Author: admin

Bank charges imposed on saving accounts hurt the poor most who have hesitantly adopted them

October 17, 2018

By Ashish Kajla* Banks act as financial intermediaries between depositors and borrowers. It is the public money, deposited in the form of term deposit (fixed deposits) and time deposit (saving & current accounts) which banks use for lending to borrowers. Since public money is important for the banking sector as a whole, banks also have a … More Bank charges imposed on saving accounts hurt the poor most who have hesitantly adopted them

Repositioning SHGs is core to India’s approach to women empowerment and poverty alleviation

October 16, 2018

By Moin Qazi* The empowerment of rural women and girls is essential to building a prosperous equitable and peaceful future for all on a healthy planet. – UN Secretary-General, António Guterres Gender inequality is not only a pressing moral and social issue but also a critical economic challenge. India has a larger relative economic value … More Repositioning SHGs is core to India’s approach to women empowerment and poverty alleviation

In solidarity with women who bravely spoke up about their experiences of sexual harassment

October 15, 2018

Gujarat Mahila Manch Statement in solidarity with survivors of sexual harassment, especially in Gujarat: Gujarat Mahila Manch is extremely pained and disturbed by the traumatic accounts of women’s sexual harassment and strongly condemns such rampant sexism and misogyny in civil society organisations (CSOs). We also condemn the sexual harassment that goes unchecked in CSOs promoting a culture of silence or … More In solidarity with women who bravely spoke up about their experiences of sexual harassment

Married women account for the highest proportion of suicide deaths among women in India

October 13, 2018

Excerpts from the Lancet study “Gender differentials and state variations in suicide deaths in India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2016
”: India had 17.8% of the global population in 2016, but accounted for 36·6% of the global suicide deaths among women and 24.3% among men. The proportion of global suicide deaths in India has … More Married women account for the highest proportion of suicide deaths among women in India

An ode to the Indian village postman, who has receded into the far horizons of the rural landscape

October 12, 2018

By Moin Qazi* Wait Mr. Postman Please Mr. Postman, look and see Oh yeah If there’s a letter in your bag for me…. These lyrics sung way back in the ’70s by the Carpenters immortalized the humble postman and his role in a lovesick teenager’s life. Closer to home, Rajesh Khanna did pretty much the … More An ode to the Indian village postman, who has receded into the far horizons of the rural landscape

While crores of rupees have been allocated for cleaning up Ganga, the river continues to flow filthy

October 11, 2018

By Amita Bhaduri* As the Ganga emerges from the glaciers and glides along the foothills of the mighty Himalayas through the towns and cities with their sprawling ghats, engineered embankments, hydroelectric dams, and interrupted flows at barrages, the icy chilliness of its waters is lost. Pilgrims swarm its bank to pay obeisance to the holy … More While crores of rupees have been allocated for cleaning up Ganga, the river continues to flow filthy

Need to recycle waste from demolished sites leads to pollution of land, air, water and environment

October 10, 2018

By Sheshu Babu* In cities and towns, houses are being rapidly demolished paving way for construction of flats/ apartments. The house owners are selling their houses for ‘development’ with the intention of making money and the contractors are constructing flats selling each one with huge profit margin. Rubble created by demolishing structures and the spreading … More Need to recycle waste from demolished sites leads to pollution of land, air, water and environment