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Dear Reader,
In another blow to press and creative freedom in India, the latest version of the Broadcasting Bill, which was shared with a select and limited audience last week by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, seeks to extend the government’s regulatory reach to online streaming services, social media accounts, and video creators.
The Bill mandates that YouTubers and Instagrammers with “substantial following” must register with a three-tier regulatory system and establish a content evaluation committee, which will “need to check all content before it gets published."
Social media firms face criminal penalties for failing to disclose user information, and news-sharing accounts must comply with similar regulations. The Bill may also cover AI-generated content and advertising networks. MediaNama analyses the latest draft of the Bill and explains its implications for news and content creators.
Climate change is now a living reality in India. In the plains of Haryana, a region predicted to be “one of the most affected globally by climate change”, the intensifying heat waves profoundly and fundamentally challenge public health, industries and agriculture -- impacting life and livelihoods.
Article 14 reports that Harayana is experiencing significant and excruciating temperature rises, exacerbating water scarcity, affecting crop yields and accentuating farm distress. Industries face higher costs of mitigating heat distress and reduced labour productivity. A grim warning and window into India’s future unless addressed on a war footing.
Bamboo is an intrinsic part of every aspect of tribal life, including as a tool for sustainable livelihoods. The National Bamboo Mission, launched in 2006, aims to elevate the quality of bamboo, increase the area of cultivation, and add value to expand the scope of revenues. However, as Main Bhi Bharat reports from Manipur, despite the Mission’s efforts, the potential of bamboo as a source of livelihood has been curtailed by the relatively poor supply chain, the lack of access to markets and the inability to provide a fair value to the cultivator and artisans.
In a far-reaching decision, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court affirmed that states have the sole authority to tax mines and minerals, giving a fillip to states’ powers and potential revenues, especially for the mineral-rich ones. The Supreme Court Observer summarises the judgement of the Apex court, which overturned a 35-year-old verdict that is seen as a “big win” for federalism in India.
For more such stories from the grantees this week, please read on.
Warmly,
Sunil Rajshekhar
IPSMF
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