All Indians Matter

The social sector has played a significant role in India’s growth and development over the decades. It has had an impact across health, education, poverty alleviation, sanitation, housing and other areas. All Indians Matter speaks to Pritha Venkatachalam, partner and co-head for Asia and Africa at The Bridgespan Group, to understand the social sector’s journey and what lies ahead. Learn more about...

There’s been a spate of films that glorify sexism and misogyny, and reinforce gender stereotypes. The problem is that popular cinema often defines what’s cool, so stalking, harassment and even violence against women are seen as permissible or even macho. Gender activists have pointed to the link between such cinematic portrayals and real-life crimes. While popular cinema may be a reflection of exi...

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 liste...

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

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 Several former colonies have repealed such laws and it’s time for India to ensure no one is ever tried for sedition again.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 th...

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.   Learn more a...

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 Event...

Air pollution is costing Indian businesses an estimated $95 billion a year through absenteeism, falling productivity, shutdowns, lower investment, etc. investment, etc. We need not just green infrastructure and monitoring mechanisms but enforcement of existing laws and court orders. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter. just green infrastructure and monitoring mechanisms but e...

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

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

Menstrual health is closely linked to overall socioeconomic development and is crucial to empowerment. This is a challenge everywhere but especially in rural India, where women there face several menstrual challenges, ranging from lack of access to sanitary products to inadequate hygiene practices and lack of proper nutrition. Snehal Pawar, Project Manager at Ujaas, a menstrual health initiative o...

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. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

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.   Lea...

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...

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...

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

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 chan...

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 wo...

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

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 tracin...

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

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

There is growing awareness about inclusive policy making, but very few in India have talked about how to link foreign policy to gender. At the international level, several countries are gender-mainstreaming their foreign policy, beginning with Sweden’s adoption of a Feminist Foreign Policy, or FFP, in 2014. Priyanka Bhide, co-founder of the Kubernein Initiative, which has drafted the ‘Understandin...

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 da...

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.   Learn more about yo...