Let me begin by sharing a few startling statistics. India’s female labour force participation rate is just 28 per cent. One out of three young people is not engaged in education, employment or training, with women making up 95 per cent of this group. For every five men in managerial positions, only one is a… Continue reading How direct benefit transfer empowers women
This is the second part of a two-part column: 12 new MPs in the Opposition to watch out for. In the first part, I wrote about six of the 446 new MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Here’s part two with six more Parliamentarians, to complete the list of 12 MPs to watch out… Continue reading 12 New Opposition MPs India Should Watch Out For – Part 2
Of the 543 MPs in Lok Sabha, 280 are spanking new – into their first few months as Members of Parliament. Add to that the 166 MPs who have been in Rajya Sabha for less than a year. That’s 446 MPs (of the total 770 MPs) who could fondly be described as ‘newbies’ in Parliament.… Continue reading 12 New MPs To Watch Out For
Two days after the Delhi gangrape, Parliament debated the “demand for severe punishment against perpetrators of gangrape of a young woman on 16 December, 2012 in the capital”. Thirty-seven Members of Parliament, including this columnist, spoke in both Houses. In the last fortnight, as we witnessed the entirely understandable public outrage, one reflected on transcripts… Continue reading Between 2012 Delhi rape and R G Kar, little has changed
“How’s the josh?” was the line made famous in a not-my-kind-of-film which still did well at the box office five years ago. Now, ask any member of the Opposition in Parliament the same question. How’s the josh? There is a distinct spring in the steps of Members of Parliament from Opposition parties, both in the… Continue reading In Parliament, Opposition is feeling a new ‘josh’
There is a lot going on this week. Opposition parties united in their demand to ask the government to roll back 18% GST on life and health insurance – an issue affecting 45 crore of the middle class. Banner headlines from Bangladesh. Vinesh Phogat. The silver lining of Neeraj Chopra and Indian hockey. In all… Continue reading Here’s To Tribals And Their Endless Fight For Jal, Jungle, Zameen
There are so many ways to spend a Friday morning. 9 am to 11 am. One could be glued to an outdated iPhone 12, sending sundry text messages while stuck in traffic. Or lounging in bright blue pyjamas contrasted with a starched white linen shirt in the study at home, to look sharp for the… Continue reading What I saw in a cancer centre
The BJP floundered in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The floundering continued on the floor of both Houses where Members of Parliament from the INDIA parties delivered multiple speeches that were well-structured, well-executed, and rich in content. A recurring theme in many of these powerful interventions on the Budget was a 12-letter word giving Modi… Continue reading The 12-Letter Word Giving The Government Sleepless Nights
Fairer distribution of time between the government and the Opposition needs to be addressed, to uphold the principles of accountability and representative democracy.
From film and television studios to Parliament. The 18th Lok Sabha is all set for Lights, Camera, Action.
