India is witnessing a worrying decline in the social status of the Dalits, coupled with an economic decline. This makes the marginalised groups even more vulnerable. Viewpoint by Dr Ram Puniyani This article is the 13th in a series of joint productions of South Asian Outlook and IDN-InDepthNews, the flagship of the International Press Syndicate. […]
Covid-ravaged India Hard Put to Cope with the Crisis
By Shastri Ramachandaran* There is no dearth of novels and films that conjure up images of a dystopia of the dead and the dying. The reality in India though is indescribably grimmer than anything imagined or picturised in fiction or films. Not even the most authentic and devastating accounts of the plague and Spanish flu […]
A Story of Nightmare for Patients in India’s Government-Run COVID-19 Hospital
By Tarique Anwar This report was first published in News Click on May 8, 2021. NEW DELHI (IDN) — The healthcare staff at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital in Delhi frantically clear the facility of bodies. One of the biggest government-run COVID-19 hospitals in the national capital, it is swamped by patients, triggering chaotic situations […]
Modi Govt. Abdicates Responsibility in the Face of Skyrocketing Death Toll
Viewpoint by Prabir Purkayastha* NEW DELHI (IDN) — The COVID-19 pandemic continues its brutal march across India. Figures of new infections reached 355,828 on May 3—which accounted for more than 62 percent of the world’s new infections on that day. As hospitals run out of beds, ICU capacity, and even oxygen, these factors have been […]
Taking Lessons from LTTE New Narco-Terrorism Network Takes Shape in South Asia
By Sugeeswara Senadhira The writer is Director (International Media), Presidential Secretariat, Colombo. COLOMBO (IDN) — Indian security officials believe the interception of a Sri Lankan boat carrying 300 kilograms of heroin, five AK-47 guns and ammunition off the coast of Vizhinjam in Kerala in South India on March 25 points to a network of narco-terrorism […]
The World Must Stand with Tibet
Viewpoint by Lobsang Sangay The author is President of the Tibetan-government-in-exile, called as Central Tibetan Administration. DARJEELING, India (IDN) — Tibet, famously called the roof of the world, a state in the Himalayas neighbored by India and China has for long been in a state of the tussle with Beijing. China lays the claim over […]
India Driving Toward ‘Authoritarianism’ — Media Being Gagged
The following is a revised version of the previous report titled “India Falls from ‘Free’ to ‘Partly Free’ in Freedom Index” By Ditsa Bhattacharya, NewsClick and ICF Team NEW DELHI (IDN) — India’s status fell from “free” to “partly free” in the Freedom in the World 2021 report released on March 3. India’s score in […]
Farm Crisis Fuelling India’s Farmers’ Protests
By Manu Moudgil* NEW DELHI (IDN) – On February 6, protesters blocked roads at an estimated 10,000 spots across India as part of the ongoing movement against the new farm laws enacted by the national government last year. For over two months, the most populous democracy in the world has witnessed what is being called one of […]
India Has an Ambitious Agenda as UN Security Council Member
By Devinder Kumar NEW DELHI (IDN) – With the start of the New Year, India joins the 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member for the eighth time. Along with Norway, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico, India will have a two-year term: 2021-2022. Of the 15 UNSC members, five occupy a permanent seat. […]
Three Women: Stories of Indian Trafficked Brides
Viewpoint by Sreya Banerjea* LONDON (IDN) – “I tried to escape in the middle of the night,” Mahira** recalled. “With a small packed bag, I tiptoed towards the door thinking that he was asleep. Suddenly, he grabbed me from behind and attacked with a cutlass.” I sat, stunned, as she lifted her saree and revealed […]