The Union government’s welfare schemes are often more hype than substance. Slick marketing succeeds in hiding the flaws. Glib speeches at election rallies present these schemes as “gifts” from the supreme captain rather than what they are: repackaged social welfare schemes, copy-pasted from the states or rebranded programmes that predate Narendra Modi at Lok Kalyan Marg.
Unlike the two dozen or so other forgettable acronyms created since 2014, I like the name UDAN. But let’s examine whether it has really taken off or been grounded in the last few years. Are those citizens who can only afford hawai chappals, really being transported from Point Mo to Point Di in a hawai jahaz!
The practice of sending parliamentary delegations presented a unique opportunity for capacity-building and engaging with the UN, as also to get an insider’s view of diplomacy. But the BJP has worked to short-circut this since coming to power in 2014
1. Two Australians are the only players who have appeared in four World Cup finals – in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007. One is Glenn McGrath. Who is the other? 2. Shankar Mahadevan composed the official song for the 2011 World Cup. Who composed the song for this year’s World Cup? 3. Which legendary opening… Continue reading 20 Questions With Derek: Play The World Cup Cricket Quiz
The sedition law was enacted by the British in 1870 and was added to the IPC in order to deal with the Wahabi Movement. Ironically, the law still exists in India even though the United Kingdom, which enacted this statute in this country, abolished it in 2009. During the Indian freedom movement, this law was used to curb the voices of freedom fighters, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and others. Now, it is used to stop journalists, professors, human rights activists and civil society members from raising their voices.
The Narendra Modi government has a chronic case of arithmophobia, the correct term for the fear of numbers. Evasion of data is not about simply “not knowing”, it is often about knowing but preferring not to tell.
MNREGA has been pivotal in providing employment opportunities to rural households, especially landless labourers, minorities and women, working as a shield against a life of penury.
Rightful wages under MNREGA have been denied to 1.4 crore workers in Bengal. Is anybody listening?
This article has been adapted from a speech delivered in Parliament. Give me back my India was the last speech to be made in the original Parliament building.
My most joyous times in Parliament have been with you. Thank you for the friendships, the bonds and the decency you made space for
The need to increase women participation is felt not just in public institutions but in private ones as well.
A key to increasing participation and representation of women in institutions is to encourage them to join professional and technical courses in larger numbers.
