THE CASTE AND ITS COST
Jaihind, Ramesh and Baburam live in Uttar Pradesh state, which reported 12,714 cases of atrocities against #dalits in 2020, the highest in India, as per the government data. The three men, from the state’s Mahoba district, tell us what discrimination and violence look like despite legal protections they have had, on paper, for decades.
LIFE IN CUSTODY | Judicial Killings in Uttar Pradesh
Police in Uttar Pradesh state arrest, on average, more than 300,000 residents each year, out of which tens of thousands end up in judicial #custody as accused. On paper, the State assumes responsibility for a person that it takes into custody, but, in reality, police and jail authorities blatantly rob detainees…
POVERTY TRAP | When Hard Work Isn’t Enough
The story of Satish Kumar, a young man who lives in a small village in Uttar Pradesh state’s Chandauli district, shows how tens of millions of people in India are trapped in the cycle of poverty, with no fault of their own. Through the story he shares in this visual, open letter, Kumar points to a critical, but unaddressed…
RAHIMA | Lives Without Healthcare
Sheeraz Ali's eight-year-old daughter, Rahima, fell ill with a "mysterious" viral fever, which spread like a wild fire among children in Uttar Pradesh state's Firozabad district in August 2021. In a letter to the district administration, Ali pours out his heart as he narrates what happened after Rahima's sickness.
D FOR DOWRY
Raj Kumar Rana, a Dalit Sarpanch from Nurpur Village in Punjab, has been committed to the development of his community. Despite his earnest efforts, state-level party politics have significantly hindered his progress. The Panchayati Raj system, designed to empower local communities and promote responsive governance, faces challenges when state politics intrude. In the case of Sarpanch Rana, his firm stance leads to unforeseen consequences for him and his family.
ON ELECTION DUTY
A tragedy strikes Mahima Gupta after her husband, Neeraj Gupta, a government employee, is sent on election duty amid a raging pandemic.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF POWER CUTS
Can We Get Rid of Power Cuts in India? Despite being a power “surplus” country, India has many parts that experience power cuts. India adds to its generating capacity every year but the effort appears to be futile. Most of the generated power gets lost during transmission. Such losses, inefficient bill collection and power thefts are among the contributing factors behind power cuts.
LIFE IN A VILLAGE
The second wave of the coronavirus in India appears to be beginning to subside in cities, but the spread of COVID-19, it seems, is shifting to villages, which look even more unprepared (than cities) to deal with the crisis.