Discrimination Against India's Outcastes Remains Endemic
Rights activists in India say the country's centuries old caste system continues today despite legislation passed more than a half century ago making the practice illegal. The Dalits, an ethnic group formerly known as "untouchables," faced the worst discrimination under the system.
Fire Beneath Their Feet
All over the world there are fires in underground coalmines that have been burning for decades. Reporter Nilanjana Bhowmick reports from India's coal region on what it's like to live on ground that’s been spouting smoke and fire for 90 years.
Now or Never
As the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government in India prepares for a second term in office, the new environment minister has very many environmental challenges waiting to be tackled. As the Indian economy grows in leaps and bounds, unfortunately, so are its environmental problems. In this edition of Development Dilemmas, we will try focus on the various aspects of climate change in India and try to find out what sort of a role can India play in leading the environmental movement in South Asia. Journalist Nilanjana Bhowmick moderates this session with some experts working on climate change issues. Dr. Vandana Shiva is an activist and author; Pradip Saha is the editor at large of the environment magazine, Down To Earth; Rohit Gandhi is an environmental journalist and filmmaker; and, Dr. Sabat is from the Delhi Environment Department. (30:00)
Traditional Indian dancers campaigning for their rights.
Postubala, an Indian woman in her mid-forties, is a "Nachni", a traditional dancer. 'Nachnis' are found mainly in eastern India, and though the tradition has a long history, going back possibly several millennia, many modern-day nachnis like Postubala endure what is effectively a life of exploitation. When Postubala was young, about seven or eight, her mother sold her to a 'rasik', a patron. She was then trained to sing and dance, and ever since has had to earn money for her 'rasik'. Nilanjana Bhowmick went to Kolkata and heard how Postubala and some of her fellow nachnis have founded an organisation to campaign for better treatment.
