For a long time now, we have paid attention and spoken about the subject of gender based violence and domestic violence. Although the focus has mainly been married couples, one also needs to look at young, unmarried couples in India and recognise what is happening beyond the legal framework. The best way of understanding the...

Human breast milk has the greatest potential impact on child survival, since it provides unique nutrition and immune support that babies need to strive and thrive. However, the awareness on the importance of breastfeeding and early nutrition is still poor among new mothers in India with many avoiding feeding colostrum (first milk) to the baby.

International organisations have for long advocated the need to perceive reproductive rights through the prism of human rights. While a rights-based approach to the subject does not yet exist, various international conferences even in the distant past have time and again referred to family planning, and reproductive health and rights as human rights issues....

Around 2.5 million people in India are living with the disease of cancer. Every year, over 7 lakh new patients are registered, according to the National Institute of Cancer research and prevention. The good news is support for cancer patients are now strengthened further. Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) has decided to do so in...

A significant improvement in school attendance has been reported by IPM India, as a result of its programs directed at reduction and elimination of the use of child labour by tobacco growers. The project on “Prevention of Child labour and Rural Development in tobacco growing villages of Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka” undertaken through a voluntary...

While privacy problems on the internet persist globally, women especially in India feel threatened by cyber offensives and crimes online. Trolling, privacy violation and infiltration are a few among the many concerns shared by the women users of the internet.

Part 1 of our article spoke about violence against women and girls and how digital media can catalyse the much needed change in mindset. The aim is to mobilise the youth to address issues around gender-based violence, particularly violence against women and girls (VAWG) as this is a problem that is not only accelerating...

There is still prevalent a shameless abuse of human rights. Entrenched patriarchal social norms, which continue to perpetuate violence. If the growing incidence of crimes against women is to be checked, one of the first steps we need to take is to bring about a change in the attitude and perception of our youth....

Sometime after observing World Menstrual Hygiene Day, a community development nonprofit, The Desai Foundation in collaboration with Shantaben Vidhyabhavan announced the expansion of its “by women, for women” Sanitary Napkins Program in Gujarat, India.  The program which provides training, employment and access to sanitary napkins, is expanding the second branch, inorder to reach an additional 250,000 women and girls. The product manufactured and sold through this...

The Maternity Bill has been in force since 1 April, bringing in a host of issues in its wake. There have been over the economic forces that come into play while implementing the tenets of the Act, with HR managers across disciplines trying to find solutions to their specific requirements within the framework mandated by the...

Abortion remains highly restricted in India. The governing law, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (1971), permits abortions before 12 weeks of pregnancy by a registered medical practitioner or before 20 weeks of pregnancy with the approval of two registered medical practitioners, but only if the mother or child's mental or physical health is in danger. A slightly more liberal amendment is under consideration, but still does not allow abortion if the woman simply wishes to terminate the pregnancy.

As part of a Global Trends study, Ipsos examined global attitudes toward the role of women, parenting, and family across 22 countries by interviewing 18,180 adults. Majority of Indians surveyed (64%) think role of women in society is to be good mothers and wives revolving around home, according to the 2017 survey. When it comes to...