South Asia Citizens Web

There had always been in Pakistan the Deobandi school of thought, co-existing easily and without conflict with other denominations and sects of Islam. The occasional sectarian clash did occur but it was rare. However, under the impact of the Afghan ‘jihad’, in which Deobandi religious parties stood in the forefront, sectarianism and bigotry acquired harder edges in Pakistani society.

Rajya Sabha TV on 21st Nov. 2014 organized a very good discussion in its ‘DESH DESHANTAR’ programme on the subject “Business of Faith” in the context of latest episode regarding arrest of so called Baba Rampal in Haryana.
This programme ought to be helpful to all those who are engaged in the fight against evils of blind faith and superstitions which are one of the prime causes of political, social and economic exploitation of the poor and ignorant mass of India. I wish this discussion to (…)

November 2014 briefing by The India Study Group:
Faster environmental approvals and land acquisition feature on most newspapers’ "top five" priority lists for India’s economic reforms. But will these reforms actually achieve what they’re intended to achieve?

Health Activists held a Press Conference on 19^th November to draw attention to the range of issues raised by the recent tragic and completely avoidable deaths of more than a dozen women and the critical condition of many more following their laparoscopic sterilis​ation in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. The manner in which the surgeries were performed, in complete violation of all standard operating procedures, and subsequent events amount to grave violation of some very basic health rights of the affected women.

We, Health networks, Coalitions, Women’s Groups and concerned citizens, are deeply shocked at the negligence of the Health Department, Government of Chhattisgarh that has led to the deaths of 16 women and the critical condition of 47 other women following procedures of laparoscopic sterilisation in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.