Time, cost of domestic remittances must reduce: Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday called for a reduction in the time and cost of domestic remittances, saying they help the economies of several eastern and northern states, including Uttar Pradesh.
In a post on X, he noted that while India's remittances from abroad get more policy attention than domestic remittances, this must change due to the volume of domestic remittances as well as their socio-economic profile.
"India's remittances from abroad in 2025 totalled about USD 135 billion. This is around 3.4 per cent of GDP. These remittances have been exceedingly important for managing the country's balance of payments and have been crucial for the economies of a number of states like Kerala. These remittances have been well studied," Ramesh said.
On the other hand, he pointed out, there is less awareness regarding the scale of domestic remittances, which refer to money sent by migrant workers from one state to another within India.
He cited estimates for Kerala, indicating that domestic remittances from the state may account for about one-third of the overseas remittances received by it.
Ramesh referenced an article by Robbin Van Jan Duijne, a scholar at the University of Amsterdam, published in The India Forum, which estimates domestic remittances across India to be between USD 36 billion and USD 48 billion in 2024.
"This is anywhere between a third and two-fifths of remittances to India from overseas. Unfortunately, these domestic remittances generate less headlines, create less enthusiasm, and do not get the policy attention that overseas remittances get.
"This must change, given both the volume of domestic remittances as well as their socio-economic profile. The time and cost of such remittances must get reduced. Domestic remittances are significantly helping the economies of the eastern states as well as some northern states like UP," the Congress leader said in his post.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
