2023

by Chhotelal Kumar *
Abstract
This piece delves into the question of Anti-conversion laws in the Schedule area (Fifth and Sixth) and tries to look at the possible logic of the enaction of these laws. It argues and contrasts the shift in Indian politics with the decline of Congress and the rise of BJP and its correlations with conversion Laws. With BJP as the largest party in recent years at the centre and state level, it is trying to locate the recent upsurge in demand for the (…)

by Lily Sangpui
Recalling the relevant provisions outlined in International humanitarian law pertaining to the protection of women and children, it is crucial to revisit the plight they face in the light of Manipur violence. Conflicts affect women and men differently in distinct ways. It is important to acknowledge that women and children who constitute the vulnerable section of society are often at receiving end during conflict. Conflict and displacement further exacerbate their (…)

Islands of vegetation float freely on the freshwater lake; at times the water lies under the land, at times it glides over it. Sometimes the islands gently collide then move away; the Manipuris call it phumdis, but the land and water do co-exist.
Above the crystal blue waters fly in songbirds and passerines, the tragopans and pea fowls, across China, Tibet and Burma the birds follow their own route, partaking of nature’s fruit. They bask in the glinting colours of the sunset: orange, (…)

We are all inclined to believe that death is the ultimate equalizer, conditioned by the notion that empathy and love are still the guiding tenets of our societal fabric. However, every now and then the world we live in gives stark reminders that not all deaths are equal — the value assigned intrinsically, sickeningly rather, connected to the socio-economic and political interplay that seems to overpower and govern our conscience, consciousness and existence. It is not humanity that guides (…)

by Mahima K. Gupta, Satvinderpal Kaur*
Muslim girls and women are far behind in education and empowerment as compared to other communities. With recent tensions surrounding the educational experiences of Muslim women, including Karnataka’s hijab ban, the need to understand and protect Muslim minority women is more important than ever. Holding the unique status of being a Muslim city within a newly formed district, located in a Sikh-majority state (Punjab), and operating in a Hindu-majority (…)

There is a clear urgency of action needed to check the decline in access of benefits of the most important national-level maternity benefit scheme. The government must take immediate steps for this, particularly in the context of states like Gujarat and W.Bengal where the sharp decline in 2021-22 has been particularly distressing.
According to the latest available data, maternity benefits which should be available for all child-births could reach only about one-third or so, and what is (…)

During the first fortnight of June Indian agriculture witnessed three important incidents. Farmers in Kurukshetra waged a two-week long agitation as state refused to buy Sunflower seeds at government announced procurement price (MSP), Union government announced support prices for current Kharif season, and thirdly, the announcement on a current instalment of PM Kisan funds to farmers.
Recent farmers’ agitation started in Kapurtala when the Haryana government declined to buy sunflower (…)

13 July 2023
Where’s the so-called development when entire townships are drowning in flood waters! Never before such vast stretches of North India have witnessed this level of havoc. Even the capital city, New Delhi, is at the mercy of the rising water levels of the Yamuna! Flood fury …at its extreme!
Amidst lofty political promises of safety and security of the residents, the situation stands nightmarish. This, is when every year huge budget allocations to the municipalities for (…)

by Ernils Larsson *
Marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights have become widely discussed in Japan following the G7 summit of same-sex marriage by the Nagoya District Court. The movement for marriage equality is experiencing popular support not seen before, with numbers in favour of reform in popular polls far surpassing those against, especially with younger generations.
Support for marriage equality is widespread the text had been diluted to the (…)

(Text of an open letter to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Sri Lanka by the Sweden-based Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT))
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We are writing this open letter to you to express our concerns on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) approach to the ongoing negotiation of financial assistance to Sri Lanka.
As you have repeatedly noted, the world is currently facing multiple and interlinked crises that are greater, deeper, (…)