South Asia Citizens Web

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to clarify its position regarding the controversy about the government’s proposal for a law to force the registration of non-governmental organisations with a National Secretariat functioning under the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.

A month ago, on 6 June 2014, more than a thousand workers of 23 hot roller plants in Wazirpur Industrial area in Delhi had struck work. Their demands included only what has been laid down in the law. The demands were enforcement of minimum wages, payment of overtime at double rate, provision of appointment letters, worker identity cards, salary slips, Employee’s State Insurance (ESI), Provident Fund, prescribed bonus amount, safety measures at workplace, provision of government holidays, and payment of salary in the first week of every month. The workers formed a committee by the name of Garam Rolla Mazdoor Ekta Samiti to represent them in putting forth their demands. Today, more than a month later, the workers continue to struggle for basic work conditions. In complete defiance of labour department’s instructions and outright violation of all norms, the factory owners have shown complete indifference to workers’ demands.

Narendra Modi’s instant prescriptions to cure India’s chronic troubles are vacuous or easy or both.

1991 documentary film by Deepa Dhanraj on India’s family planning programme and on women’s reproductive rights

Civil society is once again facing the awkward question as to whether it must always support an elected civilian government, regardless of its performance, to avoid the collapse of the democratic system.