WorklifeIndia

Often referred to as the next big thing in the digital space, the metaverse has caught the fancy of big tech firms around the world. The belief is that soon we will all be hanging out in different digital worlds to work, play, attend concerts, watch movies, or catch up with a friend over coffee.

The concept is now also finding firm ground in India, where many companies have begun exploring the space. Some have launched retail stores inside a metaverse shopping mall, while some have opened up office complexes. Some have even organised weddings.

But does it all sound much like a souped-up version of virtual reality? Does India have the right technology and bandwidth to develop the metaverse, or is it just a fad that is likely to pass after some time?

Presenter: Devina Gupta

A bizarre controversy over food has grabbed the spotlight in India recently. Calls for a meat ban by right-wing politicians during a Hindu religious festival sparked a fierce debate about unwanted interference in people’s food choices.

Many see this as an assault on secularism - one of the key principles on which independent India was founded. Experts also point out that despite common beliefs about India being a largely vegetarian country, research has shown that only about 20% of Indians are actually vegetarian. Hindus, who make up 80% of the country's population, are major meat-eaters.

While the Hindu nationalist government has reasserted its commitment to secularism, there is rising fear that the call for a meat ban is just another part of the process, which aims to gradually undermine the freedom of choice that minority communities have so far enjoyed. And what about the Constitutional rights to food and livelihood?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether the state should be policing people’s food choices.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Image: A view of a meat shop, at INA market on April 6, 2022 in New Delhi, India (Credit: Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Over the last few decades, India has seen a consistent rise in heatwave conditions, and this March was the hottest India has seen in over 120 years. Weather experts say the situation can only get worse as global warming heats up the planet. There are serious long term consequences but for many, living through India’s frequent heatwaves itself is a question of survival. A majority of India’s workforce from the low-income community works outdoors or lives without proper shelter from the heat. What can be done to save lives and prevent heat-related illnesses? Is this an irreversible change, or can appropriate policies and measures make a difference?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the solutions to deal with India’s heatwave challenge.

Photo: A worker in Delhi, India, takes rest during a sweltering summer's day Credit: Getty Images

Five weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, India has been walking a diplomatic tightrope, trying to balance its ties with Moscow and the West. Many say it’s because of India’s dependence on Russian military hardware, and its old friendship with the Kremlin. Add to that around $10 billion in bilateral trade - but critics point out that India’s bilateral trade with the US exceeds $100bn.

What is driving India’s policy on the international stage? Is “strategic autonomy” becoming an outdated concept in the changing world order, or can India leverage its neutral stand to build stronger ties with all nations, and play the role of a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the choices India has made and their likely impact on its relationship with the West.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Photo: A peace campaigner holds portraits of Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky in Bhopal, India Credit: Getty Images

The global semiconductor industry is at a crunch point. Millions of products, including cars, smartphones, and network routers, rely on chips, also known as semiconductors. But the Covid pandemic and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine – both major suppliers of raw materials needed to make semiconductors – have hugely affected this industry.

The shortage of chips has resulted in huge disruptions for several industries. India, which imports most of its semiconductors, is also feeling the brunt. According to industry experts, consumer products using chips are likely to get more expensive, while cars relying on modern chips will have longer waiting queues.

So what can be done to deal with this? Should manufacturers curtail production? Or can the government’s new schemes to make semiconductors locally really help? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how can India deal with this global chip crisis.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

More than three million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February this year. A large part of the country’s population is still caught in the middle of war. They have witnessed horrific bombings, experienced loss of lives around them, and watched their homes and cities destroyed. How scarred will they remain by what they have experienced?

And what about those trained to fight or report in a conflict? According to mental health experts, distressing events during a war can lead to post-traumatic stress disorders.These could even be experienced by those not directly involved, but who consume information through online or offline media.

So what are the tips to stay safe, and warning signs to watch out for? How can therapy and counselling help? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss ways to deal with the trauma of war.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

In the last two years, the world has become accustomed to remote working. The Covid pandemic changed the way we work, with many people rarely, if ever, going into the office.

But as the world returns to normality, corporates are now facing an interesting question: Should they let the workers stay at home, bring everyone back to the office, or find a solution in between?

And what about the employees? Do they want to return and what are their concerns? What are the difficulties companies are facing in bringing them back to the office space?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what companies are doing to bring employees back to the office.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

There is a growing clamour for criminalising forced sex in a marriage. Campaigners have demanded this for a long time, but there are many in India’s strongly patriarchal society who are outraged. They believe the law will be misused and lead to false cases against men.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

More and more women are taking up professional sports across the world, becoming more visible, assertive and active in the sporting arena. But these hard-won victories are not the norm, and they invariably have amazing back stories of struggles off the field. Women starting out in any sport often have an uphill battle to wage due to limited opportunities, support and money.

In India, family obligations and a patriarchal mindset are often the biggest roadblocks. But as the BBC announces this year’s awards to honour India’s finest sportswomen, we look at their personal journeys to understand the sweat, grit and struggle that goes into every win. Is there a better way to formulate policies to encourage more women and para athletes to take up sport?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we look at India’s ace women athletes and what goes into the making of a champion. With contributions from Dr Deepa Malik, president, Paralympic Committee of India; Manu Bhaker, Olympian shooter; Deepthi Bopaiah, CEO, GoSports Foundation.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

(Photo: The India team celebrate the final of the women's 4*400m athletics event on day 12 of the Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia. Credit: Fred Lee/Getty Images)

An escalating row over the hijab, a headscarf worn by Muslim women, has highlighted India’s sharpening religious divide in recent weeks. After a government-run college barred six Muslim girls from attending classes for wearing the hijab, a debate over uniform dress code erupted across the country. The girls say the hijab is an essential part of their religious identity, which is protected by the Constitution.

Protests both in favour of and against the Muslim girls’ demands have been organised in several parts of India. Some have turned violent. An Indian court has now asked students to abstain from wearing religious clothing in educational institutions till final orders are issued, but the larger issue remains.

Is it restrictive to ask students to stick to a uniform dress code at college level? Should they be forced to choose between education and religious practices? Will it have a wider impact on the education of girl students in the country? How feasible is it to impose such rules in a nation known for its diverse cultural identity?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether India’s colleges should have a dress code.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Afreen Fatima, student activist; Sabika Abbas Naqvi, community and advocacy manager, Fearless Collective; Professor Geeta Bhatt, University of Delhi; Priyanka Chaturvedi, MP, spokesperson - Shiv Sena; Kavita Krishnan, secretary, All India Progressive Women's Association