We The People

This past week saw the #MeTooIndia movement take over social media in India with women calling out their harassers online. It has been a very emotional, difficult and angering last couple of days. Countless women have shared their stories of sexual harassment in the workplace especially in media and entertainment. Well-known editors and journalist have been accused as have poets, writers and directors. These charges have largely been sparked by actor Tanushree Dutta's allegations against colleague Nana Patekar. But it quickly moved beyond Bollywood after allegations of sexual misconduct against comedian Utsav Chakaraborty which in turn saw journalists start sharing their stories of harassment. On this episode of We The People, we are saying the time is up and it's time for things to change.

On We The People, we debate why India has not had a #MeToo moment. This past week we have seen a high profile hearing of allegations of sexual harassment against US Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Bill Cosby's conviction. We have also seen Padma Lakshmi speaking about sexual abuse she faced years ago. But when closer home, former actor Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar, stalwarts of Bollywood remained silent. Moreover, social media has exploded asking Ms Dutta why she chose to speak up a decade after the incident. On We The People, we take a look at what happens when women speak up about sexual abuse and what happens when they don't. Is the 'due process' we are meant to follow, tilted in favor of the powerful? Does speaking up hurt the survivor more? And what will be India's watershed moment?

On We The People, we debate why India has not had a #MeToo moment. This past week we have seen a high profile hearing of allegations of sexual harassment against US Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Bill Cosby's conviction. We have also seen Padma Lakshmi speaking about sexual abuse she faced years ago. But when closer home, former actor Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar, stalwarts of Bollywood remained silent. Moreover, social media has exploded asking Ms Dutta why she chose to speak up a decade after the incident. On We The People, we take a look at what happens when women speak up about sexual abuse and what happens when they don't. Is the 'due process' we are meant to follow, tilted in favor of the powerful? Does speaking up hurt the survivor more? And what will be India's watershed moment?

The Ganga is in crisis and has been for several decades. All the towns and villages along the Ganga continue to dump their industrial and household waste into the river. The BJP included the cleaning of the Ganga in its 2014 election manifesto and the government has announced a new draft law for cleaning the Ganga which includes an armed force for protecting the river with prison terms and fines for those who pollute it. But the river was still one of the most polluted rivers in the world. A CAG report last year claimed much of the funds earmarked for Ganga clean-up had not been used, projects had not been finalised and there was no long term-plan that had been finalised. On this episode of We The People, we ask How polluted is the river? What is the government doing? What has been done so far? What are 'clean river' criteria? Can the government meet its targets? Why is it difficult to clean up the Ganga?

This past week saw a massive victory for equality in India with the Supreme Court decriminalising homosexuality. It's been a long and difficult legal journey. But petitioners and activist say that this is only half the battle won. On We The People, we discuss with activists, lawyers and members of the LGBTQ community that even though the law has changed, what about mindsets? Many challenges remain as they still face discrimination in the workplace and in finding housing.

The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on a PIL challenging India's adultery law. Currently, according to the 157-year-old section 497 of the IPC, a man can be punished with up to five years in prison, for having an affair with a married woman if it was without her husband's permission. As it stands, the woman in the case cannot be punished as she isn't viewed as an active agent, rather as a man's property. Also, a married woman doesn't have the right to file criminal charges if her husband is the one having an affair. The government has asked the court not to change the law but make it gender neutral to protect the sanctity of marriage. While the National Commission for Women has asked it be made a civil offence, as it's between two individuals. While the Court's final decision is awaited, the justices have already observed the law is anti-women and it's archaic. This issue must also be looked at in relation to privacy. Today, we take a look at some of the issues this case has raised. In an age when the relationship landscape has changed and conventional labels may no longer apply, should adultery even be a crime at all?

The rapes at a children's shelter in Bihar's Muzaffarpur has shocked and shamed the country. A place meant as a shelter for girls where over 34 of the inmates from ages 7 to 17 were repeatedly raped, abused and subjected to terrible violence. What has emerged is a sickening story of a nexus between the man who ran the shelter, Brajesh Thakur, and politicians, police, bureaucrats and even goons. It's a story that has left us all horrified and has raised so many questions. We ask how did this happen, how many other places is it happening in, how can we prevent something like this from ever happening again and how do we ensure the perpetrators are punished.

Earlier this month, the tragic death of Anissia Batra, a 39-year-old air hostess took place in Delhi. The police are investigating whether Anissia committed suicide by jumping off of her terrace, while her family maintains she was murdered by her husband. But what has also emerged is a story of a young, independent woman, who was from an army family, her father a retired major general who was in an allegedly abusive marriage for two years there are even allegations of dowry demands being made. The question many are asking is, why would a woman who friends describe as headstrong, independent, professionally successful endure such a marriage. This also raises larger questions about urban women and the silence around domestic abuse. What recourse do they have and while we have strong laws on dowry and domestic abuse how effective are they? Where have they failed and, also are they misused?

This week the Supreme Court hearing the case for entry of women to Sabarimala temple in Kerala observed that women have as much right to pray as men and even questioned whether this was a form of discrimination against women. Another significant case due in Supreme Court is on the issue of Nikah Halala which was meant to protect women from being divorced lightly but has been totally misused and corrupted. Both these cases bring up broader issues regarding the treatment of women in religion. Many of our religious practices today have evolved in a deeply patriarchal society and as such women are often oppressed and not treated at par with men. In this episode of We The People, we debate whether putting restrictions on women is something that is common to all religions and whether having more women in positions of power can bring about a change in their favour.