The debate over the need for a higher minimum wage is intensifying as the cost of living and income inequality rise. India hopes to move to a living wage regime by next year, which would set a wage floor that takes into account basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and healthcare. Whatever the regime India adopts, there can be little doubt that worker incomes need to rise. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summary: Fast-rising premiums, frequent rejection of claims and complicated contracts are only some of the challenges the health insurance sector presents. As a result, hundreds of millions are left out of the safety net. What’s urgently needed is clarity of what’s covered by policies and what’s not as well as simplified claims processes. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summary: In India, like elsewhere in the world, there are serious concerns about the impact of detrimental social media use on the mental health of young people. While some people suggest an authoritarian approach by parents, others prefer laws that regulate social media use by the young. Neither is optimal or practical. What’s needed are more open conversations with children, a greater emphasis on mental health by educators and government bodies as well as a no-compromise approach to child safety by social media networks. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than a year since violence began in Manipur, 200 have been killed and hundreds injured. More than 60,000 have been displaced and are living in shelters. There have been several instances of rape, and attacks on homes, shops and places of worship. Locals and activists have alleged an abdication of responsibility by the government to protect lives and properties. Militarisation is at record levels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, has found the time to visit country after country but not Manipur. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Private universities are mushrooming in India. However, their journey has not been smooth. While acknowledging the advantages such universities offer, especially in imparting employment-oriented skills, there are also serious concerns like cost, accessibility and education quality. Abhay G Chebbi, Pro-Chancellor at Alliance University, speaks to All Indians Matter about the likely growth trajectory of private universities and the challenges that lie ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If implemented right, the establishment of a land registry, digitisation of records and unique land parcel identification numbers could reduce the number of land disputes, ease land transactions, facilitate flow of agricultural credit and provide a significant boost to the GDP. However, there are several challenges in the form of poor capacity at the local level, lack of standards for mapping and conflicting regulations at the state and Central levels. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

As sea levels rise, the Indian coastline is in danger of severe erosion, land inundation and farmland turning saline. In fact, sea levels along the Indian coast are rising faster than the global average. This is sparking rural-urban migration and causing serious socio-economic problems. Unless greenhouse gas emissions are curbed, the future of coastal populations seems bleak. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

More than 2.68 crore Indians live with disabilities – that’s more than the entire population of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. However, an inclusive ecosystem that doesn’t ensure just respect but also empowerment of people with disabilities remains elusive. Such an ecosystem would span comprehensive rehabilitation services, rights, entitlements, equal opportunities and dignity. After all, disability inclusion means understanding how people function and participate in society, ensuring everybody has the same opportunities in every aspect of life. Dr Senthil Kumar NS, CEO of the Association of People with Disability, speaks to All Indians Matter.

Unjustified denial of bail and continuous postponement of related hearings are a serious threat to individual liberty. Bail is a critical component of the criminal justice system, so decisions about it should aim to harmonise protection of individual liberties with the demands of justice. The Supreme Court has in the past issued directives to ensure ‘bail, not jail’ as a guiding principle. However, this is not practised consistently by courts. So, India needs comprehensive bail reform that does not leave out disadvantaged groups. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Domicile-based job reservations in the private sector don’t work. They only raise the cost of compliance and force businesses out of the states that introduce such laws. Besides, courts have often said that they come in the way of economic freedoms. Karnataka, which was forced to backtrack on such a law, and other states contemplating such reservations, are better off investing in skilling, the ease of doing business and infrastructure. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

There are several structural problems with the way exit polls are conducted in India – from inadequate sample sizes to the blending of irrelevant historical data into the projection, an improper understanding of the demographics, voters withholding their true choices from researchers and many more. Also, inadequate budgets mean pollsters cut corners. It’s a flawed exercise and even harmful at times, as we saw with the stock market surge based at least partly on exit poll results and the subsequent crash on counting day. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Recent data shows a 4% rise in crimes against women but experts estimate that most of them go unreported. The situation on the ground is a lot worse than the numbers indicate, so it’s time to work on it in crisis mode. Fast-track courts and police sensitisation are only part of the solution; accessible free legal aid and a societal shift away from patriarchy are critically needed too. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

A new, more aware generation of philanthropists is moving fast to support causes it believes in and it’s changing giving in the process. This passion is making the development sector prepare for philanthropists looking for real, measurable outcomes. Amitabh Jaipuria, CEO of Accelerate Indian Philanthropy, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The sedition law is a relic of an oppressive colonial past that is best confined to the dustbin of history. While new Bills claim to do away with sedition as an offence, many legal experts believe that they include sedition clauses using different language. Several former colonies have repealed such laws and it’s time for India to ensure no one is ever tried for sedition again. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The World Cup wasn’t just a celebration of cricket, it had a massive positive impact on the Indian economy. A range of industries, from consumer electronics to hospitality and airlines, benefited from it. What’s more, it coincided with the festive season – historically the period with the highest consumer spends of the year. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

While climate change is the definitive issue of our time, few know that it has always shaped history. From natural disasters to the fall of empires, the rise of pandemics, mass migrations, the ebb and flow of trade, social upheaval and even war, climate has always played a role. The father-son duo of Sangeeth and Zac Varghese, who’ve co-authored the book ‘Hidden Links – How Random Historical Events Shaped Our World’, speak to All Indians Matter.

Most of us never think about it but quality data is critical to governance. It affects our daily lives. So, what do we make of a government that tries to hide critical data about consumption, poverty, jobs, etc? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Infosys’ co-founder NR Narayana Murthy says the youth should work 70 hours a week. The need of the hour, however, is to find the right balance between work and everything else that comprises life. This is a critical need in this age. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Construction accounts for 40% of carbon emissions in India. On the one hand, India needs to build cities, infrastructure and homes but it also needs to safeguard the environment. How can India insitutionalise sustainable construction to ensure its ambitions balance its responsibility towards the climate? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

From tomato prices to that of other essential commodities and even the cost of industrial raw materials, inflation has been the top global concern over the past 18 months. In the long run, high inflation can skew the value of your savings, constrict exports, lower credit availability for businesses and put pressure on balance sheets. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

Adoption can be a complicated, tedious and frustrating process with complex legal procedures and numerous technicalities. It can also be emotionally taxing. No wonder then that there is a great mismatch between the number of children eligible for adoption and those actually adopted. In fact, the number of adoptions is falling in India. Why is adoption such a tangled process and how can it be made easier? Adoption crusader Bharati Dasgupta and adoptive parent Vidyadhar Prabhudesai, who spearhead the Adopt India movement, speak to All Indians Matter.  

Caste prejudice has led to several student suicides on Indian campuses. The abuse starts early and students and faculty alike are the perpetrators. Often, lower caste students are unfairly marked on their work and hurdles are placed at every step of their journey. With education being their only path to upward social mobility, many lower caste students have chosen to end their lives instead of put up with the harassment. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

While the Women’s Reservation Bill represents hope and is an important step, political empowerment is not the same as smashing the patriarchy entrenched in Indian society. Until all the factors that hold back women from achieving their true potential are dealt with, the battle must continue. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Across the world, women with disabilities are establishing their identity despite challenging social conditions. However, that journey is very different in developing countries such as India. Women with disabilities face multiple challenges which add to the very complex gender issues all women battle every day. These range from social discrimination and stigma to violence. What can be done to change that reality? Disability rights and gender justice crusader Nidhi Goyal speaks to All Indians Matter.

Recently, on an inter-city train, after I asked for a non-vegetarian meal, two women sitting next to me shifted to other seats. They explained that they could not sit next to someone who was eating meat. That made me want to find out what percentage of Indians are meat eaters and whether the projection of this country as mainly vegetarian is true. Turns out the vast majority of Indians – 70% of women and 78% of men – eat meat, according to government data. What’s more, it’s been the case historically that most Indians consumed some form of meat. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

A recent report on India’s bird numbers says 178 species are in need of urgent conservation measures and others are in danger of serious decline too. Blame it on change of land use, urbanisation, ecosystem degradation, monocultures, infrastructure development, pollution and climate change. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The New Education Policy, while offering the promise of better schooling, also brings into focus the failures of education reform in India. While there have been improvements in infrastructure and enrollment, equity, learning levels and uptake of public schools are lagging. Priyadarshini Singh, research fellow at the State Capacity Initiative, Center for Policy Research, has written a paper tracing the evolution of education reform. She speaks to All Indians Matter.

September 15 marked a decade and a half of the 2008 global financial crisis precipitated by the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Here’s looking back at what happened, how India was impacted and the learnings from that time to keep in mind today. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

The successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 was a moment of pride. It intensified the focus on India’s space technology. A report said India has the potential to create a $40-$100 billion space industry by 2040. What are the areas it could focus on and what kind of investments does it need? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

By refusing to stand by Sabyasachi Das, a faculty member whose research found indications of manipulation in the 2019 general election, Ashoka University showed a lack of spine. Which raises the question, is Ashoka merely an institution that likes to talk about things like academic freedom but won’t really walk the talk? If there is disagreement about a paper’s observations, you counter it with data and logical arguments. That’s not what Ashoka did. It merely succumbed. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

China’s GDP growth could slow to 5% on the back of a real estate crisis, changing demographics and government debt. With investment seeking a new home, this could well be India’s moment. But first, it has a lot to do: build quality infrastructure fast, enlarge the skilled workforce, raise literacy rates and much more. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

There is an effort to simplify the KYC process to make it more ‘risk-based’, instead of one-size-fits-all, and amenable to digital needs. KYC has faced challenges over the years, but it’s needed to safeguard financial institutions and their customers. Ganesh Ram, MD and CEO of MF Utilities, tells All Indians Matter how India can deal with the challenges.

The government claims that the replacement of the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act and the Criminal Procedure Code with new laws is the transformation the criminal justice system needs. But there is a sense of disquiet with what is being proposed. Experts and activists have issued warnings about several aspects, from provisions in the new bills being vague to the government granting itself more draconian powers to some laws not changing much except for the semantics. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Like lithium, uranium is seen as the key to India’s green energy push. However, it’s mining is not hazard-free and can impact the health of local communities; pollute land, water and the air; and ultimately harm the very environment green energy is supposed to protect. India’s uranium push must be accompanied by sufficient social and environmental safeguards. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

UPI payments accounted for 52% of the 8,840 crore digital transactions with a value of Rs 126 lakh crore in FY2021-22. In FY2018-19, UPI accounted for only 17% of India’s 3,100 crore digital transactions. Rohit Taneja, founder of Decentro, an API platform for banking integrations, talks to All Indians Matter about how UPI has changed financial transactions and, by extension, the larger economy.

India is throwing open lithium mining to the private sector. While lithium is critical for the green energy and net-zero push, the new policy must factor in the very real and serious pollution and socioeconomic concerns about the mining process. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

10 gram panchayats in Kaagal taluka of Kolhapur district have passed a unanimous resolution demanding a merger with Karnataka. This brings into focus yet again the boundary dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka. Both states have refused to budge and the matter has been in the Supreme Court since 2004. Meanwhile, how is this playing out on the ground? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

A chance conversation with an academician at a leading public university got me thinking. He mentioned that political pressure on the institution and interference in its working have affected it deeply, impacting everything – from who gets to speak there to what students can research and speak openly about. This is a sentiment echoed across India’s institutions of higher learning. In effect, the government is trying to control and direct how students and professors think. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

The HDFC Bank-HDFC Ltd merger has created a financial services behemoth, among the largest in the world, with an estimated market capitalisation of Rs 14.37 lakh crore. While the benefits are evident for the merged entities, from a wider offering and distribution reach to lower cost of funds, for customers it would mean a greater choice of financial products and services at more competitive rates. For the wider economy, it could mean more effective underwriting of large-ticket infrastructure loans and greater credit flow. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The July 11, 2006, train bombs remain etched in Mumbai’s memory. The blasts were followed by a massive police operation in which roughly 350 people were detained. In the end, in September 2015, 12 persons were convicted with five of them sentenced to death. But there was one man, Abdul Wahid Shaikh, who was declared innocent. The ordeal however destroyed his life. He recalls the trauma, torture and stigma that simply won’t wash off to All Indians Matter.

When Ajit Pawar switched loyalties, many suggested that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had influenced the decision. The ED was set up in 1956 to focus on foreign exchange-related offences but in recent times has focused on money laundering, often training its guns on the Opposition. What makes it such a potent political weapon in the hands of the government? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

ESG is becoming quite the buzzword in India. It’s widely accepted now that, if companies are to be considered corporate citizens, then environmental, social and governance considerations are the key. However, the evolution of ESG regulations in India is at a nascent stage. What lies next for it? Yashika Singh – a veteran of public policy, corporate affairs, economic analysis and corporate strategy and EVP at Pernod Ricard India – speaks to All Indians Matter.  

It is estimated that India spends Rs 9 lakh crore on welfare delivered through thousands of schemes. These schemes are difficult to implement, have leakages and often don’t even reach the intended beneficiaries. They are costly and, despite all our efforts, we still have more impoverished Indians than the entire population of the US. Could a universal basic income be a better way of ensuring social welfare and justice? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The Indian girl child is born to tremendous disadvantages. For instance, India is the only large country where more baby girls die than baby boys. The gender differential in child survival, according to UNICEF, is 11%. Girls log fewer hospital admissions, an indicator that parents give less attention to them. It’s a society ridden with structural inequalities for the girl child. Destitute girls lie at the bottom of this very disadvantaged list. Who stands up for them? Anuradha Bhosale, a former child labourer and now a renowned grassroots women’s rights and anti-child labour activist, speaks to All Indians Matter.  

While India rightly celebrates entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurs face massive challenges – from financing problems to societal and family pressures. Studies show that their business drive matches the global average and the businesses they helm deliver great results despite having fewer resources. While there are several government programmes that they can benefit from, lack of awareness and implementation issues are serious obstacles. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

India continues its free fall on the World Press Freedom Index. The latest edition has India at 161 out of 180 countries, a drop of 11 ranks. Even Afghanistan fares better! If the press is not free but beholden to that power, as we’re seeing today, it becomes an extension of that power. Those who refuse to become that extension are threatened and prosecuted. If the media is in peril, then so is our democracy. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

 A spate of deaths has given fresh life to the criticism levelled against the way cheetahs were introduced into Kuno in Madhya Pradesh. Not only has the Supreme Court expressed grave concerns at the implementation of the project, even several leading global experts say it is being handled badly. Concerns range from inadequate space to the focus being on publicity rather than conservation. What can India do to get Project Cheetah back on track? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

Vinayak Deokar was abandoned when he was three months old. He was adopted, but lost his aging foster parents early. He struggled through life and, just as things got better, he was diagnosed with cardiac disease. During the course of his treatment, he met a four-year-old suffering from the same ailment. That turned out to be an inflection point. He has since then devoted his life to helping others. He runs the Mahatma Gandhi School in Pune, a free English-medium institution that ensures education for 425 orphans and children of prisoners, sex workers, single mothers, daily wagers and domestic workers. He details his journey to All Indians Matter.

An Oxfam report says almost two-thirds of the GST collection comes from the bottom 50% of the population. How does this happen and what are the solutions? Part of the answer lies in tweaking direct taxes – increase annual taxes on the richest 1%. These could span capital gains, inheritance, property and land taxes. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

In the run-up to the Karnataka election, the BJP raised the spectre of a Uniform Civil Code again. No serious observer believes that it has the good of minorities or minority women on its mind. The code is, instead, a ploy to polarise voters and further suppress minorities. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The media industry across the world, and particularly in India, is dominated by men and this naturally impacts how women’s issues are covered. This culture of exclusion has also affected women’s news consumption. In this context, a report that was published recently throws light not just on the lack of women in news leadership roles but also how greater engagement with women could revitalise the news industry. Luba Kassova, the report’s lead author, and Richard Addy, lead researcher, speak to All Indians Matter about how the Indian media can fix the gender imbalance.

The ethnic fire in Manipur may be cooling for the moment but discontent continues to simmer underneath. The dominant (largely Hindu) Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribes status means fewer government jobs and seats in educational institutions for the (largely Christian) Kuki tribals. The tug and pull over land rights only intensifies the volatility in the north-eastern state. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Brij Bhushan Singh is somewhat of a star in the BJP – a bahubali who was part of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and six-time MP with clout within the Rajput community. The party calculated that he was too important and that the wrestlers’ protest would have no electoral fallout, and so it chose to brazen it out. What message does this send to our elite athletes and to women across the country? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

81 lakh investor accounts were added in 2020-21 in India, an indicator of people’s willingness to invest. A key trend is microinvesting – putting very small amounts into financial instruments so that users don’t have to alter their lifestyles much. It’s catching on fast among the young. How does microinvesting work? And how can you make the most of it? Satyajeet Kunjeer, founder of microinvesting platform Deciml, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The India Justice Report 2022 points out serious shortfalls in recruitment of women and members of SC, ST and OBCs in the police and judiciary. This is of concern because, without proper representation, these institutions will seem inaccessible to disadvantaged groups and lack credibility. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

A brutal heatwave is sweeping across India – a result of severe disruption in heat dissipation, with ecosystems like ponds, wetlands and jungles under attack, coupled with rising carbon emissions. This has serious economic and health implications and it requires a coordinated national plan. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

More than 4.7 crore cases are pending in courts across the country; 1.82 lakh for more than 30 years. There is a need to introduce a great deal of efficiency in the way our courts work. India needs to focus on information technology to energise and speed up courts while improving the quality of judgments. Arvind Singhatiya, CEO of LegalKart, who’s working to do just that, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The removal from textbooks of references to the Mughals, the 2002 Gujarat riots and Gandhi’s opposition to the saffron right wing is an attempt to rewrite history and push the Sangh agenda. At a time when education across the world is broadening to include new and inclusive global realities, education in India is getting constricted. It is a disservice to the nation and is unwarranted. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

India claims steadfast commitment to environmental laws, but its actions belie that claim – think more coal blocks being opened up for mining and forests under siege. Is India serious about environmental laws and their compliance? Susan L Ostermann, assistant professor of global affairs and political science at the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, who’s just written the book ‘Capacity Beyond Coercion’ on the concept of regulatory pragmatism to explain variation in strategies used by Nepal and India to secure compliance with conservation, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The manhunt for  Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh brings into focus not just the danger he poses but also the underlying socioeconomic tensions in Punjab – from agriculture in decline to drugs and high unemployment. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

Academic freedom and institutional autonomy have declined significantly in India since the Narendra Modi government came to power. This has been emphasised by independent studies but we don’t need them to see what’s going on. Why is academic freedom important to society and, indeed, individual freedoms? Suhas Palshikar, academician and social and political scientist, speaks to All Indians Matter.  

When our icons stay silent, they make a choice to condone oppression and abuse of the democratic process. To the people, it says it’s OK to not speak up. If you have a platform, you ought to take a stand. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Among the various worries about, and threats to, Indian democracy is the capture of institutions, hobbling their independence and posing a threat to liberties and the democratic process. How does this happen and what does it mean for you? Christophe Jaffrelot, renowned political scientist and Indologist, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The Supreme Court will soon hear arguments for and against legalising same-sex marriages in India. The matter is not just about choice or sexuality, but human rights. If two consenting adults want to enter into a legal union that, for many, is the ultimate step in love, who is the government or anyone else to stand in the way? Marriage would mean same-sex couples could own property together, have joint bank accounts, have inheritance rights, etc. And these are vital for normal, everyday living. It’s time to make same-sex marriage legal in India. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

India is poised to have more than 60 cities with a population of more than one million each and six megacities with populations of at least 10 million each by 2030. But, our urban centres are hardly well managed. The growing urban population will strain resources like water and energy, infrastructure like roads, services like waste management and healthcare. So, how we manage our resources and plan infrastructure and services will be critical. Increasingly, it is being understood that technology will have a huge role to play. It’s time to address the challenges in implementing technology and data-driven urban governance. Sarayu Natarajan, founder of Aapti Institute, which works on questions at the intersection of technology and society, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The ‘Academic Freedom Index Update 2023’ has confirmed what we’ve known for a while: academic and cultural freedom, and institutional autonomy, have declined significantly in India since the Narendra Modi government came to power. The areas of concern span the gamut, from freedom to research and teach to campus integrity. Academic freedom is a derivative of freedom of thought and is critical to the evolution of society. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

India’s urban air quality is dismal. Recently, Mumbai was named the second most polluted city in the world in terms of air quality and it is said that the bulk of India’s population breathes air that is at least 10 times more polluted than the World Health Organization’s previous PM 2.5 standards. Bhavay Sharma, Senior Program Manager - Air Quality at WRI India, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The misuse of agencies like the CBI and ED keeps political opponents neutralised and critics in check. But it will ultimately lead to the erosion of democracy, weakening our legal safeguards and laying the foundation of rule by fear. It’s what will, in the end, erase our freedoms. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

India ranks an abysmal 101 among 116 countries on the Global Hunger Index. Rural hunger has received a lot of attention – justifiably so – but what does hunger in urban India look like? With three decades of growth, the urban economy is thought to have done better than the rural one. In reality, large sections of our urban population face serious food insecurity. Growing unemployment and rising food prices all add to urban food insecurity. Vikas Parchhanda, CEO of Akshaya Chaitanya, an initiative in Mumbai that aims to eradicate hunger in a sustainable and scalable manner, speaks to All Indians Matter.

Section 153A wasn’t part of the original penal code but was introduced via an amendment. It remains in the IPC because of its use as a tool to suppress free speech and political opponents. Until it goes, it will continue to shrink our fundamental rights. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

The mere existence of elections does not mean we have a truly representative democracy. They need to be free and fair. We need electoral reforms to fix problems ranging from the use of money and divisive campaigns to mandates being twisted and cast aside through the splitting of parties. Most important of all, electoral reforms are needed to preserve citizens’ trust in democracy.  What are these reforms? Dr Yugank Goyal, who teaches public policy and is the co-author of the book ‘Who Moved My Vote?’, speaks to All Indians Matter.

Edtech exploded onto the scene as COVID-19 shut India down. It was hailed as a shining star in India’s red-hot startup economy. But now it’s reeling from an avalanche of bad news: complaints about service quality, misleading marketing, even outright cheating. The latest: edtech firms are laying off staff by the thousands. What can they do to rebuild trust? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

Santosh Ram’s short film, ‘Prashna’, is a poignant, emotional piece of storytelling about migrant sugarcane workers and their families, told through the eyes of one mother and her son. Every year, more than six lakh people from Marathwada migrate within Maharashtra or to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to cut sugarcane. They have neither formal contracts nor rights. They live in pitiable conditions and they and their children are often exploited by middlemen. Santosh speaks to All Indians Matter.

WPL will not only unlock and expand the commercial value of women’s cricket, it will lead to the development of the women’s game at the grassroots level. For advertisers, it’s likely to deliver a lucrative audience that includes teenage to young women. Maybe the BCCI should have launched the league sooner?

Did you know that regional rural banks, or RRBs, have 28.3 crore depositors and 2.6 crore borrowers? They were created to provide rural areas with basic banking services, and they also disburse pensions and NREGA wages. With the government infusing Rs 10,890 crore to recapitalise RRBs, greenlighting their listing on stock exchanges and pushing operational reforms, can they become booster rockets for financial inclusion? And why are RRBs so critical to the rural and overall national economy? Davinder Sandhu, who has more than 35 years of experience in policy formulation and is co-founder and chairman of advisory firm Primus Partners, speaks to All Indians Matter. Davinder has also been Sector Director for Transport and Disaster Management at the PMO, Country Representative at the Executive Board of the World Bank Group and Head of Network Operations at the Indian Railways.

The flagship rural jobs scheme has provided a lifeline to homes hurting from unemployment and soaring inflation. The slashing of its budget to Rs 60,000 crore has been dubbed an “assault” on people’s right to work. What impact will the lower allocation have on rural families and the overall economy? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The Elgar Parishad case, in which several activists have been accused of making speeches that led to violence in Bhima Koregaon near Pune in 2018, drags on. Dalit scholar Anand Teltumbde, lawyer-activist Sudha Bhardwaj and poet Varavara Rao have got bail, but only after spending years in prison. But others, such as Vernon Gonsalves, continue to languish behind bars. Eighty-four-year-old Jharkhand-based tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy, meanwhile, died in custody on July 5, 2021. What does this case tell us about human rights in India and about the effectiveness – or lack of it – of the judiciary? Susan Abraham – a lawyer who’s been at the forefront of the legal battle, human right activist and wife of Vernon Gonsalves – speaks to All Indians Matter.

India logs 2.6 billion e-commerce deliveries a year and the last-mile emissions per delivery, 285 gCO2, are way higher than the global average of 204 gCO2. Five cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai – emit more CO2 from last-mile deliveries than the last-mile emissions of entire countries such as France and Canada. Gowri Omanakuttan and Atul Gopal, who’re part of the #EVmyDelivery campaign to reduce such emissions, talk to All Indians Matter.

US President Joe Biden was hailed for pardoning thousands of Americans convicted of possessing marijuana, re-energising the demand to legalise its use. In India, too, there has been a longstanding demand to legalise marijuana for recreational use. Already, crores of Indians use cannabis products, of which marijuana is one, according to a government study. A sensible policy approach and sound regulation would not only reduce the burden on the criminal justice system but also prove to be a huge revenue spinner for the government. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

This is one of a handful of episodes during the recording of which I wept. Bhanwar Meghwanshi, a Dalit, was fanatically devoted to the RSS, ready to go to war for its cause and even die for it. He joined the RSS as a child, eased into it by his school teacher and indoctrinated through games and music. Bhanwarji was jailed for trying to participate in the kar seva at the Babri Masjid site and he worked hard to spread the Sangh’s ideology. But, over time, he began to be subtly reminded of his Dalit-ness and was told he couldn’t become a pracharak because he was from a lower caste. The food he prepared for RSS members and priests was thrown away because it would “pollute” them. Exposed to its true face, disillusioned and shattered, he attempted suicide. Bhanwarji left the RSS and spent years trying to find himself. Eventually, there was an epiphany and he has since devoted his life to uniting Indians of all religions, castes and sections. He is also a civil liberties activist and works with Dalits, Adivasis and nomadic tribes. He tells his story to All Indians Matter.

India has had above normal rainfall this year, so why are some states witnessing drought conditions and others a drop in farm output? It’s because the monsoon had a skewed distribution, resulting in rain deficits in the northern Gangetic plain and a roughly 1% decrease in overall acreage of the kharif crop. This could result in a further rise in food prices and some shortages. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Shashi Tharoor’s campaign to be Congress president has earned him affection, support and opposition in equal measure. What sets him apart? Is he too elitist, as some people believe, or is he the answer the Congress needs after years of stagnation? He’s labelled himself the candidate of change, so what’s the change on his agenda? Most importantly, can he win? Economist, political commentator, Congressman and prominent Tharoor backer Salman Anees Soz, and policy advocate Rohit Tripathi speak to All Indians Matter.

India wants to become a global semiconductor manufacturing centre, attracting investment, creating jobs and making itself less vulnerable to the kind of shortages witnessed after the COVID-19 pandemic. The chips are at the heart of various devices and machines, from cars to laptops and defence equipment to smartphones. The Centre is offering subsidies and incentives, and there is a lot of interest from global majors. However, there are serious challenges too: the industry is capital-intensive, requires vast amounts of ultra-pure water and uninterrupted power supply – none of which can be guaranteed in India. Can India trump China, the US and the EU to become the world’s semiconductor assembly line? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Skilling was never a priority for Indian businesses, but COVID-19 changed that. With job losses rampant over the past two years, the focus will be on skilling for new-age professions shaped by digitisation, reconfigured supply chains and evolving product portfolios. What does this mean for MSMEs? Sunil Dahiya, who leads the Wadhwani Opportunity Program in Asia, driving large-scale job creation through entrepreneurship, innovation and skills development, speaks to All Indians Matter.  

Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is an effort to energise the Congress and to keep it relevant at a time of unending electoral losses. It’s an ambitious political move staged in the backdrop of a sharply divided society, rampant hate and stunning economic decline. It’s good political theatre, it’s good politics and will mean millions of citizen engagements and infuse a sense of mission among the party workers. But, can the Congress keep itself from imploding? Can the positivity convert into votes? It’s early days, but there’s no denying the yatra’s relevance. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

India needs to reimagine how it builds streets and roads, Madhav Pai, Programme Executive Director at the World Resources Institute India Ross Center, tells All Indians Matter. Why? Because India accounts for 11% of the world’s road accident deaths despite having only 1% of the world’s vehicles. That’s 4.5 lakh road crashes every year, which kill 1.5 lakh people – 53 crashes per hour, killing 1 person every 4 minutes. India tops the world in such deaths and injuries and, with the monsoon upon us, road safety should be even more of a priority.

At least 10 Dalit women are raped every single day in India and their vulnerability to it has risen 44% over the past decade. This frequency of violence is founded on a bedrock of economic oppression – most Dalits, especially the women, have little economic agency. If Dalit victims of sexual assault are dependent on their survival on their assailants, justice can be very, very distant. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

When RJ Sayema was targeted for celebrating India’s win over Pakistan in a cricket match, it was yet another example of the abuse and humiliation women, especially Muslim women and those in the media, face daily on social media. It’s so common now that it’s become normalised. But it can’t be normal for the targets of such attacks. It must be a scary, vulnerable, distressing spot to be in. Sayema speaks to All Indians Matter. This was one of the most moving, thought-provoking and fun episodes I’ve done. Don’t miss it.

Cyrus Mistry’s death in a road crash has sparked a debate on how to make India’s roads safer. India tops the world in road fatalities with 1.55 lakh dying in accidents in 2021, up from 1.33 lakh in 2020. We need a whole new approach that encompasses varied focus areas, from better road design to signages and stricter law enforcement to safety awareness. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

More than 23,000 millionaires have left India since 2014 and, since 2015, nearly 9 lakh Indians – many of them highly qualified – have given up their citizenship. India is witnessing the sharpest rise in people migrating overseas, at nearly one crore between 2000 and 2020, according to the ‘International Migration 2020 Highlights’ report issued by the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Why is India losing its best minds and most prosperous citizens? And where are they going? Migration advisor Saadat Shaikh speaks to All Indians Matter.

Much delayed, but 5G is finally rolling out. Done right, it will aid in unlocking the next phase of India’s economic growth. It has the potential to transform the entire business and social services landscape, from education and healthcare to manufacturing and agriculture. But, it’s not without challenges. Learn more in the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The rise of the right wing has been accompanied by a demand for the abolition of reservations. Reservations were introduced to correct a centuries-old imbalance in Indian society that made the upper castes extremely powerful and rich while keeping other castes crushingly poor and low in status. VP Singh, as prime minister, implemented the recommendations of the Mandal Commission by providing reservations for the first time for OBCs in government services. All Indians Matter speaks with veteran journalist Debashish Mukerji, who’s also the author of a much-acclaimed biography of Singh, about how reservations shape Indian politics and what lies ahead for them.

Indian medical students who fled Ukraine after the Russian invasion have not yet been accommodated in Indian colleges despite a government committee’s recommendation that they be given admission to corresponding courses in India. The only option left for the students is to return to Ukraine, which is potentially life threatening and there is no guarantee their courses will be completed either. Their hopes now rest on the Supreme Court. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The Centre doesn’t seem to be invested in MNREGA, a lifeline for those suffering the worst from rural distress. Allocation for the scheme was slashed by more than 25% in the last Budget and, worse, Delhi owes more than Rs 4,720 crore as MNREGA dues to 13 states and union territories. Meanwhile, the workers often have to go hungry or take on debt. Anuradha Talwar, veteran trade unionist and rural labour activist, speaks to All Indians Matter.

Did you know that, every year, 100 billion cigarette butts get dumped in the landfills of India, accounting for 26,454 tons of waste? Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a plastic that takes almost 10 years to completely decompose. In fact, such filters are probably the world’s most littered form of plastic with close to 4.5 trillion butts polluting the environment every year. This litter finds its way to our oceans and the microplastics go deep into the ground, posing a serious danger to land and sea life and contaminating our food and water. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Environmental challenges posed by cigarette butts: https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/the-environmental-challenge-posed-by-cigarette-butt-litter-101610204964038.html What the WHO says about cigarette butts: https://www.thehindu.com/society/buttrush-is-an-initiative-to-collect-harmful-cigarette-butts-and-send-them-for-recycling/article65213841.ece#:~:text=In%20truth%2C%20cigarette%20butts%2C%20the,contains%20over%207%2C000%20toxic%20chemicals. EU ban on microplastics stubs out cigarette butt pollution: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/30-05-2022-eu-ban-on-microplastics-stubs-out-cigarette-butt-pollution UN partnership aims to combat microplastics in cigarettes: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1111072  

What exactly is nationhood? How has it evolved in India and what does it mean in these tough, divisive times, to different groups? Priyadarshini Singh – Research Fellow at the State Capacity Initiative at the Center for Policy Research – recently published the study ‘India and its Nationhood: Grassroots Nationhood as Conceptual Frames’. She speaks to All Indians Matter.

Press freedom, never a given in India, has suffered repeated assaults – never more sustained than now. Siddique Kappan’s case is emblematic of it. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 2021 was one of the deadliest years of the past decade for Indian journalists. No wonder India is ranked 150th among 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Mehnaz Kappan’s speech: https://twitter.com/AzeefaFathima/status/1559110055194394624?s=20&t=R0lJfmo1K0wtANJxPRi7iw India’s World Press Freedom Index ranking: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-falls-8-positions-to-150th-rank-in-rsf-2022-world-press-freedom-index-101651622367861.html Committee Against Assault on Journalists report: https://www.caajindia.org/2022/02/media%20ki%20gherabandi%20caaj%20report%20uttar%20pradesh.html

The steady decline of democracy, institutions and freedoms in India over the past eight years has been a matter of great concern to Indians and governments across the world. Interestingly, many of the trends witnessed here are mirrored in the US too – the rise of an aggressive right wing, aggressive religious nationalism, calls to subvert the democratic process and, perhaps most worrying of all, a dysfunctional judicial system. As we celebrate Independence Day, Rohit Tripathi, Washington-based policy advocate who has worked with both the US Congress and the Indian Parliament on a variety of issues, speaks to All Indians Matter.  

The government wants more mergers of public sector banks mergers, arguing that it will lead to cost savings and consolidation in the banking sector. But opponents of the move point to problems in the merged banks, ranging from clunky process integration to the shutting of branches and the unsatisfactory reduction of bad loans. What would more such mergers mean for the banking sector and depositors like you? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

The government claims forest cover has risen by 2,261 sq km, but the figure is hotly contested by experts. They point out that, shockingly, it’s the result of the legal definition of a forest being changed! Now, tea estates, coconut plantations and even tree-lined avenues in cities are being classified as forests. Veteran environmentalist Stalin D, of the NGO Vanashakti, speaks to All Indians Matter.

Our sporting superheroes have brought the country medals and glory despite the sports system in India. Our performance, especially in major events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, has improved over time. Now, it’s time to build on it. We are a nation of 1.3 billion with more than 300 million youth – roughly the entire population of the US – of Olympic participation age. Yet, even smaller nations, some of them smaller even than some of our states, regularly win more medals. The problem lies not just in the way we nurture our sportspersons but also in our sporting culture. So, what can be done to make India a sporting superpower?

Recently, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, released its first annual human rights report that covers the use of its platform for hate speech – especially in India – and the action taken to curb it. However, many observers termed the report a whitewash, claiming that Meta was not doing enough to curb hate speech and was using the report to absolve itself of negligence. A recent study by the Europe-based human rights organisation, Foundation The London Story, or FoundationTLS, found hate content thriving on Facebook fan pages of public figures, especially around calls for violence and genocidal statements made by these public figures. Dr Ritumbra Manuvie, Lecturer of Law at the University of Groningen and Executive Director of FoundationTLS, speaks to All Indians Matter. See the Facebook human rights report here: https://about.fb.com/news/2022/07/first-annual-human-rights-report/

The lawsuit filed by Twitter against the government goes well beyond company versus state. It is, in fact, a case about freedom of speech and its future in India. It is part of a broadening global battle against governments that want to limit the power of Google, Facebook and other companies in order to stifle dissent. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

No-poaching agreements and clauses that forbid employees from moving to competitors are common. They can artificially depress salaries and suck away competition from the talent market, enabling corporations to get richer at their employees’ expense. Are such clauses legal or ethical? How do they affect salaried employees? Leading corporate lawyer Shahezad Kazi speaks to All Indians Matter.   Contracts that forbid employees from moving to competitors can artificially depress salaries and reduce employment options. Are such clauses legal or ethical? How do they affect salaried employees? Leading corporate lawyer Shahezad Kazi speaks to @allindianscount.

There’s been a series of malfunctions and close shaves involving passenger flights over the past few days, making fliers nervous and raising serious concerns about air safety in India. What’s causing these incidents? Blame them on a number of reasons, from cash-bleeding airlines cutting corners to a shortage of staff and unauthorised engineers clearing takeoff. How did we get here and what is the DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation doing about it? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

India, with more than 10 crore investors, is the world’s most significant crypto market. But regulations have been confusing, and the government seems to have been caught unawares by the boom. For instance, it imposed a tax on cryptocurrencies but said that it does not mean they have been legalised. Investors are demanding that the government take a clear stand and that cryptocurrencies be legalised and regulated to pave the way for a solid, safe market. Rakesh Singh, a leading Blockchain and crypto lawyer, speaks to All Indians Matter.   India’s #crypto regulations are confusing. Investors are demanding that the government regulate cryptocurrencies and introduce a rational tax regime to pave the way for a solid, safe market. @advocaterakesh9, a leading #Blockchain and crypto lawyer, speaks to @allindianscount.

More than 40% of India’s external debt, or $267 billion of the total $621 billion, is due for repayment in the next 9 months. This is equivalent to 44% of India’s forex reserves. The rupee has been falling consistently, recording new lows every few days, and it could face further pressure as the record external debt comes up for repayment. What does this mean for you? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Officially, there are 2.68 crore disabled persons in India but that’s most likely an undercount. They need employment in order to transform their status with society and their families. A shift in employer mindsets can greatly enhance job opportunities for people with disabilities. How do we ensure this happens? Meera Shenoy, founder and CEO of Youth4Jobs and a pioneer in the skilling of youth with disabilities and linking them to jobs at scale, speaks to All Indians Matter.  

India has banned single-use plastic but environmentalists are not convinced it will work, and the industry is up in arms over job losses and the tiny transition period. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Professor VK Tripathi, a former plasma physicist who’s now a renowned peace activist, is well known for his walks through Delhi distributing pamphlets promoting communal harmony. He’s also become somewhat of a social media phenomenon through his videos. He was inspired to work for inter-faith amity after seeing first-hand the carnage of the 1989 Bhagalpur riots. He speaks to All Indians Matter on the rise of sectarian politics, the crumbling of our institutions and what lies ahead for India.  

Talk of an ‘induced’ recession in the US is gaining ground. If it happens, it’s likely to be mild and shortlived but it will affect India – from slowing growth to hurting sectors like IT, ITeS, textiles, jewellery, etc. It’ll also shake up the stock market and make loans that finance infrastructure and social programmes costlier. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

A couple of years ago, members of the Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, found a crumbling, damaged diary at Kasturba Ashram in Indore. It turned out to be a 135-page diary written by Kasturba, between January and September 1933. Like Kasturba, the diary lay forgotten and neglected. Tushar Gandhi, peace activist, author and great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba, took it upon himself to translate the diary. The result was a book: ‘The Lost Diary of Kastur, My Ba’. He speaks to All Indians Matter about how the diary was found and what compelled him to translate it.

Of all the bad news coming out of India, at this moment, soaring inflation is the worst. What can you, the average Indian, do to stay on top of inflation? Here are seven tips to reduce the stress on your finances by spending smartly, consuming efficiently and investing intelligently. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

There is a gargantuan amount of post-harvest food loss – which occurs in the crops’ journey from farm to retailer – in India due to inefficient supply chains. Nearly 40% of the food we produce is wasted even before it reaches the consumer. India has 200 million people who are food insecure and is home to the largest number of hungry people in the world. What can India, and you and I as individuals, do to reduce food loss? Shweta Lamba and Shaurabh Anand, experts from the World Resources Institute India, which has put together a working paper titled ‘Food Loss and Waste in India: The Knowns and The Unknowns’, speak to All Indians Matter.  

The LIC IPO was billed as India’s “Aramco moment”. But, with the stock down nearly 30% since listing, it has wiped out $17billion in market value and is among the biggest wealth destroyers among Asian IPOs. What does this mean for the government’s disinvestment targets? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The Naxal insurgency is much reduced from its peak but it remains one of our most significant internal threats. Naxals target security forces, government workers and symbols of the Indian state, claiming to fight for tribals’ land and human rights in the face of a sustained assault from the government-industry nexus. What is this insurgency all about? Most importantly, what are the people right at the centre of it saying? All Indians Matter speaks to Ashutosh Bhardwaj, an author and journalist who has travelled extensively across and lived in the Red Corridor, documenting the conditions of tribes caught in the conflict.   Govt says #Naxals are insurgents. Naxals say they are fighting for #tribals being oppressed by the state-industry nexus. Journalist @ashubhan, who has extensively documented the plight of tribes caught in the crossfire, speaks to @allindianscount about the unending conflict.  

When BJP spokespersons insulted the Prophet and made anti-Islamic comments, the Modi government wouldn’t have anticipated the eruption of anger from the Middle East. Now it’s scrambling to rescue key economic relationships that range from crude supply to foreign direct investment and markets for Indian goods. In 2021-22, trade with 7 Gulf states stood at $189 billion and accounted for 18.3% of India’s combined value of imports and exports. India, the world’s third-largest importer of oil, gets 65% of its crude from the Middle East. There’s a lot at stake in our ties with Arab states. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

If India is to maintain a growth rate of 8%-10%, agriculture must grow at 4% at least. We need to significantly grow farmers’ incomes too. For this, digitisation is critical – not just in planting and harvesting, but also in allied areas like soil assessment, supply chain management and payments. Sanjay Borkar, agriculture digitisation expert and co-founder of FarmERP, which has developed a technology platform for efficient farm management, speaks to All Indians Matter.

Reserve Bank of India data tells us the amount of capital coming into the country is less than what is going out. Blame it on a variety of reasons – from lack of confidence in the economy to corruption and high government debt to disruptions in the supply chain due to the conflict in Ukraine and the hiking of interest rates. This is worrying and requires urgent corrective action. The flight of capital makes India poorer and it means that there is less for critical spending on things like schools and infrastructure. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

It is estimated that only 27% of Indians are financially literate. Also, India has more than 275 million households and 100 millionof them are set to become savers for the first time. However, lack of financial awareness is a hurdle to their growth. What are the solutions? Yusuf Roopawalla, chief information officer at a multinational bank, has handled large transformational projects across inclusive banking, retail banking, regulatory systems, etc. He speaks to All Indians Matter.  

 Does that packet of biscuits you just bought seem lighter than it normally does? And is your soap lasting for fewer days? That packet of noodles you like having seems to be smaller too, doesn’t it? You aren’t imagining things – with no sign of raging inflation being tamed, helpless fast moving consumer goods companies, and others, are being forced to reduce the volume or weight of their products instead of raising prices. So, you’re getting less bang for your buck. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

Dr Kumar Askand Pandey, Associate Professor of Law at Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University in Lucknow, points out that sedition cases rose sharply after 2014, gravely threatening civil liberties. Though the sedition law has been paused by the Supreme Court, we still have a long way to go to secure our fundamental freedoms, he tells All Indians Matter. Tune in! 

India’s startups are laying off employees in significant numbers, and it is feared that another 5,000 would be let go of soon in the face of investor pressure to improve profitability, choppy financial markets, slowing growth and inflation. How many more layoffs can we expect and how long will the bloodletting continue? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy says the government should place a draft version of any law it makes before the people for their inputs. This is important for a truly participative democracy. However, at last count, 227 of the 301 bills placed in Parliament after the policy was introduced were presented without prior consultation. The attempt to become not just a representative but a deliberative democracy has failed to take off. Public policy expert Arun PS, who has a special interest in the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy, speaks to All Indians Matter.

India experienced a severe heatwave and high temperatures are likely to persist. Heatwaves can raise physiological stress, exacerbate pre-existing conditions such as respiratory and heart diseases, and even create public health emergencies. Underprivileged sections are much more at risk than the others. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

More than 60 million Indians suffer from mental disorders, 10 to 20 million of them from severe conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. India has one of the highest prevalences of mental illnesses globally. Daniel Lobo, CEO and Founder of BecauseYOU.in, a mental health social enterprise that supports individuals to thrive irrespective of their emotional distress, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The campaign to make Hindi the national language seeks to strip away the layered reality of India to a single idea. You can’t impose a language at the expense of people’s linguistic and cultural characters. Such an imposition threatens our very cultural identity. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Healthcare is crucial for sex workers, exposed as they are to poverty and sexually-transmitted diseases. Recent reportage by journalist Shalini Singh, for the People’s Archive of Rural India, revealed that sex workers in Delhi are often denied health services or exploited in return for this access. She speaks to All Indians Matter. Healthcare is crucial for sex workers, exposed as they are to poverty and sexually-transmitted diseases. Reportage by @Shalininess revealed that sex workers in Delhi are often denied health services or exploited in return for this access. She speaks to @allindianscount.

Indonesia’s decision to halt palm oil exports is a tremendous blow to the poor and the salaried class as edible oil prices will rise significantly at a time when inflation is soaring already. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

Agriculture badly needs transformation. Innovations that stress on solutions for challenges ranging from irrigation to the supply chain are the answer. Kavita Sharma and Ruchika Singh, who are part of the World Resources Institute’s Land Accelerator programme, which aims to make a difference in agriculture, agri-tech, the circular economy, etc, speak to All Indians Matter.  

The early arrival of hot weather has made electricity demand skyrocket – it’s expected to rise the fastest in 38 years. The power grid is experiencing record loads but, with coal stocks running low, electricity firms are unable to cope. With logistical issues further complicating matters, India could experience frequent and severe power cuts this summer. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The government has lowered the interest rate on Employees Provident Fund Organisation deposits for its 6.4 crore subscribers from 8.5% to 8.1%, the lowest since 1977-78. For crores, the Employees Provident Fund, or EPF, served as a social security substitute and was the principal corpus for retirement or life events like children’s weddings or emergencies. The rate cut has a significant impact on those who subscribe to the EPF. It means less money for retirement and in times of need, but also much more. Namita Patel, CA and leading financial advisor, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has trade and geopolitical implications for India, and is a danger to its investments in the island nation. For example, Colombo Port is a critical part of India’s global cargo route but it is crippled due to the cash crunch. Meanwhile, Chinese influence is hindering India’s economic opportunities in Sri Lanka. This is the time to rebuild ties with Colombo by offering real partnerships in medicine production, capacity building and agriculture. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

The recent overturning of a capital punishment ruling has again put into focus the death penalty provision in law. The three men were on death row for eight years before they were found to be innocent. In those eight years, their young children had to turn to labour to survive and the wife of one of the men suffered a miscarriage. Are our investigative and judicial systems equipped and oriented towards making fair judgments? Should India retain the death penalty? Shreya Rastogi, CP Shruthi and Shivani Misra – all part of the National Law University’s Project 39A and who’ve done extensive research and litigation work around the death penalty – speak to All Indians Matter.  

According to a National Commission for Women report, rural women walk up to 2.5 km every day to fetch potable water and that costs the country the equivalent of 150 million women days each year. In rupee terms, that’s a staggering Rs 1,000 crore. It leads also to social imbalances such as lower literacy levels and less earnings for women. As groundwater levels plummet and our freshwater sources get more polluted, no one has more at stake in India’s water security than women. They are invested in the issue already, so it’s time to hand over leadership of India’s water efforts to them. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

At a time when the underprivileged are suffering the most because of the economic impact of the pandemic, when credit remains tough to get and when monetary pipelines are squeezed, can crowdfunding fill the vacuum? Dhaval Udani, founder of DanaMojo, India’s first payment solutions platform for NGOs, speaks to All Indians Matter.  

The government wants to sell some public-sector banks, arguing that it makes for greater efficiency and a more competitive banking system. However, these banks are public assets, owned by you and I ultimately, and losing them to the mega rich would mean job losses, branch closures, fewer jobs for marginalised groups and rewarding major defaulters. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

There are many forces that shape history but few people think of food as a factor. In fact, food and history are closely linked. For instance, it was the quest for spices that drew Vasco da Gama to India. All Indians Matter speaks about the link between food and history in India with Dr Tarana Husain Khan, a writer and food historian.  

 A new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report says India faces great risks from falling farm yields, water scarcity, lower productivity and sea-level rises that could swamp our financial nerve centres. India would be among the worst affected by warming, the report warns. Most worrying of all, these could lead to heightened social turmoil and even armed conflict. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is a proudly Islamic and proudly Indian institution, a living symbol of the composite culture of India. AMU was once central to the progressive Muslim ethos but over the past few years many believe it has lost its once eminent status. What does AMU mean to the India of today and what lies ahead for it? Mohammed Wajihuddin, senior journalist and author of ‘Aligarh Muslim University: The Making of the Modern Indian Muslim’, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The BJP, the clear winner in the latest round of Assembly elections, was helped in equal parts by its divisive agenda and an Opposition that couldn’t unite or get its act together. What impact this will have on India over the long term isn’t pleasant to think about. In the meantime, the winners will have to deliver on a range of promises, from jobs to connectivity and infrastructure to reviving industry and figuring out what to do with AFSPA. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The hijab ban in Karnataka is only the latest instance of minorities, especially their women, being targeted in India. In this instance, they are being sought to be excluded from education and humiliated for being Muslim. Nidha Parveen, a hijabi, a student activist who led the anti-CAA/NRC movement at Delhi University and was targeted on the Bulli Bai auction page, speaks to All Indians Matter.   *This episode was recorded before the Karnataka High Court upheld the hijab ban.

Earlier this week, the Indian rupee hit a lifetime low as the Russian invasion of Ukraine raged on, crude oil prices soared and the spectre of higher inflation loomed large. A depreciating rupee has wide-ranging impact on your life – from higher fuel prices to a rise in the cost of living, shrinking salaries in some sectors and an erosion in the value of your equity holdings. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

It wasn’t just students; even teachers struggled as classes moved online during the COVID-19 lockdown. Lack of training added to the problem of poor digital infrastructure. How can teachers be readied for a new age of education delivery? Siddharth Rajsekar, renowned digital coach and author, discusses the way ahead on this episode of All Indians Matter.

The death of Zain, the son of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, has put the focus on cerebral palsy. Zain was born with the condition, which hinders movement and posture, and can cause intellectual disability and seizures. Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood, affecting 15%-20% of physically disabled children in India, yet awareness levels about it are low. This is compounded by the poor state of healthcare. What is cerebral palsy? What are its causes? And how can it be managed and prevented? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Raj Dhiman (21) is among the Indian students marooned in the Ukrainian city of Lviv. Like the others, he’s desperate to get out but he says Ukrainian soldiers are beating them up and preventing them from crossing into Poland. They would have left earlier but the Indian embassy kept assuring them things were fine. Now, he says, the embassy won’t even answer their calls. Please listen to this emotional and worrying interview on All Indians Matter.

The outcome of the Manipur state election will indicate the mood of the entire North-East. AFSPA, insurgency and jobs dominate the electoral conversation in the state which has tumultuous history and deep ethnic divides. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

This is a crucial election year. Five states are making a choice. It’s almost a semi-final to the 2024 general election, and you can see that in the intensity of the campaigning. How these states vote will give us not only a fair idea of India’s political mood but also perhaps what direction our democracy will take. What are the main electoral issues? Who are the main players? How does the electoral math stack up and what are the voters saying? In an election-special episode, All Indians Matter speaks to voters from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa (the Manipur overview will follow in a separate episode) and analyses what’s at stake.

We all know about Mahatma Gandhi’s work, but few know of the role his wife Kasturba played in it. Kasturba was not a mute but was, in fact, a great freedom fighter, a pioneering satyagrahi and often her husband’s chief strategist and harshest critic. All Indians Matter presents a six-part series, ‘Kastur: In Gandhi’s Shadow, His Guiding Light’, to bring into focus the woman Kasturba really was. Join me, Ashraf Engineer, as I interview Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Kasturba and the Mahatma, an author, a peace activist and someone who’s striving to keep Gandhi relevant in today’s India. Together, we play back the saga that was Kasturba's life. 

Marital rape is at the centre of a heated debate with those opposing its criminalisation citing “men’s rights”, “potential misuse of the law” and “impact on Indian society”. What is the case all about, and why are we debating in 2022 whether marital rape should get legal protection? Shouldn’t a woman’s right over her body - or to refuse sex if she doesn’t want it - be paramount? So what if the person demanding it is her husband? Audrey Dmello, director at Majlis, which provides social and legal support to women victims of sexual and domestic violence, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict could affect India in various ways – by raising oil and LNG prices, nudging inflation higher, to making stock markets even more volatile. It has implications also for our relationship with China and defence procurement. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

126 tigers died in India in 2021, the most since data began being compiled, for reasons ranging from habitat loss to poaching and from habitat fragmentation to hunting of the tiger’s prey species by locals hit badly by the COVID-19 lockdown. So what can be done to preserve and augment the progress India has achieved over the decades on tiger conservation? Internationally renowned wildlife filmmaker Praveen Singh, whose work has extensively documented India’s tigers and other wildlife, speaks to All Indians Matter.

Budget 2022 was presented in the backdrop of extremely worrisome levels of unemployment. India needs to create 100 million jobs by 2030 with roughly 10 million aspirants entering the employment market every year. Instead, we’ve had rising  job losses and increasing public anger. By not tackling this crisis head-on, and by even stepping back on crucial employment safety nets, this Budget isn’t great news for job aspirants.

The recent controversy over charitable organisations’ FCRA registration cancellations has sparked a debate on the regulations governing such organisations, especially tax incentives, and how getting them right could transform philanthropy in India. Ingrid Srinath, Director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University, and Priyadarshini Singh, Senior Visiting Fellow at the centre, speak to All Indians Matter.   

Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand will hold their Assembly elections weeks from now. What does unemployment look like in these states? Given our large population and the rate at which we’re adding young people to the potential workforce, are these states keeping up? Please listen to the concluding part of All Indians Matter’s series ‘Where are the jobs?’

India’s higher education system is at an inflection point. With at least 30 million students, India’s is the third largest higher education system in the world. However, it is characterised by low to average standards. One of the solutions offered in the New Education Policy is multidisciplinary education. What exactly is multidisciplinary education and what are the challenges to its rollout? Veteran academician and Vice-Chancellor of Vidyashilp University, Dr Vijayan Immanuel, speaks to All Indians Matter.

India simply can’t seem to make a dent in rising unemployment numbers. At 7.91% in December 2021, the rate has soared past 2018-19 and 2017-18 levels. The data shows that the rot set in as far back as four years ago, so don’t blame COVID-19 alone. All Indians Matter kicks off a special, two-part series on unemployment in India, titled ‘Where are the jobs?’. In the first part, we look at the data, the causes of widespread unemployment and what the long-term outlook is.

All Indians Matter speaks to Sadaf Jafar, who was among the Muslim women targeted through the Bulli Bai app - she and several others were 'listed' for auction. The posts were clearly meant to harass and terrorise Indian Muslim women and, in fact, Indian Muslims in general. This is in line with a broader trend targeting Muslim women on digital platforms, and is part of the widening harassment of minorities in India over the past few years.

This year’s Budget comes in the wake of soaring COVID-19 cases, suppressed private consumption and investment, as well as rural distress and unemployment. But, with major state elections coming up, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be under pressure to focus on them. Will she deliver a Budget that has us all in mind? Or is she in election mode? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Air pollution in India is so bad that it could be reducing life expectancy of millions by up to nine years. One of the solutions could be carbon capture, utilisation and storage technology as a means to reduce emissions. What is carbon capture? Young entrepreneur Ronak Mistry, founder of Greenovate Solutions, which focuses on pollution prevention technology, details it for All Indians Matter.

126 tigers died in India in 2021, the most since data began being compiled a decade ago. The previous highest number of deaths was in 2016 when 121 died. The maximum number of deaths took place in Madhya Pradesh which recorded 44, followed by 26 in Maharashtra and 14 in Karnataka. Blame it on diverse threats, ranging from poaching to habitat loss and overhunting of the tiger’s prey species. And, yes, the COVID-19 pandemic had something to do with the last reason.

Increasing demand and rapid urbanisation has resulted in an exponential rise in wastewater generation. Metros generate a staggering 220 litres per capita per day of it, and, 70% of urban wastewater flows untreated into rivers and seas. Pravinjith KP – who has more 29 years’ experience working on more than 350 projects across infrastructure, energy and the environment –is an expert on wastewater. He speaks to All Indians Matter.

Banking the unbanked is critical to India meeting its financial inclusion targets. However, the unspoken cost of opening a bank account is a deterrent for the poor. Did you know it can cost them as much as a day’s earnings? There are other pressures, such as long commutes to a bank branch and dealing with complex documentation. Financial inclusion isn’t just about the economy; it has social ramifications and so we must get it right. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.   Banking the unbanked is critical to India meeting its financial inclusion targets. However, the unspoken cost of opening a bank account is a deterrent for the poor. Did you know it can cost them as much as a day’s earnings? Please listen to the latest episode of @allindianscount.

Education, especially higher education, fosters an egalitarian society. However, a large number of students from marginalised communities continue to be excluded from higher education, thus cutting them off from key economic, social, political and cultural opportunities. Prashant Chavan, Co-founder of Eklavya, a grassroots organisation that provides mentorship to first-generation learners from underprivileged communities to promote higher education among these students, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The recent Global Nutrition Report and the National Family Health Survey show India is performing abysmally on anaemia, especially among women, and childhood wasting. There’s more – India is not on course to meet seven of the 13 global nutrition targets, the report warned. These are serious issues that have human, economic and social repercussions. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

While tensions with China continue to simmer, albeit on a lower heat, trade with the Dragon is on fire. So, is China a threat? A vital trade partner? Or something else altogether? Manoj Kewalramani, chairperson of the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme and head of China studies research at the Takshashila Institution, speaks to All Indians Matter.

There were at least 305 attacks targeting Christians in the first nine months of 2021. Community leaders say such violence is on the rise, especially in BJP-ruled states. Where is the government? Where are our courts? And what lies ahead? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

As India’s mega businesses push to exploit our forest wealth, Adivasi communities pay the price. They have lost their lands, their homes and their way of life. From the fire of this saga has emerged a rich cache of resistance literature and poetry. Jacinta Kerketta, a young Adivasi poet and independent journalist from the Oraon Adivasi community in West Singbhum district in Jharkhand speaks to All Indians Matter.  

The killing of innocent Naga villagers in a botched special forces operation is only the latest bloody incident in a conflict that has been raging for over six decades. What sparked the troubles in Nagaland, why is it so tough to resolve and what lies ahead? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The lockdown imposed in 2020 forced many families into debt and poverty. Unable to care for their children, many considered the weddings of their underage girls as necessary for survival. According to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, from the last week of March up until June 2020 alone, authorities received 5,584 phone calls to prevent underage marriages across India. Child rights activists believe many ceremonies have gone unreported. Reetika Revathy Subramanian, a PhD candidate and Gates Cambridge Trust Scholar at the University of Cambridge Centre for Gender Studies, who is researching the links between early marriage and economic hardship, speaks to All Indians Matter.

A string of Munawar Faruqui shows have been cancelled after threats from groups such as the Bajrang Dal. Various judicial bodies, including the Supreme Court, have waxed eloquent about the need to preserve freedom of speech. Yet, stand-up comedians continue to be targeted, often with the state turning a blind eye to it. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Mortality due to air pollution is a bigger pandemic than COVID, say experts. The Mahila Housing Sewa Trust and Purpose India have conducted a study on the impact of air pollution on Delhi’s women construction workers. The study came up with important actionable insights on how to protect this most vulnerable group. Siraz Hirani, of the trust, and Polash Mukerjee, an expert on air quality and climate resilience, speak to All Indians Matter.

Our farmers have shown how Gandhian satyagraha and social justice movements can protect our democracy and enable it to flourish. Faced with the determination of the farmers and possible setbacks in a series of crucial upcoming Assembly elections, the government withdrew the agriculture laws the farmers were agitating against. What comes next?  

Social platforms offer citizens a direct dialogue with government agencies, which deploy their handles for a variety of functions, from awareness building and information dissemination to troubleshooting and crisis communication. Sunchika Pandey, whose agency runs the fun and popular social media account of the Mumbai police, speaks to All Indians Matter about why governments must adapt to how a rapidly transforming world communicates – not just to engage with citizens but also change how they are perceived.

India’s wholesale price index is at a 5-month high and retail prices are rising too on the back of supply shortages, high energy costs and a cut in fuel levies that’s come in too late. Prices of food and non-food items are rising, and it seems they will rise further. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The Pegasus case, in which several public personalities were tracked through Israeli spyware on their phones, raises worrying questions about privacy, freedom and data security – even for the common man. Sapni GK, a lawyer researching the intersection of technology, society and law, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The government kept changing the justification for demonetisation, but it failed no matter what the objective was. It harmed farmers, labourers, daily-wage workers and women disproportionately and did nothing to curb cash in circulation. Half a decade later, it continues to haunt the country. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The politics of hate can be traced back to Partition and even before that but only now has it become so rabid and a matter of pride. Sachin Garg, bestselling author, media columnist and TEDx speaker, has written a book on the post-Partition social and political landscape and points out many similarities between then and now in this conversation with All Indians Matter.

COP26 should have made a greater commitment to climate change mitigation and arrived at a roadmap to a sustainable future but, other than vague statements, not much was achieved. This is unfortunate because there was a lot at stake for India. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Quality education in early childhood lays the developmental foundation for a lifetime and positively impacts society and the economy. But there is great dichotomy in education delivery in India – it ranges from sub-par in government schools to world-class in private ones. Renowned educationist Dr Swati Popat Vats and her co-author Nasrin Modak-Siddiqi – they’ve just released a book of the father of Kindergarten, Friedrich Froebel – speak to All Indians Matter on why India should focus on high-quality early education.

In the latest episode of All Indians Matter, we put under the microscope the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, or the NDPS Act, the law under which Aryan – Shah Rukh Khan’s son – was charged. Did you know that some provisions of it are thought to be more draconian than even the dreaded UAPA? What is the NDPS Act all about and why does it desperately need a relook?

In the current political climate, Urdu is made out to be the language of Muslims only rather than one that cuts across religious and social groups. It is being used as yet another tool to polarise society and its once-eminent position is being eroded. Can Urdu survive? Fabeha Syed, journalist and host of the award-winning podcast Urdunama, speaks to All Indians Matter.

Rising terror attacks in Kashmir, especially targeted killings of civilians, lay bare the Central Government’s security failures. So far this year, 28 civilians have been killed. The government has had no answer other than knee-jerk reactions that are bound to raise tensions in the Valley. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi is serious about reducing the “dil ki doori” in Kashmir, he needs a different approach. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Diagnostics comprise less than 5% of hospital costs but their findings influence 60%-70% of healthcare decision-making. India has among the lowest spends on diagnostics in the world due to lack of affordability, accessibility and awareness. How can innovations in diagnostics transform healthcare? Gautam Wankhede, Director of Medical Affairs at leading biotech firm Mylab, speaks to All Indians Matter.

India’s unprecedented coal shortage could slow the post-COVID economic recovery, impact already-strained household budgets and dim the lights on the festive season. How exactly did we get here and what can we expect next? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

No one thinks or writes about districts like Gadchiroli and Chandrapur that have large tribal populations. The tribal regions in these districts are mainly underdeveloped, lacking basic facilities like healthcare. There are other issues: lack of roads, medieval menstrual practices, forcible land acquisition, non-payment of health workers, malnutrition… So, who’s fighting for the tribals in these regions? Bodhi Ramteke and Deepak Chatap, of the NGO PATH that uses Constitutional tools like public interest litigations and environment interest litigations to help the tribals, speak to All Indians Matter.

Since it assumed power, the BJP has painted every opponent as an enemy of the nation – from Opposition leaders to minorities and even students and journalists covering crime in BJP-ruled states. Now, it’s the turn of the farmers. It’s a way of deflecting attention from the government’s many failures – rising fuel and food prices, the mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic, poor economic performance... Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

India’s 68 lakh artisans and artists account for the country’s second largest unorganised sector. It can contribute much to the economy but it requires work on several fronts – brand creation, efficient fabrication processes and, most importantly, wider markets for stable revenues. Richa Khandelwal Bhat, founder and MD of Narayana’s ArtNirbhar Bharat Foundation, which is creating employment for thousands of artisans and helping them become financially self-reliant, speaks to All Indians Matter.

India has signed agreements with technology giants to crunch data on agriculture in order to modernise the very traditional industry. The agriculture ecosystem certainly needs a transformation and the use of data can be a great accelerator. However, it’s not all smooth sailing. Farmers don’t trust the government, and there are concerns over privacy and whether the programme can actually deliver. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The COVID-19 pandemic was most devastating for women, children and adolescents, especially in low and middle-income countries. And these experiences were similar across these regions. Poor mental health, disruptions to education, loss of income and violence were just some of the consequences. Civil society groups, under the umbrella of PMNCH, a multi-constituency partnership hosted by the World Health Organization, conducted a study to understand these impacts and inform the response to the pandemic. All Indians Matter spoke to the leading lights of this effort across India, Africa and Latin America: Dr Aparajita Gogoi, Executive Director, Centre for Catalyzing Change; Elizabeth Adongo Oloo, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Public Service and Gender, Government of Kenya; and 18-year-old Chilean activist Julieta Martinez, Founder of the Tremendas Platform.

There is a demand to bring petrol and diesel under the GST’s ambit. How would you benefit from that and why does the Centre need to enforce that despite the states’ opposition? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

There are an estimated 1.5 lakh Indians living with multiple sclerosis but the actual number is almost certainly higher. A key reason for this is lack of awareness and data about the disease. Data is important if we are to have an effective plan for it and ensure patients get the public resources they need to cope with the disease. So, what exactly is multiple sclerosis and how can the healthcare system and society help patients? Anjali Vyas, National Project Coordinator at the Multiple Sclerosis Society Of India and MS Person Of The Year 2021, speaks to All Indians Matter.

Urban 20- to 24-year-olds have one of the highest unemployment rates in India – 37.9%. Among them, graduates report a much higher unemployment rate of over 60%. And it’s worse when it comes to women – almost one in four urban women with bachelor’s degrees and one in five with post-graduate education are unemployed. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

India’s burgeoning urban population has resulted in a stark increase in the quantity of solid waste generated – 65 million tons a year – but only 75%-80% of it gets collected and only 22%-28% is treated. Sangeeta Venkatesh, an expert on solid waste management, speaks to All Indians Matter on potential solutions and the gap between programmes like Swachh Bharat and their execution.

Why is the government obsessed with turning monuments into theme parks? Even as protests against the Jalianwala Bagh makeover rage on, the plan to transform Sabarmati Ashram into tourist hub has run into a controversy. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The justice system exists as part of society, not outside it. So, you’re particularly vulnerable if you happen to be poor, part of a minority or a vulnerable group such as Dalits, or of the wrong gender. Can we even have a workable society without justice equality? And why should all Indians know about Article 39A of the Constitution? Dr Anup Surendranath, Assistant Professor of Law and Executive Director of Project 39A at the National Law University, Delhi, speaks to All Indians Matter.  

As the country goes through profound political and social changes, what are common Indians thinking? What do they want from the next decade and what keeps them up at night? Episode 100 of All Indians Matter is a very special conversation with people like us – senior journalist Aarefa Johari, development sector professional and education equity worker Malvika Agarwal, and financial markets veteran Himanshu Vyas. Thanks to all who have supported this podcast and truly made it what it set out to become – a series of conversations with and about India on issues that matter.  

What’s on the minds of common Indians? What do they really want and what do they fear? Episode 100 of All Indians Matter is a very special conversation with people like us – senior journalist Aarefa Johari, development sector professional and education equity worker Malvika Agarwal, and financial markets veteran Himanshu Vyas.

A study has found that Muslim children face systematic exclusion at the pre-primary level in Delhi’s private schools – less than 3% of those who applied to private unaided schools at the nursery level were admitted. Jannat Fatima Farooqui, co-author of the study, speaks to All Indians Matter.  

The demand for a caste census is gaining steam. This, essentially, is a count of the OBC population. India has never had such a count since Independence despite the fact that OBCs are thought to account for 52% of the population. What is a caste census and what purpose would it serve? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

While we are seeing COVID-19 vaccine shortages on the one hand, we are also seeing stubborn vaccine hesitancy on the other. Experts see it as a threat to the country’s very fragile gains against COVID-19. Dr Renu Khosla, Director of the Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence, and Kritica Mahajan, senior campaigner at Purpose, a social impact agency and campaigning organisation that is driving the communication response initiative by the UN Secretary General’s office in India, speak to All Indians Matter.

This episode is a walk down memory lane. In 2011, I was appointed as lead trainer for first-generation journalists in Kabul. The time I spent there gave me a first-hand look at how Taliban rule had devastated the country and how its brave journalists were standing up to tremendous pressure and risk. They viewed their work as a vital building block in the rebuilding of their country and as a safeguard of the freedom that Afghanistan had paid countless lives for. What are they up against today? And what will happen of them in the days to come? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter

The government’s plans to convert Lakshadweep into a tourism powerhouse has enraged locals and environmentalists, who point to the ecological hazards posed by the projects and the “attacks on identity, culture, religion and land”. Rohan Arthur, a marine biologist who has been working in the Indian Ocean on coral reefs, seagrass meadows and other coastal ecosystems over the past two decades, speaks to All Indians Matter

Chief Justice NV Ramana lamented that torture in police custody continues in India. Between 2017 and 2019, according to official figures, 1,189 were tortured in police custody but this is most likely an underestimate. The Supreme Court, the most powerful legal body in the land, needs to do more than talk about it to effect real change. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Since the resistance against the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens began, women have led at least 426 protests across India. Navsharan Singh, a women’s rights and human rights scholar and activist, decodes why women are playing not just a crucial role in raising a voice about issues but increasingly taking the lead.  

The recent flooding in Maharashtra and other parts of the country was alarming. Climate change is altering the Indian monsoon system, warn studies. The monsoon is likely to get heavier and more dangerous over the long term because of global warming. This has implications on the economy and other national priorities like food security. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Zomato’s was the first in a series of mega IPOs lined up for launch. Paytm and LIC are among the ones to watch now. The stock markets, a contrast to the real economy at the moment, have risen substantially over the past 15 months. Why is that so and why are so many listings happening now? Amit Sahita, a veteran of the equity, debt, forex and commodity markets, speaks to All Indians Matter. You can contact him on [email protected].

Believe it or not, the boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram goes back nearly a century and a half. What is this standoff all about and which are the other inter-state boundary disputes simmering in India? Listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

Despite heroic individual and team performances, India hasn’t performed well at the Olympics overall – winning only 28 medals before Tokyo. Our athletes haven’t had the best infrastructure or support from federations. What does it take to become an Olympian in India? And what can India do to become a truly great Olympic nation? Imtiaz Anees, the only Indian rider to complete an equestrian three-day event at the Olympics, speaks to All Indians Matter.

The BJP had an unusual response to the Pegasus internal surveillance expose: it blamed Amnesty International, among others. The government has had Amnesty in its sights for a while, even freezing its bank accounts last year. Why does it want Amnesty out of India? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month. In India, 35,000 children are born with clefts every year. Those untreated face difficulty in eating, breathing, hearing and speaking, greatly affecting their ability to thrive. Dr B Krishnamurthy, Smile Train Project Director at Bhagwan Mahavir Jain Hospital in Bangalore, has performed multiple cleft surgeries over the past two decades. He speaks to All Indians Matter.

While the poor got poorer during the pandemic, India’s 100 billionaires got wealthier by almost Rs 13 lakh crore – enough to give the 138 million poorest Indians Rs 94,045 each. The number of poor rose by 75 million, accounting for 60% of the global increase in poverty and it didn’t even include the second wave. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

While consumption drives the economy, it has a destructive impact on the environment. India’s aggressive economic focus over the past few decades has been accompanied by alarming ecological destruction. How does what you consume impact the planet? And can altering individual consumption habits change that?  Akshata Bhadranna, one half of an ecopreneur couple, tells All Indians Matter how reducing waste and raising awareness can change the world.

The Indian government would have us believe that an 84-year-old with advanced Parkinson’s Disease was a terrorist. Incarcerated, Father Stan Swamy was denied not just bail but something as basic as a sipper that he needed because his trembling hands couldn’t hold a cup.  Father Stan died in hospital, a price he paid for fighting for tribals’ rights. What does this say about us and our judicial system, which so often fails those who need justice the most? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

In a societal and business landscape loaded against women, strong networks are vital for women entrepreneurs to support each other and grow their businesses. Such networks help not just by presenting opportunities, but also through advice specific to the unique challenges women face. Neha Kadakia is the founder of Hastaksharr Self Made Diva – a networking forum specifically for women entrepreneurs, especially micro entrepreneurs. It has more than 19,000 members, ranging from entrepreneurs and wellness coaches to food bloggers and teachers. She speaks to All Indians Matter about how such networks can change women’s lives.

The battle between the Indian government and Twitter is blowing up. The cases and clashes are part of an ever-expanding struggle between the world’s leading microblogging platform and the Narendra Modi government over the latter’s attempt to control the digital narrative about it amid growing criticism of its performance. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Whatsapp’s case against the new digital rules is important for India’s internet future. WhatsApp argues that the rules violate privacy rights. This comes on the back of attempts by the government to control the digital narrative about it, including pressurizing social media companies to remove posts critical of it. Kushagra Sinha, the Litigation and Intermediary Liability lead at the Delhi-based Software Freedom Law Centre, speaks to All Indians Matter.

Fuel prices have risen at least 24 times since May 4 and petrol crossed the Rs 100 per litre mark in seven states and union territories. As common Indians reeling from the economic impact of COVID-19 looked to the government for help, they came up against a brick wall. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

June 2021 is Pride Month, so it was fitting that a few days ago the Madras High Court suggested measures to sensitize society and the state to remove prejudices against the LGBTQIA+ community. It also ordered strict action against those found to be attempting to “cure” or change sexual orientation. Khushi Shaikh, one of India’s first transgender models and a leading content creator, speaks about the community’s journey since the reading down of Article 377 and what lies next.

While the Ollie Robinson episode underscores the racism prevalent in international sport, discrimination based on looks, skin colour, geography and caste have existed forever in Indian sport. It’s time conversations about it got more common so that something can be done about it. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

It’s estimated that a staggering 70% of surface water in India is too polluted for consumption. Every day, 40 million litres of wastewater enter rivers and other water bodies with only a tiny fraction adequately treated. India’s water bodies are dying. Karishma Asoodani, who represented Asia at the World Water Forum 8 and is involved in the World Water Forum 9 to be held in 2022, is among India’s leading young water warriors. She speaks to All Indians Matter.  

Language is political. So, when nurses in a Delhi hospital were asked to not converse in Malayalam, it was correctly considered discriminatory. Instances of linguistic discrimination, including the first draft of the education policy, abound in India. Linguistic discrimination is social discrimination and its economic and cultural costs are high. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

44 labour laws have been condensed into four codes on wages, social security, occupational safety and industrial relations. The government claims this will allow flexibility in hiring and layoffs, and make strikes difficult. Activists say they make workers more vulnerable to exploitation. Chandan Kumar, National Coordinator of the Working People’s Charter, a coalition of over 150 worker collectives organising informal workers across India, speaks to All Indians Matter. Don’t miss the bit about how the codes affect gig workers. Or how, during the pandemic, there has been a transfer of trillions of dollars from workers who need the money the most to the wealthy, who need it the least.

There were roughly 350,000 orphans in institutional care before COVID-19. The pandemic has orphaned thousands more, say social workers. The government said at least 577 children were orphaned between April 1 and May 25, 2021, alone. With our low adoption rates and the danger of them falling prey to traffickers, this is a crisis that India must deal with quickly. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

The world’s largest vaccine manufacturer is facing a deadly shortage of COVID-19 doses. From planning to procurement and pricing, everything went wrong.  Murali Neelakantan, a former global general counsel for pharma heavyweights who has worked extensively on issues related to the intersection of healthcare and law, dissects the crisis – from IPR to procurement and production to pricing – for All Indians Matter.

15 million Indians have invested $2 billion in cryptocurrency. Is it a bubble? Or an opportunity? A lot depends on how the regulatory framework takes shape. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. An estimated 15 million Indians have invested over $2 billion in cryptocurrency. Depending on who you choose to believe, cryptocurrency is a wealth creation opportunity like no other or a bubble that will put the dotcom meltdown to shame. Regulators, naturally, are faced with a tough ask – how do you allow the frothy, exciting fintech sector to flourish while ensuring investor security and checks against misuse? Cryptocurrency is a digital asset, a form of payment that can be exchanged online for goods and services. Many companies have issued their own currencies, often called tokens, which can be traded for the company’s offerings. Think of them as casino chips – you need to exchange real currency for the cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies are based on Blockchain, a decentralized technology spread across many computers that manages and records transactions and is said to be extremely secure. It is what is known as distributed-ledger technology. At this time, more than 6,700 different cryptocurrencies are traded publicly. Bitcoin, perhaps the best-known, is considered a hot investment, rallying 400% over the past year. And it’s not just millennials who’re buying it in India – industry estimates say that since January 2021 people above 45 years of age have been showing a keen interest in it. The crypto universe has been in the news for other reasons recently – Bitcoin went into freefall from $65,000 in April to below the $40,000 mark. And the volatility continues. That puts the focus firmly on regulation of cryptocurrencies. So, are cryptocurrencies legal in India? And what is the government’s stand on them? After vacillating for a long time, the government took the first step towards regulation. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs made it mandatory for companies to disclose crypto trading and investments, which experts see as a positive step. It is aimed at curbing illegal trading and the use of cryptos to conceal black money. Such disclosures will also mean better, more transparent corporate governance. So, while you can trade in cryptocurrencies, India is a long way from having a robust regulatory framework. The government had formed an inter-ministerial committee on November 2, 2017, to study virtual currencies. Its report highlighted the positive aspect of distributed-ledger technology and suggested applications for it in financial services. However, the government wasn’t convinced about cryptocurrencies and proposed a blanket ban on them. Accordingly, in April 2018, the Reserve Bank advised all entities under its jurisdiction to not deal in virtual currencies or provide services to anyone dealing with them. The Finance Ministry too issued a statement saying: “The government does not consider cryptocurrencies as legal tender or coin and will take all measures to eliminate the use of these crypto assets in financing illegitimate activities or as part of the payment system.” In mid-2019, a government committee suggested banning all private cryptocurrencies with a jail term of up to 10 years as well as heavy penalties for those dealing in them. However, the Supreme Court in March 2020 overturned the ban and so cryptos are legal. The current thinking within the industry is that a strict set of regulations will be put into place sometime this year. These currencies are already taxable and the regulations are expected to detail a tax regime specifically applicable to them. All of this comes on the back of the rising popularity of Blockchain in areas such as identity management, smart contracts and supply chain. Cryptocurrency is perhaps the best known use case for Blockchain. The global user base increased by 190% between 2018 and 2020 to 200 million, driving the market capital of cryptocurrency to $2 trillion in April 2021. India has been a global driver of the technology ecosystem, so it should be well placed to seize this opportunity. There is no definitive count of how many Indians deal in cryptocurrencies but, judging from the trading levels, industry estimates peg the number at 15 million. Their holdings are estimated at Rs 15,000 crore and monthly trading volumes at Rs 60,000 crore. What worries the government and observers is the volatility and decentralised nature of cryptocurrency. After all, cryptocurrencies are not issued by a government-controlled centralised authority the way, say, the rupee is minted by the Reserve Bank of India. The industry can help by offering solutions to the concerns. A whitepaper with detailed recommendations was submitted to the government by IndiaTech.org, an internet start-up association. First of all, it recommended, stop treating cryptos as currencies and look upon them as digital assets. By doing this, you take away the uncertainty around it being a currency competing with the rupee. Register Indian crypto exchanges and have foreign direct investment limits – just like we do with banks – and establish checks and balances, the report added. Among these are mandatory KYC of all cryptocurrency holders, notified accounting standards and disclosures through entities like chartered accountants. There are also recommendations on anti-money laundering checks, taxation, traceability, disclosure, trading limits and source disclosure. With the correct regulation, combined with the fast-growing digital economy, India can be home to a Blockchain boom – just as we did with information technology and information technology enabled services.

“Disability is a political issue,” asserts disability rights crusader Arman Ali in a special conversation with All Indians Matter. The 2011 census counted 2.68 crore disabled persons, which is more than the population of Australia. However, activists believe this is a gross undercount. Why is being getting this count right crucial for social justice?

How do you open up COVID-19 vaccinations for roughly 960 million Indians without procuring anything close to the 1.8 billion doses required? It’s a story of bad planning, thoughtless procurement and the less said about pricing the better. It’s ironic that the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer is facing a deadly shortage of vaccines itself. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

Unsustainable development and the disappearance of mangroves, wetlands and water bodies is destroying India’s coastlines. The damage has impacted fishing communities, their economies, fish catches and adjoining urban areas. Recurring natural disasters like cyclones and manmade structures like ports pose a serious danger to our coasts. Coastal conservation experts Aarthi Sridhar and Naveen Namboothri speak to All Indians Matter.

Amid the second wave of COVID-19, India is now witnessing cases of mucormycosis – the ‘black fungus’. The rare but potentially fatal infection is being found in COVIDpatients with a number of cases detected in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi. With over 22 million COVID cases and counting, this is another challenge in India’s COVID battle. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

An estimated 56 million Indians suffer from depression and 38 million from anxiety disorders. Very few, however, seek help. In villages, especially, patients are likely to face stigma and fall prey to quacks and witch doctors in the absence of mental healthcare facilities.  Snehal Joshi, director and COO of Healstation, a startup that runs one of India’s largest non-government community mental health programmes with tribals in Bihar, speaks to All Indians Matter.  

Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress steamrolled the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah-led BJP campaign to win a massive two-thirds majority – even more seats than it did the last time. Don’t forget that hers was already a two-term government, so not only did she battle the BJP cash-and-election machine, but anti-incumbency too. And she did it in style. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

India’s wealthy have taken to philanthropy in a big way. Big philanthropy has the power to influence the development agenda of civil society. But how effective it will be in achieving societal goals depends on how well philanthropists understand ground issues and go beyond just giving to ensure long-term impact. Ingrid Srinath, founder director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University speaks to All Indians Matter on how philanthropy can make the difference India needs.

18 million cases and counting since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Experts say the actual number is several times higher – as we can see from reports on the ground. The government, meanwhile, focuses on a crackdown on social media posts criticizing it. Please listen to the latest on All Indians Matter episode.

India’s urban centres are expanding at breakneck speed, but its creaking transport systems are struggling. Traffic congestion, poor road safety, air pollution and lack of parking space are challenges that must be solved if we are to have sustainable urban growth. Sobia Rafiq and Sukhmani Grover, who are engaging with communities and working with the government to untangle the mess in Bangalore, speak to All Indians Matter about what the rest of India can learn from the Bengaluru Moving initiative.

The Union Government has failed us spectacularly with Narendra Modi and Amit Shah focusing on the election campaign in West Bengal rather than the health and economic crisis we are facing. It’s the common citizens who have stepped up to help. From awareness drives to finding hospital beds and oxygen to preparing meals for the afflicted and doing the grocery shopping for the aged, it’s ordinary folks who are saving the day. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  

Informal employment is largely the norm in India. While women make up only 23% of India’s informal employees, up to 91% of women in paid jobs are in the informal sector. This is a huge gender imbalance that also manifests itself in the form of pay gaps and other biases. Award-winning journalist Shalini Singh, who’s researched a series on what women informal workers are up against every day, speaks to All Indians Matter.

With the second wave of COVID-19 here, India’s preparedness is in question. We’re a vaccine manufacturing powerhouse but we suffer from a severe vaccine shortage. This has been compounded by a shortage of Remdesivir, the injectable anti-viral repurposed to treat COVID-19. It’s a double whammy that has implications not just for public health but for the economy too.

Feminism is about ensuring all people are equal, regardless of gender. It is about women having power over themselves, about getting rid of dominance. In this context, parenting assumes great significance. Kiran Manral – author, TedX speaker, mother to a 17-year-old son – speaks to All Indians Matter about the role of parenting in relation to feminism – especially when it comes to raising sons.

The government slashed interest rates offered by small savings schemes such as the Public Provident Fund and the National Savings Certificate, but hurriedly withdrew after realising it could anger voters in key states such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu which were going to the polls. Why are these schemes important? And why are they politically sensitive? Listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

India’s abysmal record on hunger has intensified after the COVID-19 pandemic after being worsened by demonetisation. A survey showed that 77% of tribal families, 76% of Dalits and 54% of Adivasis said their food consumption decreased in September-October 2020 as compared to the pre-lockdown period. Meanwhile, anaemia among women of reproductive age continues to soar – with 51.4% of those aged 15 to 49 are affected. Why hasn’t India been able to beat chronic hunger? Dr Jean Drèze speaks to All Indians Matter on this national crisis.

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, shifts the balance of power from a duly elected government to the Lieutenant-Governor, a Central Government appointee. This makes the votes of Delhi’s citizens meaningless. It’s an assault on India’s democracy and federal structure.

Recently, the V-Dem Institute declared India an ‘electoral autocracy’, pointing to a sharp decline in democratic freedoms. This is in line with what we’re seeing on the ground – the space for dissent, opposition, freedom of speech and other Constitutional rights is shrinking fast in India. Renowned rights and peace activist Harsh Mander decodes why and how this is happening on the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The new Medical Termination of Pregnancy law has some valuable provisions but why should women have to also justify their decision to abort a foetus and seek permission from others? It could also impose extra hardship and costs on women and, ultimately, bury their rights over their own bodies under layers of procedure. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The National Register of  Citizens, or NRC, makes it extremely tough to prove citizenship – often disregarding documents generally considered valid for it. Those excluded from the NRC are to be lodged in detention centres, reminiscent of concentration camps. With the Assam Assembly elections scheduled for mid-April, the NRC is again being used to polarise the electorate. Anas Tanwir Siddiqi, a lawyer who's at the forefront of the battle against the NRC, speaks to All Indians Matter.

There’s bad news on the employment front – India’s urban unemployment rate was 20.9% for the quarter ending June 2020. But, even these numbers might not capture the full extent of the turmoil in labour markets. India’s jobs landscape is tremendously fragile.

How COVID-19 affected slum-dwellers didn’t receive the attention it deserved. Loss of livelihood and congested conditions made them vulnerable on multiple levels. No wonder it was estimated in mid-2020 that 57% of slum-dwellers could be positive for coronavirus antibodies. Salma Memon, founder of the UMEED Foundation, who works extensively in the slums of Mumbai’s Malad suburb details the heartbreak of slum life during the lockdown.

Expect better network coverage and data speeds, while 2G and 3G subscribers will get great offers to switch to 4G. But, are we also witnessing an emergence of a duopoly in India’s telecom market? Listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

The new rules governing digital content, news platforms and social media will fundamentally alter your internet experience and impact your rights. The key is the shift from regulation to control over digital news platforms, OTT content providers and social media. No wonder there are fears over the rules undermining free speech and privacy. Prasanth Sugathan, legal director of the Software Freedom Law Centre, speaks to All Indians Matter about what the rules imply.

In recent times, sedition cases have been filed against climate activists, journalists, social activists, comedians, politicians, student protestors and authors. Often, it’s used to discredit those that oppose the government or to silence dissent. What exactly is sedition and why is the law such a danger? Listen to the latest episode of the podcast.All Indians Matter

We’re barely into 2021 but already, there have been at least eight internet shutdowns in India. The latest round followed the protest by farmers against three new agriculture laws. India shuts down the internet more than any other country – 106 times in 2019 with Venezuela, an authoritarian regime, a distant second with just 12 such instances. Most shutdowns occur during or after incidents of police brutality and protests, and are often used as a tool to stifle dissent. , counsel at the Software Freedom Law Center, explains the impact of the internet kill switch.Radhika Jhalani

“If highlighting farmers’ protests globally is sedition, I am better off in jail.” With this, perhaps the most brave words spoken in India in the past seven years, 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi showed the country what courage is all about. A Delhi court granted her bail but it came only after she had spent several days behind bars after being charged with sedition for editing a digital document on how to highlight the farmers’ protests. Here’s why her incarceration should worry each one of us.

Perhaps never before have majoritarian forces been on the ascendant in this manner. One of the results of this is the systematic expansion and normalisation of communal violence. There is an urgent need to restore positive inter-faith relations but is that even possible when the government prides itself as a champion of majoritarian politics? Anirban Bhattacharya and Misbah Rashid, research scholars on communal violence and Constitutional values at Centre for Equity Studies, pull no punches when discussing this on the latest episode of .All Indians Matter

In less than three years, a three-man crew will descend 6 km into the ocean in a tiny titanium alloy submersible to kick off India’s mission to mine the mineral riches of the sea floor. How will this collaboration between agencies like ISRO and the National Institute of Technology support India’s economic ambitions? And what are its implications on the fragile ocean ecology, coastal communities and livelihoods? Please listen to the latest episode of .All Indians Matter

When it comes to elections, the casting of the ballot is only the last piece in a jigsaw that has many interlocking pieces. The others include voter awareness, registration, motivation to vote and so on. As in all other walks of life, technology has played a growing role in each of these aspects. But it’s had its share of controversy too. Can technology revolutionise the way India votes? , a veteran of mobile and digital initiatives for transformative civic engagement campaigns, speaks to .Swaraj ShettyAll Indians Matter

Why has the arrest of Dalit and labour rights activist Nodeep Kaur during the farmer protests sparked an international outcry? What does her arrest signify for you and the state of civil rights in India? Please listen to the latest episode of the podcast.All Indians Matter

The latest update to Whatsapp’s privacy policy has been controversial, to say the least. It’s also brought under the microscope the data collected by the apps and websites you use, how it’s gathered and what it’s used for. The Supreme Court has ruled that privacy is a fundamental right but is your data – gathered by various entities, including the government – truly secure? , volunteer legal counsel with the Delhi-based Software Freedom Law Center, explains how your sensitive data is collected - and often compromised - on virtually a daily basis and what you can do about it.Apurva Singh

needed to be a blockbuster and Finance Minister sought to deliver exactly that. If India was to tackle crippling economic and job losses, she needed to step up expenditure in a big way. Union Budget 2021 Nirmala Sitharaman While she claims to have done that, what she didn’t tell you is more critical than what she did.

On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that consensual same-sex acts would no longer be a crime. The historic ruling finally read down Section 377, a colonial law that should have been struck down decades ago. But more than two years later, equality and acceptance may still be elusive. Gay rights activist speaks to .Nitin Karani All Indians Matter

India’s urban population is increasing exponentially, with more than 33% of India’s 1.3 billion people now living in cities. It’s only a matter of time before a majority of Indians are city dwellers. However, urban infrastructure is not keeping pace. As a result, the quality of life is plummeting. , chief architect of the much-talked-about Bhendi Bazaar redevelopment in Mumbai, talks to All Indian Matters about the challenges before urban transformation in India and potential solutions.Qutub Mandviwala

Tesla has driven into India to much celebration. The news was a fillip to the government’s efforts to turn India into an electric vehicle country over the long term. But, once the hype winds down, there are serious challenges to be surmounted – from lack of charging stations to financing hurdles and battery manufacturing.

India’s demographic dividend can propel it to dizzying heights, but much of it depends on the quality of our school education. India has doubled its investment in education over the past decade but the learning outcomes leave much to be desired. , a social innovator and founder of the Agastya International Foundation explains, how the shift from ‘what to think’ to ‘how to think’, as well as the hands-on application of learnings, can transform the situation. Agastya is one of the largest hands-on science and innovation learning programmes in the world.Ramji Raghavan

Roughly one and a half years after India declared itself free of bird flu, we are once again in the midst of an outbreak. At least 10 states have reported deaths of thousands of birds caused by the virus. Coming on the back of COVID-19, this is a worry because of its economic impact and because it can be transferred to humans in some cases.

India has the dubious distinction of recording the most number of acid attacks in the world - 1,483 victims between 2014 and 2018. Despite stricter laws and harsher punishments, the number of such attacks continues to increase. Daulat Bi Khan, an acid attack survivor herself, launched a foundation to help others like her and is now fighting to ensure they get medical treatment, counselling and education. She speaks to about her battle with pain, trauma and the fight for justice she undertook for herself and other survivors.All Indians Matter

Few Budgets would have been as critical as the one Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present on February 1, 2021. India just experienced its first ever technical recession and inflation continues to be well above the tolerance limit. India needs something extraordinary. Can the finance minister pull a rabbit out of a hat?

As human populations expand, there is pressure on natural habitats. They are looked upon as sources of natural resources that can fuel economic growth and help national missions like poverty reduction. As natural habitats shrink or prove inadequate, people, animals and forests are increasingly coming into conflict.

CSR spending by corporate India is rising significantly. In 2018, companies spent 47% more compared to the amount in 2014-15, contributing $1 billion to CSR initiatives. Over the past year, listed companies spent $1.4 billion on programmes ranging from education to skill development, social welfare, healthcare and conservation. , veteran CSR and business leader, speaks to about how corporations can make a difference to society through such programmes and what the future holds.Shravani DangAll Indians Matter

If you’re a salaried employee, your take-home salary could reduce from the next financial year. Under the Narendra Modi government’s new compensation rules, which are part of the Code on Wages, 2019, taxable components of your wages will rise and so will the costs on your employer.

The sudden, poorly-managed lockdown earlier this year resulted in a massive internal migration as lakhs of workers left cities for home. Hunger was their constant companion as they walked, in many cases, a thousand kilometres with their belongings and families. Among the poor living in cities, lakhs were rendered penniless and without the means to sustain themselves. Enter the movement, which took it upon itself to battle this hunger.Khaana Chahiye

It’s been a year since the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA, was passed, sparking protests across the country. However, even today, its rules have been neither framed nor notified. Without them, the law cannot be implemented and it remains on paper. This gives credence to allegations that the Act was passed merely to polarise the population and to be used during elections.

According to UNICEF data, at least 200 million girls and women across 30 countries have suffered female genital mutilation, also known as female genital cutting or FGC. If they were to form a country, it would be the sixth most populous in the world. This year, the UN estimated that 4.1 million girls around the world are at risk of FGC. In India, it is practised mainly by the Dawoodi Bohra community – mainly by untrained women using rudimentary blades and knives. We are looking at an alarming crime against humanity that needs our urgent attention.

A new term has been introduced into the political lexicon – ‘Gupkar Gang’. What exactly is the meaning of this term coined by Union Home Minister Amit Shah? And what exactly did he mean when he called it an “unholy global ”? With the abrogation of Article 370 that withdrew the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the state was already up in arms. Now, the political temperature is rising as both sides prepare for a long and unyielding face-off.gathbandhan

In India, and across South Asia, the representation of women in positions of power is appallingly low. In a 2017 study, India ranked 149th in a list of 193 countries in terms of women’s representation in the lower House of Parliament. It trailed countries like Rwanda, Burundi, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.  In this conversation with , , a Lahore-based legal expert with several years of experience with law and policy institutions across South Asia, says a seat at the table must be accompanied by a real say in decision-making and a change in societal mindsets. Without that, nothing will change on the ground.All Indians MatterNaima Ahmed

India faces a dilemma. Its girls collectively miss an estimated 80 million months of school every year because of the lack of menstrual hygiene facilities. At the same time, sanitary napkins are swamping our landfills and oceans – the plastics within them take 500 to 1,000 years to break down. India needs to increase awareness about and access to menstrual hygiene products, especially those that are safer for the environment. is a renowned social activist who combines her work in making menstrual hygiene accessible to all women with a passion for the environment. She speaks to on accessibility and sustainable solutions for India.Seema Khandale All Indians Matter

As the economy contracted 7.5% in the July-September 2020 quarter, India entered a ‘technical recession’ for the first time ever. This is bad news, but the fear is that even this contraction doesn’t reflect reality because festival-related spending may be making the situation look better than it is. That pent-up demand, say economists, may be spent and we could see a further contraction in the next quarter. Please listen to the latest episode of the podcast.All Indians Matter

Why do poetry and protest go hand in hand? What makes it such a powerful and effective form of dissent? We’ve seen it giving expression to the opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act, the trauma of brutalised Dalits and the despair of tribals displaced from their lands. In a delightful, lyrical conversation on the podcast, poet explains why poetry resonates so strongly during mass movements, why it knows no boundaries and its cathartic nature during times of strife.All Indians Matter Hussain Haidry

Several BJP-ruled states are planning a law against ‘love jihad’, never mind the fact that the Central Government led by their own party denies any such thing exists or that any such cases have come to light. The law is clearly a move to deter inter-faith marriages – a long-standing demand of extremist saffron outfits. It also flies in the face of Constitutional rights and existing laws that permit marriages between consenting adults of different faiths. 

The relationship between communication technologies and lower castes is a complicated one. While communication technology and the mass media are widely thought to shrink social divisions, in many cases they have in fact reinforced caste-based exclusion and affected caste narratives. , London-based researcher and consultant – whose work looks at the disavowal of caste in media and communication studies and digital cultures – sheds light on the issue in this conversation with .Dr Murali ShanmugavelanAll Indians Matter

The relationship between communication technologies and lower castes is a complicated one. While communication technology and the mass media are widely thought to shrink social divisions, in many cases they have in fact reinforced caste-based exclusion and affected caste narratives. , London -based researcher and consultant – whose work looks at the disavowal of caste in media and communication studies and digital cultures – sheds light on the issue in this conversation with All Indians Matter. Dr Murali Shanmugavelan

If the government decides what we can watch, read and say, how long before it can tell us what can and cannot think?

Goans are up in arms against the government’s plans to turn the state into a coal hub. The infra push may destroy the Bhagwan Mahaveer National Park, damage the state’s waterways, impact fishermen’s livelihoods, and displace several local families.

Goans say it will destroy forests, fishing, local communities and their way of life.

Sailesh Mishra is a highly regarded social activist working for the welfare of senior citizens and is part of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s working group formulating a national policy for elders.

Sailesh Mishra is a highly regarded social activist working for the welfare of senior citizens and is part of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s working group formulating a national policy for elders.

What has held back India's agriculture sector over the decades?

Why has Indian agriculture never achieved its full potential? We try to understand with noted policy expert Barun Mitra.

India needs police reforms now. Unless that happens, your democratic rights and even the economic progress of the country are in peril.

Rajesh Jain talks about his journey as a 'political entrepreneur'.

A fair press that asks probing questions to the government is a pillar of democracy. In India, however, there has been a fall in media standards and in many cases an abandonment of journalism altogether in favour of government propaganda. In the late...

How much has changed since the Nirbhaya case of 2012? Nothing at all, as the Hathras gangrape-and-murder shows. Police apathy, the lack of political will, a judicial process designed to traumatise the victim, patriarchy and caste are manifest in Indi...

On World Podcasting Day, I wanted to explain why I launched All Indians Matter. I felt that the media wasn’t doing a great job of telling truth to power, though there are still many brave journalists left who are willing to tell the nation what matte...

India’s farmer has to deal with the vagaries of the weather, rapacious moneylenders, an indifferent government, political violence and now three new farm laws that have sparked fierce protests across the country. Even the rural non-farm economy is si...

By removing limits on stockholdings, shrinking the essential commodities list, casting a cloud of uncertainty over the minimum support price for food items and pushing the farm sector into the hands of corporations, India’s new farm laws have a direc...

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, is a threat to our most basic freedoms, giving the Indian government the power to designate any person a terrorist without proof and to incarcerate them for 180 days. Dissenters, ranging from a labou...

As China attempts to permanently alter the territorial status quo in Ladakh, the Indian government struggles for answers. Earlier, it watched mutely as neighbours like Sri Lanka and Nepal moved closer to China. So, what can India do now? The first st...

As India’s economy shrinks, unemployment expands. Millions of young people enter the workforce every year, but India is losing existing jobs by the millions instead of creating them. This can have far-reaching societal implications and can even burge...

Government debt in India is set to reach record levels. This has a direct impact on how you’re taxed, the public services you avail of, whether your business gets access to affordable credit or not, and a variety of other things. When this is coupled...

Recently, the Wall Street Journal exposed how Facebook decided not to apply its own rules on hate speech BJP leaders’ posts. Ankhi Das, its top public policy executive, it turned out, has links through her family to the party. Such assistance for, or...

While the world moves away from coal towards greener energy, India’s affinity for it seems to be growing. As the government, spurred by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘aatmanirbharta’ (self-sufficiency), looks to open up Chhattisgarh’s ecolo...

The Supreme Court holding advocate Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt for tweets commenting on an “undeclared emergency” in India and the role of the court is worrying for our democracy. Why can’t Constitutional institutions be criticised? Why shoul...