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Dear Reader,
The Indian government has proposed a legislation in Parliament, the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, to raise the marriageable age of girls from 18 to 21 years. Article 14 analyses why the proposed legislation is potentially ineffectual as the law will be used by parents to enforce their will against daughters who exercise their choice, and will criminalise an already vulnerable group. The larger and accompanying need is to address poverty, school dropouts and entrenched patriarchy.
Patriarchy against Indian women is not just prevalent in families, they also face discrimination and subtle gender biases in most vocations. Journalism too, unfortunately, is not immune to the malaise. The glass ceiling is rampant at most media workplaces, with unsaid rules which thwart women from attaining the top of the hierarchy. In an illuminating podcast, The Probe talks to a wide section of journalists to find out how this “subtle sexism” can be eradicated.
The steamrolling of the bill, to link Aadhaar with the electoral data, into an Act without any substantive discussion in Parliament, ostensibly to weed out multiple and illegal voting, has raised hackles. HW News analyses the consequences – targeted disenfranchisement of genuine voters and its implications on citizen’s right to privacy.
There are five custodial deaths in India every day, records the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Suno India discusses the usually neglected issue and explains why this distressing reality is rampant in India and suggests the remedies that can be instituted.
For most of us, the first and the second wave of Covid are behind us, with uncertainties and challenges of battling the ominous Omicron-induced third wave ahead. However, Down To Earth speaks to the victims of ‘long Covid’ who were infected during the first wave and who are still baffled by their continuing distress - panic attacks, brain fog, decline in immunity, breathlessness, and pain.
For more such stories from the grantees this week, please read on.
Warmly,
Sunil Rajshekhar
IPSMF
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