Policy Room: Recent Episodes
SPRF India
Freewheeling and engaging conversations with stalwarts from the fields of current affairs, governance and public policy on topical themes. New episodes coming soon! #FactNotOpinion #BackedByFact #EngageAskEncourage
Welcome to a new episode of the Policy Room. In this insightful conversation, we sit down with Chehak, a dedicated feminist development practitioner. With extensive experience in youth suicide prevention and policy advocacy at the Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Chehak also co-builds RADIATE (Radical Action for Disability Advocacy Towards Equity). RADIATE aims to create access to healthcare and livelihoods for disabled women and gender minorities, considering various intersections of caste, class, and religion.
Join us as we explore the meaning of capacity building in mental health, the involvement of young people in co-designing mental health programs, and the importance of trust and relationships in addressing youth mental health. Chehak shares successful youth-led initiatives, discusses the role of intersectionality, and addresses the challenges faced by young people in low-resource settings. We also delve into innovative approaches for promoting youth mental health awareness and the power of participatory learning in enhancing knowledge and attitudes among diverse stakeholders.
In this episode of Policy Room, we delve into the intricate web of India-China military and economic relations. Join us as we sit down with Anushka Saxena to explore these complex bilateral ties' historical context, current state, and future trajectory. We'll unpack the distinct approaches each country takes towards managing tensions, the impact of their military strategies, and the nuances of their economic policies. Discover how regional geopolitics, border disputes, international alliances, and public opinion shape the policies and actions of these two powerful neighbours. Tune in for a deep dive into the policies that drive the world's most significant bilateral relationship and gain insights into what lies ahead for India and China.Anushka Saxena is a China studies Research Analyst with the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme at the Takshashila Institution in Bengaluru. Her research interests revolve around the Chinese People's Liberation Army and India-China and China-Taiwan relations.Papers mentioned in the episode:
1. https://takshashila.org.in/research/operations-jointness-pla-wtc-anushka-saxena
2. https://ippr.in/index.php/ippr/article/download/214/93/329
3. https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/a-gradual-approach-on-defence-spending-101676298678102.html
इस पॉडकास्ट एपिसोड 'पॉलिसी रूम' में, हम भारतीय सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में कानूनी पत्रकार विवेक वार्ष्णेय के साथ बातचीत करते हैं। इस क्षेत्र में 30 साल से अधिक का अनुभव रखते हुए, उन्होंने न्यायिक प्रशासन जैसे कई कानून संबंधित विषयों पर व्यापक रूप से लेखन किया है।
इस एपिसोड में, हम उत्तराखंड विधान सभा द्वारा पारित यूनिफार्म सिविल कोड विधेयक के प्रभावों पर उनकी विशेषज्ञ जानकारी और राय की खोज करते हैं, जो विवाह, तलाक, लिव-इन रिश्ते, उत्तराधिकार, और बच्चों के अधिकारों को सभी धर्मों के लिए समानता सुनिश्चित करने का उद्देश्य रखता है। हम लिव-इन रिश्तों के पंजीकरण की अनिवार्यता, इसके कानूनी प्रभाव के बारे में विचार करेंगे।
In this podcast episode of the Policy Room, we converse with Vivek Varshney, a legal journalist at the Indian Supreme Court. With over 30 years of experience in this field, he has written extensively on various law-related topics, such as judicial administration.
In this episode, we seek his expert understanding and opinion on the implications of The Uniform Civil Code Billpassed by the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, aimed at ensuring equality of marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, inheritance, and children's rights for all religions. We will delve into the mandatory registration of live-in relationships and its legal ramifications.
This episode is in Hindi.
Read Vivek Varshney's paper on our website: https://sprf.in/%e0%a4%89%e0%a4%a4%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%a4%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%96%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%a1-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%ae%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%a8-%e0%a4%a8%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%97%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%95/
In this episode of the Policy Room, Fahad Nahvi and Jitendra Bisht interview Prabhu Mohapatra, engaging in a thought-provoking dialogue. They explore the profound impact of historical narratives on policy formulation, particularly concerning labour and marginalized communities.
Dr Mohapatra, a distinguished scholar specializing in the history of labour, migration, and identity formation, shares insights drawn from his extensive research and involvement in establishing the Archives of Indian Labour. Together, they delve into the significance of historical perspectives in shaping policies aimed at addressing the needs of marginalized groups.
Throughout the discussion, Dr. Mohapatra elucidates the nuanced connections between past struggles and contemporary challenges, emphasizing the indispensable role of historical awareness in crafting effective policy frameworks. From the history of modern India to environmental and legal histories, the conversation traverses diverse realms, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of historical inquiry in informing policy decisions.
In this episode of the Policy Room, Fahad Nahvi and Eric Chopra converse with the eminent feminist historian Uma Chakravarti. Together, they delve into the intricate intersections of gender, history, and policy in the Indian context.
Uma Chakravarti is an Indian historian and filmmaker. Since the 1980s, she has written extensively on Indian history, highlighting issues relating to gender, caste, and class and has been associated with the women’s movement and the movement for democratic rights since the 1980s.
In this conversation, our guests navigate the historical landscape to unravel how gender has been historically constructed within policy frameworks in India. They dissect the implications of gender-based policies in contemporary times, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities that shape the discourse around gender and policy.
Uma Chakravarti's writing can be accessed here: https://zubaanbooks.com/bookauthor/uma-chakravarti/
SPRF's work on gender and policy:
https://sprf.in/understanding-the-socioeconomic-conditions-of-fisherwomen-in-the-fish-supply-chain-of-northern-andhra-pradesh/
https://sprf.in/the-unsung-heroes-asha-workers-battle-with-barriers-within-indias-healthcare-landscape/
https://sprf.in/valuing-unpaid-work-womens-role-in-care-economies/
https://sprf.in/effects-of-maternal-incarceration-on-the-child/
https://sprf.in/shimmers-in-a-dull-room-experiences-of-home-based-women-artisans-in-the-kaamdani-craft/
https://sprf.in/marital-rape-exception-challenges-and-arguments/
In this episode of Policy Room, Prof. Udayan Das joins Riya Singh Rathore to look at South Asia's collective post-colonial history, how that has made refugees "dangerous" in the collective imaginations, and the role of communalism in that narrative. The episode ends by briefly touching on the upcoming problem of climate refugees and exploring possible policy recommendations.
Link to Udayan's chapter: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-16-6144-0_2
SPRF's Work on Refugees:
- https://sprf.in/houses-of-tarp-and-bamboo-exploring-the-fires-in-rohingya-refugee-camps/
- https://sprf.in/photo-archive/unsettled-identities/
- https://sprf.in/refugee-protection-in-india-in-the-absence-of-specific-legislation/
- https://sprf.in/a-question-of-citizenship-the-case-of-the-chakma-hajong-refugees/
The growing ease of online transactions and cheaply available internet has led to an increase in the credit card borrowing of Indians over the last few years. Such increases in credit spending against future income have led to a rise in unsecured lending- a practice wherein banks offer loans (personal loans or credit card loans etc, ) based on a client’s creditworthiness without taking any collateral. While such loans may benefit a consumer in the short term, concerns remain about banks' transparency to correctly assess creditworthiness and write a large volume of loans.
Fahad Nahvi and Yashoroop Dey are in conversation with Furquan Moharkan, who is a business journalist with eight years of experience and a best-selling author. In his earlier stints as a reporter with the Deccan Herald and a columnist at The Banker, he wrote on banking, financial markets and regulatory affairs.
They discuss the risks of easy credit consumerism in India, contextualised against unsecured lending and banking practices. Therein emerges a discussion on the ability of consumers to make prudent financial decisions when faced with asymmetric information on spending habits and easily available credit.
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Post pandemic travel brings with it an acute awareness of the modern urban triad of tourism, responsible choices, and replicating global experiences in local contexts. This gives India the unique opportunity to redefine the way we travel, how the hospitality sector responds, and how it intersects with our growing awareness of sustainable lifestyles.
In this episode, Neha Simlai, Founder-Director of SPRF, talks about how the recent shift to off-beat travel changes the dynamics between local social and natural ecosystems and the modern-day tourist. Therein emerges a policy push for better infrastructure on hand and adoption of responsible tourism on the other.
In this episode, we talk to renowned environmentalist Ashish Kothari on the need to reorient mainstream economic models towards Localisation in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Here we discuss not only the existing governmental policies with regards to being 'Atmanirbhar' and 'Vocal for Local' but also look at communities and collectives in India that have been doing so for years. Join us as we dive into questions of how do alternative policies scale up into the Indian policy ecosystem? Or how do we merge localised practices into a universal framework? Listen in to find answers!
Ashish Kothari is a founder of the Indian environmental group Kalpavriksh. He has taught at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, coordinated India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan process, and served on Greenpeace International and Greenpeace India boards. An active participant in people’s movements, he helps coordinate the Vikalp Sangam Global Tapestry of Alternatives processes and Radical Ecological Democracy network.
In this episode, we speak to Prof. Avinash Collis regarding his research on the economics of digitisation. Here we discuss economic value created by digital services like Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, etc. and the incentive mechanisms in the digital space. We dive into questions such as how does one measure consumer surplus on social media? Or how does one value one social media platform over the other? Listen in to find answers!
Prof. Avinash Collis is an Assistant Professor at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. He's also a digital fellow at Stanford University's Digital Economy Lab, and the MIT initiative on the digital economy. He holds a PhD in Management Sciences from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of technology.
A demographer by training, Dr. Srinivas Goli (presently a New Generation Network Scholar at the University of Western Australia) joins us in the Policy Room to contemplate the relevance of the Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilisation and Welfare) Bill.
Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in the country announced this contentious bill as an instrument to control and stabilise the population growth in the state. The bill proposes a two-child norm, failing to adhere to which would deny people government jobs, subsidies, and promotions. It also offers incentives for people with two children or less. Moreover, the experts have deemed the bill counterproductive and “coercive” since it advances the rates of sex-selective abortions given the son meta preference. The proposed bill has sparked debates and triggered reactions from various groups.
The frontlines in India sometimes get mischaracterized according to social standing and privilege. Who is missing from the list of people standing at the front of the queue for vaccines? Today's episode of Policy Room was recorded in April 2021, during the thick of India's second wave but Dr VR Raman's words are still as pertinent as they were a short while ago.
How do borders come to exist? And why does conflict seem to never end around the legitimacy of these demarcations? Historian and writer, Dr Kyle Gardner, joins us on this episode of Policy Room with illuminating stories about the geopolitical nature of borders in the context of China, India, and Tibet. Learn how the Britishers truly 'mastered' map-making, and how every rock matters when it comes to making borders.
Interesting reads referred to during this episode:
- The 310 Miles Breaking Brexit-bloomberg.com
- A Farmer Moved a 200-Year-Old Stone, and the French-Belgian Border- New York Times
- Winston's Hiccup: Blame Jordan's Odd Border On A Very Liquid Lunch- VinePair
We sit down with Tech Policy professional Yash Agarwal to discuss the growing influence of social media on the civic lives of Indians, the nuances of being an individual in the very nascent online ecosystem, and the urgent need to empower many more via digital connectivity.
Recommended Readings by the guest -
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You and the Algorithm: It Takes Two to Tango - Nick Clegg
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Why Software Is Eating the World - Andreessen Horowitz
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The Facebook Oversight Board’s First Decisions: Ambitious, and Perhaps Impractical - Evelyn Douek
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Traceability is Antithetical to Liberty - Rahul Matthan
Please note that Yash's views are strictly personal.
Dr. Heidi Riley, Adjunct Research Fellow at University College Dublin and Kings College London, and Riya Singh Rathore discuss the nuanced role that women play in armed conflicts by diving into the context of Maoist insurgencies in India and Nepal. The conversation explores the several assumptions made about women that participate in armed groups and the need for gender-specific solutions to resolving armed conflict.
Today's episode covers the new Farm Laws that have caused much divide in opinions across the nation and throughout the world. We sit down with Dr. Manish Kumar, Assistant Professor at the Delhi School of Economics, to unpack this important issue and explore the policy context behind India's agricultural sector.
The NHFS' findings on India's health and nutritional outlook are alarming. Childhood stunting, wasting and instances of anaemia have worsened in most states. We are joined by Dr. Dipa Sinha of Ambedkar University Delhi, to discuss India's post-pandemic health and nutrition prospects especially in light of Budget '21.
Nikhil Mathew, and Dr. Satyaki Roy of the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), continue their discussion on the privatisation of the Indian Railways and its effects on efficiency and labour.
Nikhil Mathew, Research Associate at SPRF and Dr. Satyaki Roy, Associate Professor at the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), discuss the conditions that led to the privatisation of the Indian Railways and where the future of this massive institution is headed.
SPRF invites Dr. Pronab Sen, Programme Director for the IGC India Programme and the former first Chief Statistician of India, to discuss his expectations and recommendations for the upcoming Union Budget to propel India's economy into a strong recovery phase.
In the third and final part of SPRF’s Policy Room Podcast Sustainability series, we speak with Neha Simlai who peels back the layers from the world of policy and governance that shapes sustainable consumption.
Neha is a sustainable value chains specialist and currently leads the market engagement in India for deforestation commodities at IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative. She is the Founding Director at Social and Political Research Foundation.
Drawing from her extensive experience in Sustainable Supply Chains, Environmental Safeguards, and how these interact with Human Development and public policy, Neha sums up this series by helping us understand the bigger picture of putting the wheels of a sustainable future in motion - including how policy efforts can help us achieve our sustainable goals.
Today, in part 2 of our ‘Sustainability’ series, we focus on the role producers play within the world of sustainable market behaviour. From greenwashing, offset projects, to fair trade practices - tune in to our discussion about the responsibility producers have towards supporting sustainable consumption.
In this first episode of our three-part series on Sustainability, we explore what 'sustainable consumption' means for consumers, how buyer behaviours and patterns change over time, and how we can consume mindfully in our daily lives.
In PolicyRoom's first episode we discuss the topic of industry growth and investment in post-COVID India, and the journey towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.
2.21% of the Indian population has a disability; that is almost 3 crore people. However, according to the World Bank, this number is anywhere between 4-8 crores. These disputed numbers highlight a larger issue of disability which is complex, dynamic, multidimensional and contested. India has the highest number of people with disabilities in the world, and people between the ages of 10-19 make up a majority of this demographic. This first podcast in a series on Disability in India engages with this complexity as Anhad Hundal speaks to Shorya Sood about his experiences navigating the city of Delhi. Shorya was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at an early age and uses a wheelchair. He is currently a student at Delhi University.
This second series on disability highlights the issue of inclusive education in India. Anhad Hundal speaks to Sushmita Mitra, an inclusive educator in a private school in New Delhi, who has worked in the field for over two decades, Ms. Mitra shares her experiences working with children with disabilities and their parents and provides insights into the future of imparting quality education.
In 2016, the Rights to Persons with Disabilities Act was passed by the Government of India to replace the earlier PWD Act of 1995. The Act increased reservations for persons with disabilities from 3% to 4% in government jobs and from 3% to 5% in higher education institutions. The Act also expanded the list of recognised disabilities from 7 to 21, including many previously ignored conditions. The last decade also saw several new schemes to support PWDs, including scholarships, GST concessions, and the Unique Disability ID or UDID. And yet, despite these shifts in policy, persons with disabilities face considerable discrimination and inequality of opportunities in India. In this podcast, the third in SPRF’s series on disability, Kausumi Saha speaks to Nipun Malhotra about his life with arthrogryposis, his activism, and his thoughts on disability policies in India.
Although studies have suggested that prison education in any form significantly reduces recidivism rates across the world, the issue remains a neglected conversation in India. In this podcast, Kausumi Saha speaks to Ms Eleena George and Dr Gauri Sharma about the curriculum that they are now teaching in Tihar Jail. This innovative and inclusive 90-day curriculum was designed using everyday items like comic books, alphabet charts, board games, and playing cards. Gauri and Eleena talk about their teaching experience, the state of prison education in India, issues faced by ex-convicts, and more. Tune in now.