Covid pushed 100 million more people into poverty, says UN; SC slams Centre's paid vaccine policy; more

The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed more than 100 million more workers into poverty after working hours plummeted and access to good-quality jobs evaporated, the United Nations said on Wednesday. And the labour market crisis created by the pandemic was far from over, the UN's International Labour Organisation warned in a report. Employment was not expected to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels until 2023 at the earliest, it said. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the Centre's paid Covid-19 vaccination policy for the 18-44 age group, calling it “arbitrary and irrational”. The court’s observation came days after it said that vaccine prices should be uniform across the country. Currently, the Centre’s vaccination policy provides for free vaccination for those 45 and above and a paid system for those between 18-44 age group. Watch India First with Gaurav Sawant for more!