The intention is good but the compliance seems to be skewed and defeats the purpose. In February 2014, market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had issued a directive asking c
I came to office, sat down at my work station, switched on my system and the first news that flashed on my screen was the experience of a woman who was molested by her diving instructor underwater
Meena Soni, Monika Mittal, Kusum Kanwar, Jyoti Rani and Yogita are common girls names in India. However, they stand for uncommon principle in normally traditional Rajasthan. These women are g
Lawyers and women`s rights activists have termed the order as unacceptable and shocking. These are public reactions against the controversial order of justice P Devadass of the Madras high court in
The sixth economic census, released by ministry of statistics and programme implementation, pr
Women drivers have again been exempted from the second round of odd-even scheme that starts from April 15 and ends on April 30th. Gopal Rai, Delhi’s transport minister, said on Wednesday that
Cracking the whip on app-based taxi operators, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has announced that it would ensure the ban on surge pricing even after the odd-even period is over. On A
The investigation into the horrific rape and murder of a young woman in Kerala has been “bungled”, said women and child development (WCD) minister Maneka Gandhi on Tuesday as she unveil
In an attempt to ensure that a trafficked victim does not face legal hassles once rescued, the ministry of women and child development (WCD) has released a draft ‘Trafficking of Persons (Prev
India’s first three women fighter pilots were formally commissioned in the Indian Air Force (IAF) at a ceremony presided over by defence minister Manohar Parrikar. The three fi
Jobs for 1 crore people, mostly women will be created in three years along with an investment of Rs 74,000 crores from a special package for textile and apparel sector, approved by the cabinet on W
In India, till recently, the complex crime of trafficking was addressed through multiple laws. For example, while the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) sought to punish traffickers for
Maneka Gandhi has requested minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj that for passports of children being raised by single mothers should be allowed to exclude their father`s name.
The national commission for women (NCW) will soon move the supreme court (SC). But this time it won’t be to seek justice for an aggrieved woman; it would be to empower itself, to be heard and
Why is the national commission for women weak? Is it because its mandate is unclear? I don’t know why there is a fallacy about the Act being weak. There
A staggering 79 percent of Muslim women reported not having received any maintenance from their husband post their divorce, said a survey report “No More – Talaq Talaq Talaq -- Muslim W
Both India and China, which together are home to roughly one in three 10-year-olds alive today, are among the world’s fastest growing economies and have seen dramatic improvements in the oppo
It seems that the worst is over for the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) employees, at least for a while. The commission that had decided to shut their helplines due to non-payment of salaries will
Humour is a form of communication. There are several healthy forms of humours which can be critical, reflective and constructive for the society. Unfortunately there is one form of humour tha
The National Commission of Women (NCW) has issued notice to the Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav for his explicit remark on women. While addressing a public gathering in Patn
Demonetisation proved that we keep a good account of our money but apparently we lack expertise and motivation in counting maternal deaths, most of which are entirely preventable. Regular and com
Masooma Ranalvi, a victim of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), has submitted a petition signed by 85,000 people to National Commission of Women against this practice. She started Speak out
Women make essential contributions to agriculture across Asia and the Pacific, comprising between 40 and 50 percent of the agricultural labour force in East and Southeast Asia and around 30 percent
Konika Haldar, 25, and her husband left Malda, in Bengal, five years ago. Today, she works as a domestic help in east Delhi and, as the breadwinner, cannot afford to quit. But she hopes her husband
As the participation of women in labour force declines in the country, Sher Singh Verick of ILO explains to Archana Mishra the reason behind this trend, the role education plays and the kind of
"Beet jayei ho beet jayei, voting ke bela ho; Sovat rahaba abki bhi tu, hoi paanch saal jhamela ho. Beet jayei ho beet jayei, kis soch mein haua ho, koi tohke paisa dei, police ke phone milaiy
Indian women marrying NRIs, glamorous though it sounds, has recently become a cause of serious concern. The reason for this is the alarmingly high rates of desertion of women marrying NRIs, said
The “Forum of Concerned Citizens for Naliya Incident” sent a fact-finding team to Kutch on February 20. The members of the team were Dineshbhai Sanghvi, Meenaks
The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the governments of Karnataka and Maharashtra for an unusual large number of Hysterectomy procedures being perf
Food is ready to be served on a plastic sheet laid on the floor. Children and mothers (pregnant and lactating) eagerly wait to get something down in their bellies. But before that begins, anganwadi
Some women currently employed in formal sector jobs may find their positions terminated by employers not wishing to bear the cost and a certain number of women graduates waiting to enter
A total of 447 and 361 cases were reported in which final report ended as false under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 during 2014 and 2015 respectively, union minister Maneka Gandhi infor
The nutrition crisis continues to stare at us, despite the fact that India is the fastest growing large economy today. In running after GDP growth, the human development index
One in every three public toilets in Delhi do not have separate provision for women, according to an ActionAid India survey of public toilets in Delhi. The survey carried out in December
When her husband died last year, 60-year-old Chakkamma was not sure whether she would be able to have some money of her own: she has a son who looks after her, but she wanted to maintain a degree o
In the nine years of my career here, I have not seen a single instance of a couple bringing along a relative who will bear their child as a surrogate mother,” says Inderpreet Kaur, he
Rajkumar Shukla’s village Satwariya, now in West Champaran, is well connected with the rest of Bihar’s towns and villages. However, I see no pucca roads within the village. E
There is low female labour force participation in India, said a World Bank report, which added that India has one of the lowest female participation rates in the world, ranking 120th among the 13
In a bid to ensure a speedy passage for the women’s reservation bill (WRB) in Parliament and legislative assemblies, Centre for Social Research (CSR), New Delhi, will galvanise 3,000 pancha
Several myths surround empowerment of women. A popular, cultural myth in India is that women cannot handle money and power, just as men cannot take care of children. However, when women are asked w
It’s 11 in the morning and the road leading to sector 17 in Chandigarh towards the Home Guards building is quiet, almost deserted. But as one enters the building, it is bustling with people.
Meena, a solemn, raspy-voiced woman in a black salwar-kameez, is gyrating to a Bollywood number with gusto. The vivid range of her expressions counterpoints her lanky frame. Life is limping back to
President Pranab Mukherjee, who demits office soon, has been known as a man “of the constitution”, a believer in it, and was called to be its custodian during the last five years. His
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that human trafficking is a crime against humanity and “the victims lose their dignity and die every day”. Sp
When Charu Wali Khanna had petitioned the supreme court for striking down Article 35A of the constitution, she had wanted restoration of her right as a native of Kashmir to live there. Little did s
When Charu Wali Khanna had petitioned the supreme court for striking down Article 35A of the constitution, she had wanted restoration of her right as a native of Kashmir to live there. Little did s
The supreme court on Tuesday struck down triple talaq for six months and asked the government to come out with a legislation on it, a verdict that is going to impact over 180 million Muslims in t
Prime minister Narendra Modi described as “historic” the supreme court judgment that struck down triple talaq for a period of six months. “Judgmen
Incense sticks were lit. Ram Sahay Marawi, 70, was ready to break the coconut over the ground – an auspicious ritual before starting anything new. He along with fellow tribal villagers was wo
A quiet Arab spring led by the veiled womenfolk of Hirmathla is behind making this village in Nuh district, and for that matter, nearly all of Haryana an open defecation free (ODF) zone. Women who
Bhadiya from Bhanpur Kheda village does not know her age. She has five children – the eldest one is 12-year-old while the youngest is an infant. Considering she got married in her teens &ndas
Women’s groups have sought the passage of the women’s reservation bill in the winter session of parliament. According to The National Alliance for Women’s Reservation Bi
Women spend two to 10 times more time doing unpaid work than men, showed research carried out by ActionAid India. “Invisible Work, Invisible Workers - The Sub-Economies of Unpa
Three in four abortions in India are through drugs from chemists and informal vendors rather than from health facilities, said a report in The Lancet. An estimated 15.6 million abor
Far away in the other world, she must be weeping seeing the flames of fire she lit for justice slowly fading. On December 16, 2012, the 23-year-old Delhi woman, better known as Nirbhaya now, wa
Have things changed five years after the Nirbhaya incident? I see Delhi as the capital of protest, not just capital of rape as it is often painted. In terms of legislation,
A lot has been discussed and written over the absence of women from the Indian labour force, and how it affects the economic growth of the country. Even as it seemed the new millennium arrived with
“Gender based discrimination is worldwide and not alone in India. Offences against women are much more severe in cases of international trafficking, forced prostitution and pornography, women
In the past two months, two girls have faced unspeakable violence. In January, a Dalit schoolgirl in Haryana was gang-raped and murdered. In Jharkand in February, a 15-year-old girl was raped and b
One out of every three women in India receive offensive and inappropriate calls or SMSs, reveals a Truecaller report. According to the report ‘Understanding the Impact of Harassment &
March 8 is marked and celebrated as International Women’s Day. It celebrates the achievements of the women in different walks of life. India, where countless women leaders have through their
From Indira Gandhi to justice M Fathima Beevi, from Rita Faria to Mary Kom, Indian women who were the firsts in their chosen field continue to inspire generations of younger women.
Horrifying details of the rape and murder of a child in Kathua and rape charges by a 17-year-old girl in Unnao against a BJP MLA have triggered protests on social media as well. From celebrities li
The 15-page chargesheet by J&K Police’s crime branch is a chilling revelation of what all is wrong in our society. The eight-year-old girl who was kidnapped, drugged, brutally gang-raped
Can death penalty act as a deterrent f
India has been ranked as the world’s most dangerous country for women due to the high risk of sexual violence and being forced into slave labour, according to a Thomson Reuters Foundation sur
The recent survey commissioned by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which had ranked India as the most dangerous place on earth for women, has created a serious controversy in India with the governme
A year after the #MeToo movement took the Hollywood and the West by storm, skeletons have started tumbling out of India’s closets too. From Bollywood actresses to women journalists, the Twitt
This 26th of January earmarks the 70th anniversary of the Indian republic. In the 69 years of journey, India has made considerable progress in democratising the society at large. The Constitution o
Indian society is in a stage of rapid transition. In case of social development, we as a nation have made progress in various sectors and have repealed, modified and abolished those laws which were
When Dr Shruti Kamdi (pictured on left), a transfusion specialist at a leading Mumbai hospital, had her first child, she struggled to nurse her baby as she was unable to secrete enough milk. Admitt
India is now the sixth-largest economy in the world, with a 2017 GDP of $2.6 trillion, according to the database of the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook (WEO) for April 20
Most of us have paid at least one visit to a health facility. It is easy to identify quality care when we receive it – an attentive doctor, a responsive team of health workers, adherence to h
Approximately 2000 healthcare providers who serve Mumbai`s 57,26,442 women attended the two day conference on sexual and reproductive health hosted by Mumbai Obstetric and Gynecological Society (MO
At the supreme court, the panel for inquiry has submitted its report to the CJI. It says the report will not be made public and no copy will be given to the former lady employee whose complaint sta
Home. One word with so many connotations. For urban poor women, shelter is the answer to a wide range of problems, and the single solution to a better future. For the women working in the informal
Fahmidaben’s father was a labourer and mother a maid. She had three sisters and one brother. When the gas tragedy struck Bhopal in 1984, the family was among those affected. When a gas tank b
In 2018 to preserve and build a cost-efficient supply chain for agro-produce and to empower rural women and farmers, the Maharashtra government entered into a pilot project with S4S Technologie
Maharashtra has been successful in preventing 790 child marriages during the Covid-19 pandemic. Building on that success, women and child development minister Yashomati Thakur has launched a state-
The Maharashtra government has approved provision of 3% funds under the District Annual Plan for empowerment of women and children in every district through the Department of Women and Child Develo
A World of Equals: A Textbook on Gender Edited by Susie Tharu, A. Suneetha and Uma Maheswari Bhrugubanda
India is likely to be the most impacted country by the effects of climate change and the most impacted large country.The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report on Climate Change (2021) outlines speed
The PEW Research Center released a report on the Indian attitudes towards gender roles, at home and at society at large. The findings are based on a survey of around 30,000 people conducted in 2019
Michelle Obama once said, “No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.” That should be
Meet Promila Krishna, 39, Lalita Nayak, 40, Parbati Gadba, 42, Sanadei Dhuruwa, 39, and Nabita Barika, 41, of Kundra block in Odisha’s Koraput district. Except for Promila who is a matriculat
A movement of young women trained as ‘agricultural guides’ is now leading effective action on climate change through sustainable agriculture in rural Africa. More than 8,500 individuals
Lies Our Mother Told Us: The Indian Woman’s Burden By Nilanjana Bhowmick Aleph Book Company / 272 pages / Rs 699
My Subconsciously Feminist Father By Yashika Singla Aleph Book Company, 176 pages, Rs 499 My Subconsciously Feminist Father ima
As many as 16% older women in India faced abuse, out of which half (50%) faced physical abuse. Disrespect (46%) as well as emotional and psychological abuse (40%) are the other abuses faced by olde
Who Cares About Parliament: Speaking Up to Protect India’s Great Institution By Derek O’Brien Rupa / 224 pages / Rs 395
India celebrated its 77th Independence Day last month with emotions and a hope that 2030 will bring better days with the dream of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India. Out of the
One day in 1997, during an interaction with a group of rural women, collector of Odisha’s Ganjam district, Santosh Satpathy – a Jharkhand cadre officer who was on deputation to Odisha &
We have been taught since childhood that "health is wealth” and “if health is gone, everything is gone”. Indeed, health is one of the main markers of overall wellbeing of any
“Women’s rights are not a privilege but a fundamental aspect of human rights.” —Savitribai Phule In India, where almost two-thirds of the popu
