The Everyday Violence of an Internet Shutdown
In 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Commission declared internet access a basic human right. Not surprisingly, India was among the 17 countries that strongly opposed this resolution. The country continues to be the largest violator of internet rights, executing at least 84 shutdowns in 2022. Internet shutdowns are the legal pause to internet services, which immediately impact the citizens in a particular location as almost all the day-to-day activities in the modern world are integrated into a digital world. While some internet shutdowns are brief, for example, the state of Rajasthan in India has shut down the internet to prevent cheating in exams at a district level, some are longer. India had the longest internet shutdown after the bifurcation of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh due to the abrogation of Article 370. It lasted for 552 days. India is witnessing yet another prolonged internet shutdown in Manipur, where the internet was turned off on May 3 following a conflict that quickly turned into civil strife, primarily fuelled by hostilities between two communities in the state, Meiteis and Kukis. The reality of the conflict is yet to see the light of day due to a heavy crackdown on independent media, compounded by language and geographical barriers. As of July 4, the Manipur government has reported that 142 people have been killed due to the violence involving the Meitei and Kuki communities. Read More

 

 

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Economic history has long been chronicled through a male lens, emphasising the contributions of men and their viewpoints. Just look at the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. It has been awarded to 90 men since 1969 — and just three women. The first, Elinor Ostrom, won in 2009 for explaining how local communities, most of them in developing countries, govern themselves. The second, Esther Duflo, won in 2019, for her experimental work in alleviating global poverty. Claudia Goldin was the third woman awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2023 for her work explaining why women earn less money than men even when they do the same work. Economics science is focused on studying systems for producing economically valuable goods and services efficiently. Natural and human resources are measured by economists in money terms. Claudia Goldin was awarded for her work explaining why women earn less money than men even when they do the same work. A woman’s work in the family contributes to the well-being of humans in society: it does not add to the growth of the economy and GDP. Ms. Goldin’s research reveals that women, who also attend to the caring work required for families at home, are considered less valuable in economic enterprises because they cannot commit to continuously working full time for their employers, which men can. Read More

Discover the transformative impact of the SAKSHAM project in West Bengal, led by Swaniti Initiative and Digital Empowerment Foundation. Uncover the key findings from Swaniti's baseline study, revealing challenges faced by tea garden workers in accessing government 'Social Protection' schemes. Witness the initiative's strides in addressing issues such as Aadhar card discrepancies, lack of caste certificates, and slow government processes. With 1309 Aadhar corrections, 1000 scheme linkages, and a total withdrawal of INR 500,000 from MiniATMs, SAKSHAM is paving the way for positive change, empowering communities, and enhancing the efficiency of social welfare programs." Read More