A particularly devastating north India monsoon season has caused widespread destruction and raised water levels in the Yamuna River, which runs past the Taj Mahal. Flood water will likely soak into the marble monument’s ancient wooden foundations, but this could bring an unexpected benefit. As the base is partially made of deodar wood, which strengthens when it absorbs water, floodwaters will lengthen the edifice’s lifespan. Four centuries young it may be, but still: top marks for resilient, climate-appropriate construction.
Following civil society and trade union pressure, the Indian state of Rajasthan has passed both a Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, guaranteeing 125 days annual employment for all families, and a Platform-Based Gig Workers Act, establishing a social security fund and welfare board for gig workers via a two per cent tax on their employers. These hard-won protections are a first step on a long road for workers in India’s booming gig economy.
