Articles by Joshua Raymond Fernandes

Joshua Raymond Fernandes is dedicated to community-driven initiatives that advocate for the rights and well-being of people and the environment. He currently works with Dira Foundation, whose initiatives support marginalised women and children, and have co-founded 'Local Threads,' a collective focused on combating individualism by fostering safe, local communities.

“Are we not 'ladki bahins' too?” wonder some women from migrant families of Chinchpada, Airoli in Thane. When the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched, these low-income families hoped to benefit from the scheme, which promises women a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 if their family’s annual income does not exceed Rs 2,50,000. This initiative seems like it would offer some relief to low-income migrant worker families in Chinchpada. However, it raises the question: who qualifies as a 'Ladki Bahin' (ladki bahin means dear sister)? A key barrier is the lack of essential documentation, such as Aadhaar cards,…

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