It must be understood that welfare spending is essential to partly redress the widening inequality in Indian society
Cross-Border Marriages Blur the India-Pakistan Divide
Within the Muslim community, such marriages often occur among extended families due to cultural acceptance of cousin marriages. With maternal aunts, uncles, and cousins living across the border, arranging these alliances is relatively easier. Hindu cross-border marriages, however, are far less common due to the dwindling Hindu population in Pakistan, driven by its theocratic state policies.
A Rare Pakistani Military Man Who Talked And Fought For Peace
Once I asked him why Pakistan did not stop terrorism against India, the biggest roadblock in the peace process. He replied quite candidly that some in the Pakistani establishment believed that if the terrorism tap was closed, India would never talk about Kashmir. Then he said something which left me stunned, “You see, even if orders are given to close the tap, some amount of terrorism may continue..
Bihar Elections: A Clean Sweep Amid Concerns Over Electoral Fairness in India
In Bihar, too, like has happened in earlier elections in Maharashtra and Haryana for example, the winning side will have to contend with the allegations that they romped home with an umpire whose role remains hotly contested, placing the fairness of the entire electoral process under a cloud. The allegations are more than a case of sour grapes and have now become a growing part of recent election campaigns and results, putting Indian democracy at risk
CSR in South Asia: What It Means to the Corporate and Social World
An important pillar of CSR is the role of non-government organisations (NGOs) as partners in channeling funds to social sectors. While NGOs are committed to social development, their work is severely constrained without funding support. CSR funding strengthens the NGO ecosystem, while corporates gain a credible channel to fulfil their ethical and social commitments. Governments, in turn, benefit from effective partnerships with corporates and NGOs, enabling shared responsibility for social-sector goals.
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Ameliorate plight of cross-border prisoners: Joint appeal by South Asian organizations
Release prisoners on completion of jail term, decriminalise inadvertent border crossings, especially for fisherfolk and minors
Misuse of Indian Army uniforms has dangerous consequences: Army’s distinctiveness must remain paramount
Uncontrolled proliferation of the existing combat uniform has led to many cases of breach of security of military establishments and personnel and, while it has been a cause of concern, not enough action has been initiated
Save the children: Millions of children victims of acute malnutrition, hunger and diseases in Afghanistan; girls shut out of education
The country is already one of the worst places in the world to be a child, And, in the past year, the situation has become grimmer because of crippling poverty, violence, and drought, according to UNICEF.
Militants, separatists better than opposition: Imran Khan's remark shows Pakistan's deteriorating democracy
His remarks came days after some media reports indicated that the Pakistan Army could try to facilitate a dialogue or deal between Khan and the ruling coalition to create a consensus on early elections, which remains Khan's primary demand, writes Shraddha Nand Bhatnagar for South Asia Monitor
Pakistan’s ruling coalition dealt yet another blow, its legitimacy in crisis
The decision to oust Imran Khan ultimately allowed him to hijack the anti-establishment tag in his favour. Khan’s repeated reference to the government as the “imported government” and to the military as “neutrals” further reinforced his perception as a popular civilian leader
India's 15th President Droupadi Murmu, hailing from the tribal community, says she embodies dreams of the country's poor
In that sense, her choice by the dispensation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, otherwise seen as an autocratic leader who has been accused of undermining many of India's democratic institutions, is seen as nothing sort of revolutionary, both by the standard of the country's conservative political and social norms
Why is India resilient to oil volatility despite overdependence on imports?
In India over 75 per cent of electricity is generated from coal-based thermal plants. Oil accounts for less than 2 percent of electric power, writes S. Majumder for South Asia Monitor
South Asia does not value its manhours: Change working hours
The simplest solution will be to change working hours by advancing it to 0700 hours and ending the workday at 1530 hours, so that the entire working hours are during daylight hours, writes Amb Sarvajit Chakravarti (retd) for South Asia Monitor
China, India woo Nepal’s political parties ahead of general elections
Under no circumstances would New Delhi like to see a break in the recent momentum in bilateral relations generated through increased economic and developmental cooperation, even if there is a change of the government in Kathmandu later this year, writes Shraddha Nand Bhatnagar for South Asia Monitor
Pakistan gets breathing space with IMF deal, but will it bite the bullet of structural reforms?
For Pakistan's political elites, it has become a cycle of securing loans from allies to fund its ever-ballooning deficit and again approaching the IMF when funds dry up, writes Shraddha Nand Bhatnagar for South Asia Monitor
With rising global food costs, first I2U2 projects to tackle food insecurity in South Asia and Middle East
The I2U2 will work in six areas – water, energy, transport, space, health, and food security – combining the expertise and the resources of the four nations, Modi said
Selfies in bedrooms, swimming in pool: Protestors in Sri Lanka explore besieged presidential palace
A short video, which went viral on social media, showed people searching for leftover food in the kitchen.
Perspective
Taliban summarily executed over a hundred suspected ISIS militants, says HRW; Taliban says ‘baseless’ as fears of internecine war intensify
The bodies recovered by the residents showed evidence of torture and brutal executions, including some with missing limbs and ropes around their necks. Others had their head beheaded or slit throats, according to the report
Nepal to form fresh citizenship rules after withdrawing controversial bill; could have damaged cross-border familial bonds
Nepal, which shares a long open border with India to its north, west and east, enjoys cultural, historical, and civilizational bonds with India for centuries. People across the border in both countries have been inter-marrying for ages, which led to the “Roti and Beti ka Rishta” (cultural and marital bond) tag to the relationship between the two neighbours.
