The United States’ rapid abandonment of conflict-ridden countries will only escalate the peripheral status of these nations, causing a great deal of pain to women, children, and the gender diverse individuals, who are already marginalized. It becomes all the more essential to divulge in talks on feminist foreign policies that need to be put on the forefront, to stand against gender apartheid, on a global scale.
India’s Midday Meal Scheme has helped educate a generation of poor school-going children and has phenomenally transformed their lives and made a huge impact on the nation’s hunger and literacy rates.
National Safe Motherhood Day must, therefore, be more than a symbolic gesture. It must act as a catalyst for deeper reforms, pushing for improved last-mile delivery of services, cultural sensitization, and robust monitoring of maternal health schemes.
It is welcome that a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih have stayed the order of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra of the Allahabad High Court that had downgraded the criminal offence of attempt to rape determined by a lower court to a lesser charge of assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe, and aggravated sexual assault. This matters not just for gender justice, and social justice (the accused and the victim are from different castes separated by a power differential), but also for India’s economic prospects.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs isn’t just a bureaucracy, it’s a lifeline for India’s 300 million minorities, stitching them into the nation’s growth story. From scholarships lifting dropout kids to PMJVK building schools, it’s made strides—literacy’s up, jobs are sprouting. Yet, state delays, thin funds, and political noise hobble its pace.
There’s a huge potential for the expansion of the MGNREGA scheme, especially in regions that have been underserved. The involvement of panchayats and community groups is instrumental in the execution of the scheme’s projects on the ground by identifying local needs and grievances. It’s crucial to ensure that the benefits reach those who need them the most. Although MGNREGA is unlikely to succeed without sustained political commitment and public pressure, its enactment has been a remarkable achievement.
Teaching, often regarded as a noble profession, is not immune to workplace challenges. In private schools, particularly in India, there has been a growing concern over the mental harassment of teachers by school management. From unrealistic workload, expectations to exploitation and lack of support, many teachers endure stressful work environments, impacting their mental health and professional satisfaction.