The fatal Delhi gang rape in 2012, also known as the Nirbhaya case, is seen as a watershed moment in India’s efforts to tackle sexual violence against women. The case had sparked massive protests and led to tougher anti-rape laws.

Conversations around rape, often regarded as taboo or a matter of shame, also became more open in the Indian society. But 10 years since, signs of sexual crimes abating in India are not very encouraging. Recent government data points to a steady increase in the last few years. And justice still remains out of reach for many.

So have reforms really worked? Are societal attitudes changing to counter the deep-rooted cult of masculinity that the Indian patriarchal society harbours?

Joining the discussion are Neha Singh, campaigner, founder of Why Loiter Initiative; Manjula Pradeep, director of campaigns at Dalit Human Rights Defenders Network; Anita Abraham, criminal and civil lawyer

Presenter: Divya Arya

India is a cricket-loving nation, with the sport played all over the country - from grassroots gully (street) cricket to domestic, national and international leagues. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is the world’s richest cricket governing body, with a net worth of around $2 billion. But women's cricket in the country has struggled to enjoy the same level of recognition and funding as men's cricket.

The recent announcement by the BCCI to pay equal match fees to both men and women players has been widely welcomed. But will it change the patriarchal mindset that women players face right from the start of their cricket journey? Will it help attract more brands and sponsors to women’s cricket? And how about the annual retainership fee that still has a huge gap between men and women cricketers?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether gender pay parity will change the way the sport is played in India.

Contributors: Khyati Gulani, former cricketer, coach at Delhi & District Cricket Association; Ramakrishnan R, co-founder and director, Baseline Ventures; Ridhima Pathak, sports anchor

As mass layoffs at Meta and Twitter hit the global tech industry, many more companies have either already downsized or are expected to come out with similar announcements soon. Employees who’ve got the pink slip have all the more reason to worry as questions about an impending recession gain ground.

So what should be the immediate steps to safeguard one’s financial future? Do companies provide enough resources to plan the next career move? Are they even mindful of employees who have been laid off?

Losing a job can be devastating, and layoffs are always a gruelling ordeal. How does one endure the trauma and mental stress that layoffs often bring?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the best strategies and resources available to deal with layoffs.

Contributors: John Victor, clinical psychologist, founder of Reevin Mental Health; Prashant Pandey, business leader at Manpower Group; Deba Prasad Dhar, media professional, experienced layoff

In 2018, India’s Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex in a landmark ruling which was seen as a big victory for the country's LGBTQ+ community. But activists say attitudes on the ground have been slow to change. Members of the community still face discrimination and harassment in daily life.

While activists have called for specific laws to help fight these prejudices, several LGBTQ+ couples have also filed petitions seeking to legalise same-sex marriages. But will the struggle for the right to marry divert attention from the fight for equal rights and acceptance? And will the country evolve with changing times?

Presenter: Divya Arya

India’s festive season has prompted a surge in hiring of women for temporary jobs. But women still represent a small proportion of India’s workforce. Experts say corporate India is paying more attention to diversity in the workplace, opening many opportunities for women employees, but numbers still remain worryingly low.

India's overall joblessness is worrying: the country's unemployment rate has exceeded that of most emerging economies in recent years. Women also face enormous discrimination in the job market, and earn less than men even when they have the same qualifications and experience.

How can Indian women get better, more equitable opportunities? And is it possible to have a more diverse employee pool in both formal and informal sectors? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how can India add more women to its workforce.

In a recent ruling, India’s Supreme Court made significant additions to abortion rights, saying every woman – married or unmarried – should be able to make reproductive choices without interference from the State. The verdict has made headlines in a country known for its patriarchal society, where women have little sexual autonomy. Pre-marital sex is taboo, while marital rape is not recognised as a crime. Moreover, an alarmingly large number of women in India go through unsafe abortions.

Presenter: Divya Arya

Antibiotics are the mainstay of modern medicine and play a critical role in treating bacterial infections, and saving lives. But what happens when you take them in excess? According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance due to indiscriminate use of antibiotics has become one of the biggest global public health threats. As many as 10 million people could die each year as a result of antimicrobial resistance by 2050, experts say. And for India, this is an urgent problem.

The country is among the world’s largest antibiotic consumers in absolute volume, but doesn’t have a comprehensive surveillance system to monitor use. And resistance to drugs has become so widespread that sometimes even some of the common infections are difficult to treat. Is this happening due to self-medication, as drugs are easily accessible over-the-counter? Or is it because of over-prescription by doctors? Do patients have enough awareness about antibiotics?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how to tackle India’s antibiotics overuse.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Millions of Indian households rely on microfinance – small loans available to the poor as an alternative to traditional banking credit. For many, it is a lifeline, and often the only way to begin a business.

But despite the industry recording a 10% growth in its loan book this year, there is also a huge increase in borrowers defaulting on payments. After the pandemic, the cash crunch is even bigger, experts say. What is at the root of the crisis? Is it the exorbitant rates of interest charged by microfinance companies, or the easy availability of multiple loans to borrowers? What can be done to tackle the endless cycle of debt that micro loans create?

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Do you feel motivated at work, or does going to the office make you feel stressed?

The idea of slowly withdrawing yourself from overwork has recently gained intense media attention. It is about “quiet quitting” - that is, clocking in and out of work, doing the bare minimum, and disengaging from all other aspects of the workplace. But is this a new trend?

Experts say the concept has been around for decades, but in the wake of the pandemic, employees feel particularly undervalued - and overworked. But is this also about broader cultural attitudes and toxicity at work that is seeping into our productivity and our careers in the longer term? How can discontentment be turned into ownership? Or is this trend here to stay, with the younger generation of employees preferring a better work-life balance? Can companies do something to avoid workers quietly quitting?

Presenter: Devina Gupta

India’s roads are regarded as being among the most dangerous in the world. In 2021, road accidents claimed more than 150,000 lives - an average of 18 per hour, according to government data.

There is rarely any conversation around road safety in the country - but the recent death of Indian billionaire Cyrus Mistry in a car crash has changed that. Many are now calling for a mindset shift among Indians, who are used to traveling in overcrowded vehicles without proper safety measures, so that more people can travel at the same time.

Traffic rules don’t count for much here, but many also say that faulty road engineering plays a key role in many road accidents. What can be done to improve the design of Indian roads? How can vehicles introduce better safety measures and how can road users be made to follow traffic rules? Should the government bring in stricter enforcement of law?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how to make India’s roads safer.

Presenter: Devina Gupta