At a time when institutions are failing us and our freedoms are under attack, memes offer a language of resistance that is contemporary, easy to produce and quick to disseminate. They are enabling citizens to project their democratic power and to initiate action. By doing so, memes represent a welcome addition to our democratic discourse. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The STEM workforce of women in India is estimated at 27% of the total, way behind the global average of 30% and far below the aspired-to 50%. This gender gap is even wider in leadership positions. It's an old story. Women usually have no choice when it comes to domestic and care burdens, and they face prejudice, stereotyping and other systemic barriers. So, the path to an inclusive STEM ecosystem will involve shattering stereotypes and weeding out deep-rooted social prejudices. Please listen...

A recent study says that the rate of growth of student suicides now surpasses that of the population and overall suicide trends. Over the past two decades, student suicides surged by 4% that while overall suicide numbers rose by 2% annually. Crushed under the weight of family expectations and social pressures, with little access to counsellors or awareness about mental health, many students are choosing to take their own lives. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn...

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...

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...

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...

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....

The illegal organ trade is targeting the desperately poor from within India and countries like Myanmar and Nepal. Driven to desperation by their circumstances, they are willing to sell their organs to those who can pay for them in India. A vast network of agents, corrupt officials and hospitals ensures that the affluent jump the queue for organs in defiance of the law. The vast gap between demand and supply of organs is equally to blame. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians...

 India’s embrace of digital banking and UPI have made it a leader of technologically-enabled financial inclusion. However, fraudsters have also seized it as an opportunity to steal from unsuspecting users and carry our sophisticated scams. This has left law enforcement agencies struggling to keep up with the rising number of crimes, and regulators rushing to improve financial literacy. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

The sexual assault epidemic raging across the country is now making its presence felt in educational institutions, from those of higher learning to primary schools. Over the years, the gender safety guidelines for schools, colleges and universities have been largely ignored and there is little emphasis on gender respect and sex education programmes. Couple that with our centuries-old patriarchy, a faltering criminal justice system and tendency to victim shame, and what you have is a situation...

Post-COVID, the social sector – so critical to India’s community and economic frameworks – has faced several challenges. These range from operational disruptions to funding and increased government scrutiny. Faced with existential threats, many social organisations have had to cut programmes and staff. Despite this, the social sector is adapting and finding ways to keep going. Shiv Kumar, co-founder of the Catalyst Group and an investor passionate about solving complex social problems, speaks...

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...

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A study shows that consumers are increasingly worried about the safety of the food they consume and most have low confidence in Indian regulators. The banning of products of popular Indian spice makers MDH and Everest by Singapore and Hong Kong, and subsequent investigations by other governments, only added to the worry. How effective is Indian food regulation and what can be done now? Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.  Please listen to the latest episode of...

Episode description with atleast 50 words

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...

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...

Recently, the transition of Citibank’s retail business to Axis Bank was completed. Like Citi, several other foreign banks have shrunk operations in India or exited altogether. They have set the standard in customer service but increasing competition, rising bad loans, and complicated and costly compliance requirements have all been a deterrent. What does this mean for you, the customer? 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.

Over the past decade, Indian politics has seen systemic changes with the changing nature of the electorate, the expansion of political competition in one sense and its shrinking in the other, the use of tools like social media and the decline of old political constants. As India approached another general election, we took a look at how Indian politics is changing and what lies ahead. This episode was recorded before the election and may, therefore, seem out of sync with the present in some...

The unemployment rate was a worrying 9.2% in June. Never mind what the government says, unemployment is now at crisis proportions and most estimates say India will struggle to create enough jobs in the foreseeable future. One study says that even average growth of 7% will produce fewer jobs than needed over the next decade. It’s not just the lack of jobs either – female workforce participation is falling and the quality of jobs that are being generated isn’t satisfactory. Please listen to the...

The Hathras stampede, which claimed 121 lives has brought into focus again the lack of safety measures at religious gatherings. A study showed that between 2001 and 2014 more than 2,421 people died in over 3,000 stampedes in India, most of them at religious events. Another said that 79% of all stampedes in India occur at places of worship. Several studies have blamed the tragedies on lack of crowd control systems and poor planning. How can we make religious gatherings safer in India? Please...

The latest controversy over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET, shows how broken India’s entrance exam system is. Paper leaks and corruption are common, calling into question the effectiveness of the process and where it leaves aspirants. So routine is the leak of papers and release of incorrect results that they have been connected to several student suicides. What’s wrong with India’s entrance examination system and how do we fix it? Please listen to the...