The ‘Politics of the Unprotected Body’: Why Women From Northeast India Remain Vulnerable to Violence
Repeated racial and gender-based abuse against women from Northeast India points to a deeper structural failure of the Indian state to provide equal protection to all citizens. Law enforcement agencies, courts and policymakers often acknowledge such incidents, yet their racial dimension frequently disappears from legal and institutional responses, producing a pattern of unequal citizenship. Women from the Northeast thus occupy what may be called the “unprotected body,” formally included within the republic but repeatedly denied the full protection of its institutions.
Study Warns of Major Earthquake Risk in North, Northeast India
A new geological study finds that, contrary to earlier belief, the Indian Plate beneath the Tibetan Plateau is breaking and twisting deep below the surface. The discovery has serious implications for understanding earthquake risks across South and East Asia, including Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal and China.
Tribals in India Still Struggle for Basic Healthcare
The health outcomes of India’s tribal populations lag behind the national average, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of government data. More tribal children die in early childhood, and many of those who survive suffer from malnutrition.
China’s Mega Dam in Tibet Raises Concerns Over Ecology, Livelihoods
China is building the world’s largest dam on a major river in Tibet, which originates from a glacier in the northern Himalayas and flows downstream as the Brahmaputra River, crossing into India before merging with the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh. The project is expected to significantly impact crucial ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people, including those in India and Bangladesh.
India Gains Forest Cover but Loses Dense Forests: Report
One of the most concerning revelations in the recently released India State of Forest Report (ISFR) is the complete loss of 3,656 square kilometres of dense forests between 2021 and 2023. While it shows a net gain in overall forest and tree cover, this substantial loss of dense forests is deeply concerning for several reasons.
Hindu Nationalist Groups Now Control 62% of New Sainik Schools: The Reporters’ Collective
The Indian government has transferred control of 62% of new Sainik Schools to groups associated with Hindu nationalist organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to The Reporters’ Collective. The move comes after the 2021 initiative allowing private entities to operate Sainik Schools under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, aiming to expand the network of these military preparatory institutions.
Why India-Myanmar Border Shouldn’t Be Fenced
The central government’s decision to fence the India-Myanmar border, purportedly to bolster national security by terminating the Free Movement Regime (FMR), may not necessarily achieve its intended security objectives. Instead, it could detrimentally impact the welfare of communities living along the border and create more security challenges, as indicated by experts and the affected populations themselves.
India Faces Over 225,000 Cancer Deaths Annually
A new study published in the Lancet medical journal has brought to light a distressing reality: over 225,000 Indians died from cancer in one year due to preventable causes. This statistic places India second to China in such deaths, calling for immediate action at both individual and governmental levels.