farmers

COVID-19 & the city Apr 20, 2020

00:00
22:32
Lockdown and Agriculture (Part II) - Agrarian Distress and Long -Term Impact on Farmers

Lockdown and Agriculture (Part II) - Agrarian Distress and Long -Term Impact on Farmers

In the first part of this episode on COVID 19 and its impact on Food Security and Agriculture, Dr. G.V Ramanjaneyulu talked about disruptions in agricultural patterns and rising agrarian distress, especially experienced by rural households. While the wide ranging impacts of the agricultural distress will not save anyone, farmers will be acutely effected.
In the second part of this episode, Dr. G.V Ramanjaneyulu talks to Dr. Anant Maringanti about the possible shifts in household strategies and how we need to be prepared for these in the medium to long term. Edited by Aditya Singh
Apr 20, 202022:32
Lockdown and Agriculture (Part I) : Production and Market Losses

Lockdown and Agriculture (Part I) : Production and Market Losses

As we are trudging into the second phase of the Covid-19 Lock-Down, we are increasingly becoming aware of broken supply chains, lost production, depressed markets and disrupted cashflows. It is not just trains and buses. It is millions of households that have gone into a state of shock. In this episode of Covid 19 and the city, we speak with Dr. Ramanjaneyulu, director of the Centre for Sustainable agriculture. Dr. Ramanjaneyulu, has been associated with many regional and national networks involved in understanding and shaping agricultural practices and policies. Done in two parts, the first mainly focuses on production and market losses. The second focused on the possible long term and structural implications of reverse migration and on what we should be doing.
Hosted by Dr. Anant Maringanti
Edited by Aditya Singh, Urban Fellow, Indian Institute of Human Settlements.
Apr 19, 202016:29
Lockdown : Risks and Opportunities

Lockdown : Risks and Opportunities

As we are well into the second phase of the COVID 19 lockdown, few of us have any doubts that this is an extraordinary situation. Everywhere administrators are struggling to meet the dual challenge of keeping people indoors and at the same time reaching out to people, on the brink of acute hunger. Experts are giving advice on what to do if the situation escalates that is more and more people get effected in a shorter span of time. Economists are racking their brains on what to do for faster economic recovery after the lockdown lifts. This is truly a testing time, where we are faced with difficult ethical questions. On the 24th day of the lockdown health economist and policy expert, Saleema Razvi speaks with Dr. Anant Maringanti.

Hosted by Dr. Anant Maringanti

Edited by Aditya Singh, Urban Fellow, Indian Institute of Human Settlements

Apr 18, 202036:26
दौर - ए - कोरोना पर कुछ सवाल / Making Sense of Uncertainty in times of Corona Virus

दौर - ए - कोरोना पर कुछ सवाल / Making Sense of Uncertainty in times of Corona Virus

कोरोना वायरस को रोकने के लिए हमें लॉक डाउन में गए दो हफ़्तों से भी ज़्यादा दिन हो गए हैं. लॉक डाउन बढ़ने की सूचनाएं भी आ रही हैं। इस क्या करे या ना करे जैसे वक़्त में हम अपने बारे में और जो इस वक़्त हमारी ज़िन्दगी मेहफ़ूज़ रखने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं उनके बारे में कैसे सोंचे ? ऐसे ही कुछ सवालों का जवाब दिया  डॉ. अनंत मरिनगंटी ने, रेडियो चारमीनार के साथ 13-04 -2020 एक बात चीत में ।

More than two weeks into a lockdown, and announcements of upcoming extensions! How do we think about this phase of uncertainty for ourselves, as well as for the frontline workers who are keeping our lives up and running ? Answering such questions and more, Dr. Anant Maringanti spoke on Radio Charminar on 13-04-2020. 

Hosted and Edited by Vanshika Singh, Researcher, Hyderabad Urban Lab

Apr 13, 202047:23
Lockdown : Reflections from Gurgaon

Lockdown : Reflections from Gurgaon

As a country of 130 crore people, we Indians are preparing for an escalation in our fight against COVID 19. As our testing capacity increases, we are seeing a corresponding rise in the number of positives. We are asking ourselves with some trepidation - are we entering the community transmission stage of the disease? These past 10 days have been a race against time for some to reach essential supplies to stranded migrant workers, a pause to somewhere they could sit back and watch Ramayana and catch up with family members. These past 10 days also brought into sharp relief the fragility of life and of dreams in our cities for millions of people.

In this episode, we present Mukta Naik, Fellow at Centre for Policy Research, an urban planner, researcher, activist, and resident of Gurgaon. Part reflections, part analysis, part reminiscing - Mukta Naik is with us to tell us about her experience of this unique window in our shared urban life. 

Hosted and Edited by Dr. Anant Maringanti, Director, Hyderabad Urban Lab


Apr 04, 202036:14
Impact of COVID-19 on Platform Based Workers

Impact of COVID-19 on Platform Based Workers

As the country went into lock down, for many middle class homes, the big question was who would now do the delivery ? How do we move around without Uber or Ola. What about groceries But six days into the lockdown, some of the platform companies are slowly returning to work. We spoke to Aditi Surie from Indian Institute of Human Settlements, who has been studying platform companies - ie companies like Ola, Uber, Zomato, Swiggy, UrbanClap, Dunzo etc. Her work focuses on  how tech companies, at the forefront of creating the gig economy with platforms like these impact Indian urban workers. 

Hosted and Edited by Vanshika Singh, Researcher, Hyderabad Urban Lab

Mar 31, 202028:23