COVID-19: Women workers bearing the brunt Article Millions of workers in the informal economy in Delhi were adversely affected due to COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown implemented in a short notice of few hours in March 2020. There were horrific tales of workers losing large percentages of their income, incurring massive debts to meet their basic needs and running the risk of exposure to the deadly virus while trying to earn a living. This article highlights how informal workers, especially women, have been among the worst sufferers of the pandemic facing sudden shrink in livelihoods without any support system and how they are finding it difficult to recover even after the gradual reopening of the economy following the easing of the lockdown. The article suggests some medium and long term measures that can contribute to a more just and equitable post-pandemic situation. By Shalini Sinha , Avi Singh Majithia and Malavika Narayan
Neglected history of a dwindling identity Article Nupa Amaibis/ Maibis are the men shaman of Manipur.The aim of this research is to explore the possible reason of the lower representation of Nupa Amaibi in Lai Haraoba spaces and reduction in the number of their population. By Santa Khurai
If you’re not engaging, shut up Portrait Dolly Kikon is a feminist scholar and supports the political participation of women in the Naga community (India). By Pragati K.B.
Not about rights and equity The National Education Policy 2020, quietly approved without a parliamentary debate amidst the traumatic COVID-19 pandemic, does not address the urgent concerns of millions of students. Its thrust on ‘consolidation’ and centralisation is detrimental to equity and inclusion, and goes against the constitutional federal structure where states make their policies. The policy contradicts the mandate of the Right to Education Act and denies quality ‘inputs’ to those who need them most. Reconfiguring the school structure for early diversion into minimalist vocational courses, it promotes ‘multiple pathways’ including Open Schooling even at primary stage. Newer hierarchies of ‘skills’ versus ‘knowledge’ are forged within a deeply segregated and stratified system. Moreover, disregarding diverse socio-economic realities of disadvantage and deprivation, and without a commitment to girls’ transformative agency, it threatens to push them out into instrumental trajectories of learning and life. By Anita Rampal
Rural economy no sidekick to urban India Distress migration of youth from rural India to cities due to lack of livelihood opportunities and rising climate impacts is deeply worrying for Indian economy. Although the present government announced several measures such as rural housing, toilets and better road network for rural development, they have failed to yield overall progress in rural sector. Besides, impetus to budget allocations for rural livelihood mission and employment guarantee schemes has not shown promising results. Constant downslide in the rate of economic growth, business investments and employment indicate an inherent flaw in the country’s development framework. The rural infrastructure calls for a redesign so that it boosts rural economy through integrated planning of fostering small businesses, job creation, expanding irrigation network, agriculture and allied sectors. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic further exposes the dangers of lopsided development where a major part of the country lives under the shadow of shining urban India that has taken an unsustainable path to prosper. India needs a deeper analysis of what is going wrong and where. By Jyoti Awasthi
Perspectives Asia #9: Two Sides of the Medals This issue of Perspectives Asia examines the intersections of sports and politics. We look at how, through sports, identities are shaped, myths and heroes are born, and unconventional truths are buried. pdf
Rescuing traditional queerness: An interview with Santa Khurai Interview “I am not going to compromise my indigeneity!" In this interview Santa Khurai speaks about preserving the fabric of Northeast queer traditional cultures as the ‘roots’ of societal nourishment and empathy, about her YouTube documentary on the ‘god from underneath the water- the ‘Nupa-Amaibi’ and about being a Northeastern queer person, sharing her knowledge of the ancient indigenous queer traditions and identities that are under constant threat of extinction. By Alessandra Monticelli
A roadmap into an uncertain future The current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led thousands of youth, mostly migrant workers from the Northeast region, to return home facing uncertainties regarding their future in terms of jobs and careers, and their livelihood. Hence, there is a need to engage with them and explore some strategic paths to address this issue and find some directions. For this article, information from 20 returnees from the eight states of the region has been gathered through digital communication. The returnees include those who were working in hotel industry, restaurants, food courts, retails, malls and business processing outsourcing (BPO) firms. This article looks at the challenges faced by these returnees and comes up with some concrete observations and recommendations regarding their possible livelihood activities for the government, including the state governments of the respective Northeast states, for the general public and for non-governmental organisations. By Alana Golmei
This land is mine In this article, the authors explain that the recent amendments to India’s citizenship law, and the processes for listing Indian residents and Indian citizens in national registers together constitute an unprecedented threat to India’s secular democratic constitution. It explains that this is the first time a legal regime is being established which differentiates based on religious identity, which strikes at the heart of the humanist and inclusive framework of the Indian constitution. By Harsh Mander and Mohsin Alam Bhat
Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019: A step towards undoing the Indian secular democracy The CAA is not the first and by no means will be the last attempt to further the agenda of Hindu Rashtra. One can anticipate many such moves meant to keep the hatred against Muslims simmering. However, the divisive politics will only hurtle India onto the treacherous road of relentless anxiety, uncertainty and injustice, exposing million of its own citizens against the vagaries of statelessness. By Neha Dabhade