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R. Ramakumar
@ramakumarr
Economist, with above normal interest in politics. Tweets, when put out rarely, are personal.
Mumbai, India
Joined January 2010
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  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Sep 17, 2021
    India's delivery of >20 million vaccine doses today is an example of how perverse public policy can be. If >20 mil doses were possible today, why was it not a week back? The 7-day average ending yday was 6.9 mil/day. How did >15 million people suddenly demand vaccines today? 1/2
  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Mar 27, 2022
    1/ <THREAD> How do we explain and understand the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka? In this thread, I try to follow some of the major events in the nation's economy over the last few years and situate the present crisis in a context.
  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Feb 10, 2022
    Kerala's Chief Minister making a clear political statement today -- while inaugurating 53 new hi-tech school buildings. An all-girls school choir singing a secular welcome song -- "thank you for this world, a house of love" -- wearing their school uniforms! #KarnatakaAgainstHate
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  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Apr 19, 2021
    A quick thread on today's announcement of the Government of India (GoI) to open up Covid vaccination to those above 18 years of age from May 1st. The fine print is dangerous. The decision comes with a considerable liberalisation of the pricing of vaccines. 1/n ...
  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Apr 25, 2021
    A thread on Bharat Biotech's (BB) pricing of Covaxin at Rs 600/dose for State governments and Rs 1200/dose for private hospitals. The pricing of Covaxin at prices higher than Covishield puts the so-called Indian vaccine even more out of bounds for the poorer Indian citizens. 1/n
  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Mar 24, 2023
    I dedicate this classic by the legendary Rahat Indori to the intellect of the judge of the Surat district court.
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    00:00
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  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    May 27, 2021
    1/ <Thread> on the Niti Ayog's press release "Myths & Facts on India’s Vaccination Process". It is a pity that the Niti Ayog, unlike its venerable predecessor Planning Commission, is being turned into a joke in the public eye by its present incumbents. pib.gov.in/PressReleasePa…
  • Were vaccines deliberately suppressed for a week to create a spectacle on boss's birthday? Why is public policy being held hostage to politics in such a blatant way? Are people to be pushed to the brink of suffering, just to feel relieved on a day of the boss's choice? 2/2
  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Apr 21, 2021
    A thread in response to different views expressed against my tweets and articles on Covid #vaccines. Many were abuses; I ignore them. I try to take the reasonable questions and try to answer them here. One question and one answer in each tweet below. Its a long thread, btw! 1/n
  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Jun 5, 2021
    Scientists of IICT/CSIR pay ₹1400/Covaxin dose. The irony: it was IICT that developed a synthetic route for the agonist molecule with indigenous chemicals @ affordable price for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. The product of their research is being sold back to them at a premium! 1/2
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  • Covishield (Oxford-AstraZeneca) was a 97% public funded vaccine. Yet, Oxford exclusively licensed it to AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca exclusively licensed its Indian market to Serum Institute (SII). SII is now making a close to "super profit". Public funded, but private profits. 2/n
  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Mar 18, 2023
    This is absolutely laughable. There is no data on income poverty in India after 2011-12. All data cited afterwards are deceitful extrapolations. The data for the 2017-18 round were not released by the government. But leaked data show why the government wanted to block it. 1/n
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    Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼
    @Noahpinion
    Mar 17, 2023
    This is just an incredible graph. India is making absolutely amazing strides against poverty. (ht @scienceisstrat1)
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  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Apr 19, 2021
    Replying to @ramakumarr
    Basically, the GoI has withdrawn itself from any commitment to ensure vaccines to the States. It created a vaccine shortage over the last 4 months, but is now passing the buck to the States by asking them to purchase the vaccines directly from the manufacturers. 4/n ...
  • user avatar
    R. Ramakumar
    @ramakumarr
    Mar 5, 2024
    Ok, now that Mr Pai has thrown his hat into the ring, can he show one place in any budget document that provides an estimate of the "net proceeds" or the "divisible pool"? A CAG report would also do! I request Mr Pai not to make a bad situation worse for his bosses in Delhi.
    user avatar
    Mohandas Pai
    @TVMohandasPai
    Mar 5, 2024
    Hiding? What a stupid joke by this Yellow Rag @thenewsminute every year a Budget is presented to parliament which has full details of all collections,accounts audited by CAG. Nothing is hidden. This Yellow Rag does not the ability to read budget papers. What a Shame
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