All Indians Matter

The ‘Great Resignation’ is well and truly on. Several people are quitting their jobs, choosing to prioritise themselves, their passions or simply dump the traditional definition of achievement for whatever counts as happiness for them. A recent study said 86% of employees plan to resign this year with 61% willing to accept a lower salary or forgo a promotion for overall well-being and happiness. This trend is likely to continue across industries, seniority and age groups. What does this mean for industry and what are the mindset changes we’re seeing in talent? S Venkatesh, a human resources veteran and President – Group HR for RPG Enterprises, speaks to All Indians Matter.

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For a rape survivor, the trauma is repeated time and time and time again. First, there is the assault itself. Then comes the trauma of reporting the assault to apathetic policemen. Then a long drawn out judicial battle. And amid all this, the victim also battles societal taboos and mindsets that blame the victim for the crime. No wonder it’s so difficult for rape victims to get justice in India. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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Business leaders have been vocal about colleges producing engineers that are not industry-ready or employable. Indian engineering education falls short on various parameters, from a syllabus that does not include analytical or critical skill development to colleges being focused solely on their bottomlines. Dr Vijay Wadhai, who’s been principal and professor at reputed engineering colleges and the founder of several R&D labs and centres of excellence, speaks to All Indians Matter.

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The collapse of the bridge in Morbi that killed at least 135 people is indicative of the quality of India’s infrastructure. There’s been a lot of emphasis on creating infrastructure, but it also fail frequently. That can result in tragedy and also be a drag on economic growth, business, investment and even social progress. Our creaking infrastructure desperately needs an overhaul. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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The protests led by women, demanding the right to not wear the hijab and other freedoms, in Iran are being watched with great interest in India. In India, too, women are leading movements asserting their right to choose. This includes the right to wear the hijab in educational institutions. These might seem like contradictory protests but they’re not. At their core, they’re both about the freedom of choice. Women’s rights activist Kavita Krishnan speaks to All Indians Matter.

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India’s religious and cultural diversity has huge economic significance. We have at least 51 festivals a year, 17 of which are nationally recognised. These festivals are a vital part of the overall economy, accounting for a large portion of the annual sales of especially consumer goods and have a huge role in keeping consumption and employment going in tough times like these. In the latest episode of All Indians Matter, I take a look at India’s festival economy.

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India logs 2.6 billion e-commerce deliveries a year and the last-mile emissions per delivery, 285 gCO2, are way higher than the global average of 204 gCO2. Five cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai – emit more CO2 from last-mile deliveries than the last-mile emissions of entire countries such as France and Canada. Gowri Omanakuttan and Atul Gopal, who’re part of the #EVmyDelivery campaign to reduce such emissions, talk to All Indians Matter.

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US President Joe Biden was hailed for pardoning thousands of Americans convicted of possessing marijuana, re-energising the demand to legalise its use. In India, too, there has been a longstanding demand to legalise marijuana for recreational use. Already, crores of Indians use cannabis products, of which marijuana is one, according to a government study. A sensible policy approach and sound regulation would not only reduce the burden on the criminal justice system but also prove to be a huge revenue spinner for the government. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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This is one of a handful of episodes during the recording of which I wept. Bhanwar Meghwanshi, a Dalit, was fanatically devoted to the RSS, ready to go to war for its cause and even die for it. He joined the RSS as a child, eased into it by his school teacher and indoctrinated through games and music. Bhanwarji was jailed for trying to participate in the kar seva at the Babri Masjid site and he worked hard to spread the Sangh’s ideology. But, over time, he began to be subtly reminded of his Dalit-ness and was told he couldn’t become a pracharak because he was from a lower caste. The food he prepared for RSS members and priests was thrown away because it would “pollute” them. Exposed to its true face, disillusioned and shattered, he attempted suicide. Bhanwarji left the RSS and spent years trying to find himself. Eventually, there was an epiphany and he has since devoted his life to uniting Indians of all religions, castes and sections. He is also a civil liberties activist and works with Dalits, Adivasis and nomadic tribes. He tells his story to All Indians Matter.

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India has had above normal rainfall this year, so why are some states witnessing drought conditions and others a drop in farm output? It’s because the monsoon had a skewed distribution, resulting in rain deficits in the northern Gangetic plain and a roughly 1% decrease in overall acreage of the kharif crop. This could result in a further rise in food prices and some shortages. Please listen to the latest episode of All Indians Matter.

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