Female prisoners are ‘supplied’ to male inmates of West Bengal jails, sexual abuse is commonplace and hundreds of children are born in prison. But the women are too scared to speak out. “As of January, this year, there were 196 children living with their incarcerated mothers across West Bengal prisons,” says Tapas Kumar Bhanja, citing… Read More The hidden scandal of rape in Indian prisons
The episode reveals that when a strong executive decides it wants something, even something that is dangerous and unconstitutional, there is little resistance from within to stop it. Many will not know how diabolical the electoral bonds enterprise was, and it is for their benefit that this is being written. Aakar Patel India’s electoral bonds scheme… Read More Modi Government’s Tryst with Electoral Bonds Should Neither Be Forgotten Nor Forgiven
Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was the most vocal leader of longtime Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He was serving a 19-year prison sentence for conviction on a charge of extremism. Outlook Web Desk A portrait of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny are pictured as people demonstrate near the Russian embassy to France after authorities reported… Read More Who Was Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny, what do we know about his death in Prison?
The electoral bond scheme came under the scanner soon after it was launched for being opaque and possibly routing unaccounted money to political parties. Elisha Vermani Electoral bonds worth more than Rs 570 crores have been sold in the latest phase of the electoral bond sale that lasted from January 2 to January 11, 2024,… Read More Rs 570 Crore of Electoral Bonds Sold in January Alone, 94% in 1 Crore Denomination
“I’m very excited and honoured to serve as the editor-in-chief of openDemocracy. I’ve long been a fan of openDemocracy’s global footprint and editorial commitment to rigorous investigations and incisive coverage of the biggest stories of our time. As newsrooms around the world are threatened by censorship, intimidation and economic disruption, the cause of independent media… Read More openDemocracy appoints Aman Sethi as editor-in-chief
The dark-money junktanks, and the Atlas Network, are a highly effective means of disguising and aggregating power. They are the channel through which billionaires and corporations influence politics without showing their hands, learn the most effective policies and tactics for overcoming resistance to their agenda, and then spread these around the world. This is how democracies become new… Read More What links Rishi Sunak, Javier Milei and Donald Trump? The shadowy network behind their policies
Himalayan pastoralists find they cannot access state welfare schemes, forest rights and even ration cards that they are entitled to. Some like Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Nazir Ahmed Dinda have become RTI activists in an attempt to seek accountability from the state Abdul Rashid Sheikh outside his house in Doodhpathri: ‘To build our kotha , we don’t… Read More Rights on paper, struggles on ground
By ANDREW JONES It may be a new year, but America remains mired in a myriad of national dysfunction. The list is endless: A close ally continues to an immoral human rights disaster, Republican madness is ramping up at the behest of Donald Trump and we suffered through yet another return by the father of North and Saint West who… Read More America’s addiction to awful people
In a disquieting turn of events, a video featuring Devendra Pratap Singh Tomar, the son of BJP stalwart Narendra Singh Tomar, has triggered a political maelstrom. The video, now viral, has ignited an intense debate among the political echelons and could potentially be a pivot in the impending 2024 elections. Unveiling the Scandal The video… Read More Viral Video Scandal Involving BJP Leader’s Son Sparks Political Controversy
With short amulet-covered spears made of blackened chonta palm, GIS mapping phones, walkie-talkies and wearing black and green uniforms, the A’i Cofán seem to merge into the jungle as they march silently down a path through their land. Calling themselves the Indigenous guard, the 27-strong group patrols a territory of 243 sq miles (630 sq… Read More ‘Leave the gold in the ground’: Ecuador’s forest guardians mobilise against illegal mining in Amazon
After the truth-shower 