One in every four Indians to die by suicide in 2021 was a daily wage earner. In 2020, daily wage earners accounted for more than 35,000 of the nearly 150,000 recorded suicides in the country.

More than 90% of India’s workforce is engaged in the informal sector. That’s a huge number in a country with 1.4 billion people. A large number of them survive on whatever they are paid after a hard day’s work, and they lead very difficult lives. Finding work is a daily struggle. Then there is social discrimination and exploitation. Many get sucked into the debt trap.

Are welfare schemes run by the government not adequate? What can be done to make their lives easier? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what’s causing the increase in suicides among India’s daily wagers.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

India’s startup ecosystem is among the largest in the world, and it has grown exponentially in the last six years. Government data puts the number of recognised startups in the country at more than 70,000 this year – from less than 500 in 2016.

But now funding is drying up, and investors are becoming increasingly picky when parting with their money. Experts say there are several reasons why the startup ecosystem is running into headwinds. A lot of startups are on a high cash burn model, and layoffs have been huge this year. Most startups are also unprofitable.

So is this a temporary pause to conserve cash and focus on building a strong foundation, or have global macroeconomic factors such as rising inflation and supply chain disruptions derailed growth? What can be done to sail through the downturns?

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Political parties in India, the largest democracy in the world, often try to win over voters by offering them free gifts such as television sets, mixers and grinders, electricity, and food rations. The list is long, and the trend not new, but a fierce debate over freebies is now raging in the country, especially after the issue reached the Supreme Court.

It’s a complex debate in a country where hundreds of millions of people still live below the poverty line. Can India really draw the line between welfare schemes, subsidies and freebies? Many experts point out that irrational freebies are doled out from public funds and put state finances under tremendous financial stress. Others say many of these schemes are life-changing interventions for the poor.

What is the way forward, and what can be done to ensure political parties are more mindful when making these promises? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether India can afford a freebie culture.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

The cheetah, declared extinct in India in 1952, is set to make a comeback in the country this year. The world’s fastest land animal is being translocated from South Africa and Namibia, home to the world’s largest populations of the wild cat.

This is the first time a large carnivore is being moved across continents, but can the ambitious project succeed? Many Indian conservationists are sceptical of the idea, and call it a cosmetic project. Some also question the priority being given to the cheetah, which isn’t a part of the national wildlife action plan.

Will the African cheetahs really roam free in India’s forest reserves soon? Will their numbers grow? And will they readily adapt to the different ecosystem that the country offers?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in bringing the cheetah back to India.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

In August 1947, India won its independence from British rule and split into two new states – India and Pakistan. The turmoil and trauma that followed marred the birth of the two newly independent nations.

Hundreds of thousands were killed, and an estimated 15 million were displaced, as Muslims migrated to Pakistan and Hindus crossed the border into India.

The issue continues to be debated with a sharp clash of narratives, but it is the individuals and families on both sides of the border who still carry painful memories of the displacement.

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we revisit and relive some of those memories of pain, nostalgia, anguish and hope, and talk to those who are helping to preserve these stories for future generations.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Last year, nearly 160,000 Indians gave up their citizenship. In 2020, India was ranked highest by the United Nations among countries with the largest diaspora populations, with over 18 million Indians living outside the country.

What’s shaping these trends in India? According to experts, it is mostly the prospect of better education or employment. But many say that in recent years, growing concern over pollution and corruption have emerged as the strongest factors to move out. Some even point to the changing social environment of increased polarisation within the country.

So is this trend here to stay? What about the smaller but definitive group of Indians returning to the homeland? What’s their story of reverse migration?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss why are so many Indians moving abroad.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Traditionally, the luxury industry in India has used exclusivity as a way to maintain its mystique and desirability. But younger generations of luxury consumers are bringing in new trends. Attitudes are changing about what quality really means. Is it sustainable? Does it belong to an ethical brand? Is it a wholesome experience rather than just an expensive label to adorn?

In a market that is projected to cross $200 billion by 2030, what is the new meaning of luxury? Is it more inclusive of the rural artisans that form one end of the supply chain? And is it expanding to newer luxury shoppers through affordable retail options available through online stores?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how luxury fashion is changing in India.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Egg freezing is a relatively new concept in India. Despite a lot of social stigma associated with it, the procedure is gaining attention and emerging as a growing trend in urban areas. A lot of women are now opting to freeze their eggs for social reasons, such as pursuing their dream careers, or waiting to marry at a later age.

But does egg freezing guarantee motherhood when you are finally ready for it, and how costly does it get? What are the wins and the pitfalls associated with the procedure, both mental and physical?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the growing trend of egg freezing in India.

The practice of tipping is widespread across the world. But when to tip, how much and to whom are questions that often stump people. For example, in the US, it is customary to tip a restaurant server anywhere between 15-25%. In Japan, however, tipping is considered rude.

But should restaurants be collecting a mandatory service charge, irrespective of whether you are happy with the service you have received? This has become the core of an unsavoury debate in India, after a government order banned restaurants from levying a default service charge on food bills. The restaurant association is challenging this ban, saying it isn’t illegal and that the amount is important for staff welfare. Many also argue that Indians are not always “generous tippers”.

So, should diners have the discretion to accept or reject charges beyond their food bill? And will removing a service charge hurt an industry already suffering from the ill-effects of the pandemic?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether a service charge should be mandatory when eating out.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Do you want to find out how much your colleagues earn? Pay is a major factor in deciding whether one takes up a job, or even applies for it in the first place, yet the moment one is on a company’s payroll, all talk about remuneration is shrouded in secrecy. But that is now changing in many organisations around the world.

Pay transparency has its advantages, but does it also lead to jealousy among co-workers, sapping them of motivation? Would everyone be receptive to this level of openness at the workplace? And what impact does it have on gender pay gaps within organisations?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether companies should follow an open salary policy.

Presenter: Devina Gupta