GENRE: Explainers

The past five years have seen public health crises, not only locally but globally. Considering this, it is only fair to expect that budgetary allocations for public health would be made more robust. But an analysis shows that the allocation of funds for public health has dropped, though the number of people seeking medical care from the public healthcare system has increased. Experts have pointed out that the public health budget for 2024-2025 is less than that for 2023-2024. Jan Arogya Abhiyan, a group of NGOs and healthcare professionals has released a health report card assessing the performance of the…

மலையாள திரையுலகில் பெண்கள் எதிர்கொள்கின்ற பாலியல் துன்புறுத்தல் தொடர்பான பிரச்சினைகளை ஆய்வு செய்யும் நோக்கில் 2017-இல் கேரள அரசு உருவாக்கிய மூன்று உறுப்பினர்களைக் கொண்ட நீதியரசர் ஹேமா குழு, 19 ஆகஸ்ட் அன்று அதன் அறிக்கையை வெளியிட்டது . இந்த அறிக்கை, திரைப்படத் துறையில் மட்டுமின்றி பல்வேறு துறைகளில் பெண்கள் எதிர்கொள்ளும் பாலியல் தொல்லைகள் பற்றிய விவாதங்களை தூண்டியது. சென்னையின் பிரபலமான கலாக்ஷேத்ராவில் 2023-ல் பல பாலியல் துன்புறுத்தல் தொடர்பான குற்றச்சாட்டுகள் வெளிவந்தபோது, நாங்கள் சென்னையின் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களில் உள்ள உள்ளக புகார் குழுக்கள் (ICC) எப்படி செயல்படுகின்றன என்பதை ஆராய்ந்தோம். பணியிடத்தில் பெண்கள் மீதான பாலியல் துன்புறுத்தல் (தடுப்பு, தடை மற்றும் தீர்வு) சட்டம், 2013 (POSH சட்டம்) படி, 10 அல்லது அதற்கு மேற்பட்ட பணியாளர்கள் உள்ள அனைத்து நிறுவனங்களிலும் ICC செயல்பட வேண்டும். “சில தனியார் நிறுவனங்கள் POSH சட்டத்தை அமல்படுத்தி, ICCக்களின் செயல்பாட்டை உறுதி செய்துள்ளன.…

Maharashtra assembly elections are here and Mumbai, the financial capital of India, is witnessing tough fights between various parties for 36 out of a total 288 seats. With many political defections and splits in parties, the number of contesting candidates has gone up by 28% since 2019. A total of 4,140 candidates will contest the polls, including 420 candidates for Mumbai. Amidst this politically volatile atmosphere, in all likelihood, the focus will be on who forms the next government. Issues that need to be discussed and are of relevance to people, will remain on the periphery as the political campaigns gather…

Road crashes and related fatalities have surged in metros like Bengaluru and often human behaviour may be responsible for raising the risk of traffic accidents. Since 2021, the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (JHUI) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, have been conducting roadside observational studies in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region to assess human behaviour-related risks for road crashes. The ensuing report, 'Status Summary Report-Road Safety Risk Factors' highlights the prevalence of speeding, incorrect use of helmets, improper seat belt and child restraint use, and drink-driving. Dr Gautham M Sukumar,…

Garudachar Palya is part of Mahadevapura constituency, with an area of 6.5 sq km, which includes four revenue villages — Garudachar Palya, Hoodi, Seegehalli, and Nallurahalli. These villages have stayed mostly the same, while the city has expanded around them with more organised development from the BDA. This mismatch has led to issues like narrow village lanes becoming crowded with traffic, as they’re now used as shortcuts to bypass main roads. Looking at population growth, between 2011 and 2024, the ward has seen an estimated increase of 62.24%. This rapid growth adds to the existing strain on infrastructure. Ward no…

As Maharashtra assembly elections draw closer, all one gets to hear about is political clashes, leaders switching parties, candidates promising the moon and more and an overall atmosphere of unreal declarations amidst unbelievably high decibel campaigns.  In this cacophony, Mumbaikars, who are notorious for lukewarm voting patterns, may feel more distant than ever. The city has been in a state of perpetual construction and redevelopment activities with several infrastructure projects such as the Coastal Road and Metro phase III going on. Pollution has worsened and so have condition of roads and overall quality of life.   Some of this may be…

“Namma ooru, semma joru…” – the catchy song playing from garbage collection vehicles every morning is a familiar sound for most Chennai residents. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) anthem is a reminder to take out the garbage, as the conservancy workers do their rounds in battery-operated vehicles (BOVs) collecting waste door-to-door.  Some residents diligently segregate the waste into dry, organic and reject categories before handing it over to conservancy workers. Others just get rid of the mixed waste without a thought about where it will go and what would be its environmental impact. And the cycle repeats every morning. Ever…

Leftover rotis or rice, a half-eaten sandwich or the crust of the pizza, a forgotten piece of cake or stale cheese, from wilted spinach to expired milk or pickles, excess sambhar delivered with the breakfast ordered, extra food left over after a party,  an ugly looking tomato or a blemished vegetable or fruit, an extremely salty chutney or simply, a recipe gone wrong — all such perished food or leftovers often find their way to the bin, creating a huge amount of food waste from households.   But what’s the big deal in that, one may wonder.  Why food waste matters…

On October 1st, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) launched the process of issuing e-khata on the e-AASTHI website and published the application procedure. The BBMP states that 21 lakh out of 22 lakh properties with khata in Bengaluru have their draft e-khatas listed on the site. Property owners can view their draft e-khata and apply for the final version by uploading additional information. However, many Bengalureans are confused about the process or are unable to access their property listings on the website. Here is a simplified guide on e-khata, how to apply, BBMP’s approval process and some common challenges.…

“I used to enjoy my late evening walks in our locality — just me and my music, in a neighbourhood I’ve lived in for years. After seeing the video of a man assaulting a woman during her morning walk, I now think twice before stepping out alone. I hate feeling this fear,” says Gowri*, a theatre person.   “My daughter is a medical student. After the Kolkata incident, we started worrying and asking her questions like: Do you have a separate room to rest? Are there separate washrooms? We constantly remind her to be careful and not to be alone while…