We The People

As 2020 draws to a close, we look at the various fallouts of the coronavirus pandemic. In the last eight months, the labour force for women has shrunk 13 percent against 2 percent for men. Why does such disparity exist? What policy decisions are required to reverse this trend? We discuss.

After months of investigation, the CBI has filed a chargesheet in the horrific case in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, where a 19-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped and murdered by four men. On We the People, we ask did politics deny truth in Hathras?

As the crackdown begins just a few days after Uttar Pradesh passed an ordinance making interfaith marriages difficult, on this episode of We The People, we speak to interfaith couples about their opinion on the new "hate laws" in the country that make interfaith love illegal.

After farmers, now doctors have given a nationwide call for a strike on December 11, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. They are opposing the government's move to allow future ayurvedic postgraduate students to carry out 58 surgeries independently. The Indian Medical Association has said this will legitimise "mixopathy" of medical education and practice. Will this move ensure wider healthcare access to people in a country where doctor to patient ratio is way below what the World Health Organisation recommends, or will this move cause India's fall from grace as a global leader in the medical field?

Father Stan Swamy, the 83-year-old tribal rights activist who suffers from Parkinson's disease and was arrested last month over his alleged involvement in the Bhima-Koregaon case, couldn't get a straw and sipper for around four weeks because the National Investigation Agency (NIA) didn't have them, the agency has said. Isn't this cruelty in the name of justice? We discuss.

At least five BJP-led states have talked about bringing in laws aimed at curbing the alleged trend of 'love jihad'. It is a term cited by BJP leaders, alleging conversion of Hindu women to Islam under the garb of love and marriage. However, it founds no mention in the current Indian laws. In this episode of We The People, interfaith couples take on the atmosphere of hate and speak about their experiences.

In this episode, NDTV speaks with students who are struggling to continue their education due to the impact of COVID-19. Is the digital divide in education deepening in India and what is being done about it?

On this episode, we speak with experts on how to tackle pollution. People have shared their stories of dealing with pollution that has engulfed north India yet again. The situation is worse this time because scientists have linked pollution with the possible rise of COVID-19 cases. How will India deal with this twin challenge? We discuss.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the whole country to a standstill and overwhelmed the healthcare system in the country. October is the breast cancer awareness month and we find out from doctors, patients and survivors how they dealt with breast cancer amid the pandemic.

After popular jewellery brand Tanishq had to withdraw an advertisement featuring an interfaith couple due to backlash on social media, many interfaith couples shared their stories of a happily ever after. We speak to such people, who married outside their religion, on the reality of interfaith marriages in India and how love and respect for each other's religion wins.

The fallouts of the coronavirus pandemic are being felt globally, but are some more vulnerable than others? On We The People, we look at the gendered impact of the pandemic as thousands of women drop out of the workforce. In India, the situation is precarious with the country's devastating gender gap when it comes to women in the workforce and the disparity between men and women's salary.

As cases of crime against women come into the spotlight again after the horror that took place in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras last week, we say enough is enough. In another shocking incident, a Madhya Pradesh police officer was caught beating his wife and he later justified his actions. Government's latest data says crime against women has risen over 7 per cent in 2019. We debate what will it take for India to become safe for women?

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced organizations to change their status quo bringing the phenomenon of Work from Home. And eight months into the pandemic as the world copes with the new normal called Work from Home, what is the verdict? On this episode of We The People, we debate: "Has Work from Home blurred the boundaries between professional and personal space or has it given people the flexibility of time and space?

The Supreme Court and the Central government have both said that NEET and JEE exams will take place in September, despite rising Covid cases in India, and many states affected by floods. Are students being forced to brave a pandemic and floods for their future?

According to a report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, as many as 50 lakh salaried people lost their jobs in July, taking the total number of jobs lost since April to 1.89 crore. How do these staggering figures affect Indian lives on the ground? How do people pay off loans and EMIs, or educate and feed their children? Does the government have a plan to help those who have lost their jobs? Sarah Jacob discusses on We The People.

For the past few months, there has been a public outcry over the draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2020. An EIA is intended to estimate the environmental impacts of developmental or industrial projects, and this draft has landed in controversy because many claim that it is 'anti-environment' and 'pro-industry'. Is the EIA Notification diluting India's green protection laws? Sarah Jacob discusses on We The People.

Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are increasingly becoming toxic spaces for women. A woman's opinion on politics, religion, or any other matter, is often targeted with misogynist and sexist abuse. Actors Sayani Gupta and Maanvi Gagroo have started a petition called #IndiaAgainstAbuse that calls for an end to this abuse. Are Indian laws and societal structures primed to prevent this kind of abuse for women? Or is societal and legal change required, so that women are able to speak their minds freely. Sarah Jacob discusses on We The People.

The government's new education policy states that students should from now on be taught in their mother tongue, regional language, or home language up to Class 5, but preferably up to Class 8. This move has stirred up the mother tongue vs English debate in India. Is learning English at a young age important for children in India to progress in life and achieve their ambitions? Or is it better to teach young children in their mother tongue, so that they grasp core concepts easier? Sarah Jacob discusses a hotly-debated topic on We The People.

This week, Indians have been binge-watching a show on Netflix on arranged marriages. Is the practice of arranged marriage an archaic custom that lays bare India's sexism and casteism? Or is it a new avenue of choice for millennials, which lets them pick the life partners they want? Sarah Jacob discusses on We The People.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created concerns about food safety in affected countries. It has also brought to the forefront the need for access to safe and hygienic food. As people stock up food in their homes, packaging material has been put under the spotlight. What will this shift in consumer habit mean for the packaged and processed food industry? Sarah Jacob discusses on We The People.