Thousands of women in the region are sold within their countries, across borders and trafficked to the Middle East and other parts of the world.
Why Workers Are Leaving Delhi: When Policy Needs to Align With Ground Reality
What emerges from this moment is not a singular crisis but a layered one, shaped by global disruptions, local cost pressures, and structural vulnerabilities. Workers are leaving Delhi not because the city has stopped offering work, but because it has become increasingly difficult to live sustainably in the capital city while working.
Price Tag of Deception: How Fast Fashion Exploits South Asia’s Supply Chain
It is high time South Asian countries not only pass stricter environmental regulations but also strictly enforce them, making sure that there is no factory releasing waste water without adequate treatment. Besides, upholding legally binding labour standards must also be a priority together with ensuring safety of the workplace environment.
How Korean Noodle Brands Captured the Indian Market
The Korean noodle story is not really about noodles. It is about what happens when cultural influence travels faster than commercial infrastructure and faster than regulatory awareness. India's Gen Z - and possibly that of other South Asian countries - did not wait for brands to tell them what to eat. They watched K-dramas, did spice challenges, and built market demand that brands, regulators, and consumer education campaigns have simply not kept up with.
Security for Whom? Needed a Human-Centred Approach to ‘National Security’
If “security” is to have real meaning, it must be grounded in the lived experiences of those it is intended to protect. This requires a shift from state‑centred metrics to civilian‑centred measures of stability; where continuity of daily life, equitable protection, and psychological well‑being are integral to how we define security.
More on Open Forum
India's chili diplomacy shows it's a true friend of Bangladesh
During the recent green-chili crisis, India helped Bangladesh control and stabilize its local market prices through chili exports, even though that led to its sharp price rise back home.
“I survived a plane crash in Karachi that left 98 dead”
How disorderly politics and economics combined to create the roiling mess that sank the domestic infrastructure ecosystem, including the airlines, in Pakistan. This was after all, one of seven Pakistani planes to crash within a decade.
Before Uniform Civil Code, how about a Uniform Women Code?
In the proposed UCC now being formulated, all aspects that are related to protecting the privileges of women should be taken out and included in a new Uniform Women Code.
A Uniform Civil Code will help Muslim women in India fight injustices
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has proposed a Uniform Civil Code for India where all citizens would have the same law apply to their economic, social and religious rights. If such a law were to be enacted, it would ensure that injustices done to Muslim women in India were wiped out in one stroke.
The real meaning behind Modi's Hindu Invocations at new parliament inauguration
It is high time that every Indian, whether Christian, Muslim, Sikh, or Buddhist, recognize that India is essentially a country based on Hindu ethos, even as people belonging to other religions are at total liberty to follow their religious dictums. Any objection to Modi following Hindu religious practices for inaugurating the new parliament is not appropriate. Modi has shown the way and blown away the unreal secularism phobia.
Maharashtra power tussle: Question marks over the Supreme Court judgement
There was clearly visible cheap politics on all sides but the Supreme Court seems to prefer the politics of the Thackeray faction rather than the legislative majority.
Challenges in Ladakh: Appropriate technology can improve standard of living
Ladakh is endowed with an excellent water supply through pristine rivers which flow across the land. This water can be used in the greenhouses to grow vegetables, fodder and other produce.
New US visa policy for Bangladesh not against Hasina government
As a result of this new US policy, a major change is being observed in the policy of the Western world towards Bangladesh. If the BNP boycotts the elections as a result of the new policy, they will not get any support from the Western world - that is clear.
Modi should also espouse the cause of hapless Tibetans
Modi’s laudable efforts for world peace by trying to bring accord between Ukraine and Russia would be an incomplete exercise if he fails to espouse nearer home the plight of the Tibetans and highlight their pain
Modi, in his tenth year as PM, should launch a war on corruption and dynasty politics
With just around 12 months before the next parliamentary election, Modi has little time to lose in meeting the expectations of the people in eradicating corruption.
A farcical democracy? Need to restore inner-party democracy in India
Otherwise, democracy will remain meaningless-- once in five-year exercise by ordinary citizens who are represented by MPs/MLAs who themselves are bonded labourers of a controlling coterie.
Need to sensitise Indian Muslims to the knowledge economy
India has made school education free and compulsory for all and even provided additional privileges to minority and traditionally disadvantaged communities. However, the spread of education among the Muslim communities still lags behind the mainstream for a variety of reasons, mostly economic, regressive social practices, and an inadequately enlightened clergy.
Need to build trust among Rohingyas first for smooth repatriation
The Rohingyas will not consent to reside in the "model village" that is being constructed in Maungdoo for the rehabilitation of the Rohingyas. Most significantly, not a single Rohingya wants to go back to Rakhine until they can be assured of citizenship.
Artificial intelligence says ‘India has emerged as significant player in global AI landscape’
ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Bing on Edge are the trending experimental uses of artificial intelligence, harnessing its powers to write reports and collate information.
