We The People

In today's edition of We The People, a panel of experts discussed how to deal with the pollution crisis in Delhi. The experts discussed what citizens could do on their end to reduce pollution as the government's policies such as smog guns and sprinklers continue to fail. While politicians continue the blame game, it becomes clearer each day that the fight against pollution cannot be won just by relying on politicians and we as citizens need to band together to fight for our right to breathe.

There has been a rise in the cases of stray dogs attacking people across India. These disturbing headlines have put the focus on man-animal conflict playing out on the street outside. On 'We The People' tonight, we look at ways to solve the man-animal conflict and how can there be harmony between human safety and animal rights.

Following the horrific rape and murder of the Kolkata doctor, the West Bengal government has passed the 'Aparajita' Bill, introducing the death penalty for rape in cases where the victim dies or is left in a permanent vegetative state. The bill also calls for time-bound probe, fast-track courts and special task force. Executions in India are rare, but did death penalty to Nirbhaya's rapists changed anything? As protests rage on the streets, is death-for-rape the real deterrent or is it just a knee jerk reaction? Watch as panellists discuss on We The People.  

Of all the ways one can imagine about missing out on an Olympic medal, Vinesh Phogat's certainly falls in the rarest of rare category. The wrestler was disqualified from the women's 50kg final at the Paris Olympics 2024 for being 100 gram overweight. From the protest on the streets of Jantar Mantar to a near-podium finish in Paris, Vinesh's journey is in a league of its own. On We The People, we discuss the trials, tribulations and triumphs of women in elite sports.

As Wayanad picks up the pieces in the aftermath of the most recent landslides. The images of death, destruction and devastation serve as a lasting reminder of the fact that we now live in the age of climate change. From Himachal to Uttarakhand to Kerala, the fallen trees, and cut-up mountains are now closing in on us across India. The question is are we prepared to sow what we reaped?

The recent spate of hit-and-run cases has put the focus back on fast cars, uncontrolled speeds, irresponsible drivers, and a law that hangs in balance. The two recent cases of hit-and-run accidents have gripped the attention of the country for all the wrong reasons. The big question is with a weak law and its selective implementation, will the accused, who hit and run, ever see the full face of the law? Will there be no chase for the rich and mighty?

Be it the Hathras stampede in Uttar Pradesh or the roof collapse at the Delhi airport, Hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu, train collision of the Kanchanjunga express or the hoarding collapse in Mumbai, preventable tragedies are routine in India. While they are quick to make headlines as the dead get counted and families compensated, the story fades into oblivion. On 'We The People' we ask, is human life cheap in India? And when will we ever learn to value human life?

The National Testing Agency in India has made national and international headlines lately. The NEET, UGC-NET exams were cancelled following a series of irregularities in marking and subsequent allegations of a paper leak. UGC-CSIR was also delayed due to logistical reasons and the NEET PG was delayed as a precautionary measure. Needless to say India's nodal testing body, the NTA, has failed India's students. But, the question is with lakhs of students' lives and futures at stake, is the removal of the NTA head enough or is there a need to rethink the existence of the NTA and the whole process of exam conduct in India?

Global pharma giant AstraZeneca has admitted that its COVID-19 vaccine developed by researchers from Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India can cause a rare side effect of blood clotting and low platelet count. AstraZeneca said this in a statement responding to a class action lawsuit in the UK which claims the vaccine caused deaths and severe injuries in 51 cases. On the latest episode of We The People, top Scientists and experts discuss all the concerns.

Singapore and Hong Kong have taken off Everest and MDH masalas from their shelves, citing food safety concerns. It's not just masals, Cerelac was in the dock after a report suggested that Nestle adds sugar only to baby food in India. Also, Bournvita is no longer categorised as a 'health drink. This episode of We The People is a cry out loud for better, more transparent food safety in India.

The grand festival of democracy, the 2024 general election has begun. The proverbial red carpet has been rolled out for the voter and while there are some raring to go, some aren't - the urban voters. Of the 50 Parliamentary constituencies that recorded the lowest voter turnout in the 2019 elections, 17 were urban. 30 crore eligible voters did not vote in the last general election. The Election Commission says that voter turnout across most metros was lower than the national average of 67.4%. On We The People, we ask why is voting not fashionable in urban India? Is it privilege, apathy or just political indifference?

In this week's 'We The People', we discuss how social media influencers are 'influencing' the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The election is being fought amid soaring temperatures on the ground and in the cool and comfort of social media, with political parties and personalities using the might of social media influencers to increase their influence in the upcoming election, be it culture, fashion, or fitness. Political parties are tapping into influencers to push their political message. So, while every brand is buying your attention at a price, why not our netas? But the big question is, 'Can the rules of a free-market economy apply when it comes to driving narratives in a democratic election?

The recent controversy around Vistara flight cancellations and delays has put the focus back on we the people at the mercy of the airlines. For how long will Indian airline carriers continue to take you for a 'ride'? And where does the buck stop?

Kate Middleton's recent cancer diagnosis has once again put the focus back on rising cancer in young adults. Data shows that not only is cancer on the rise, but is also rapidly rising in younger people. But cancer is not a data story, cancer is a human story. On We The People, we tell the cancer story not to alarm but with a hope to raise awareness.

Eight people were arrested in Delhi for the sale and manufacture of fake 'life-saving' cancer drugs. Two of them worked at a cancer hospital. Earlier this month, fake antibiotics racket was unearthed in Hyderabad. Essential medicines like diabetes, blood pressure and painkillers worth a crore of rupees were found to be fake in Ghaziabad. Chalk and starch were found in antibiotics in Uttarakhand. There has been a crackdown on fake medicines across four states in just the last month. On We The People, we decode the fake medicine epidemic and how worried should we really be?

The Supreme Court upheld the two-child policy in Rajasthan. India is now the most populous country in the world overtaking China but the fertility rate is on the decline and the population with or without these measures is expected to start declining by 2060. Is such a policy progressive or coercive?

Farmers are back on the road. The last week has seen yet another bitter standoff between the security forces and the farmers, who were tear-gassed, subjected to rubber bullets, and shut out of Delhi's fortified borders. On We The People, we decode what the farmers are demanding - whether it is viable and what the farmers' demand for an MSP or minimum support price means for you.

Uttarakhand is the first state to enact a Uniform Civil Code believed to be a template that many states will soon adopt. Several of the provisions have raised constitutional concerns of privacy and personal liberty. Enacted in the name of gender justice and rights for women, who does the UCC really benefit? Isn't the UCC intrusive for live-in? What about same-sex couples? And most importantly while the state wants to meddle with affairs of home and heart, what about rights of live-in couples? Is it all duty and no rights?

A day ahead of the Ram temple Pran Pratistha ceremony, preparations are in full swing and security has been tightened. On this special edition of We The People, we talk to the people who have travelled from various parts of the country to attend the Ram Temple inauguration. We bring you the enthusiasm and cheer around the big day.