The goal of imprisonment is reformation and reintegration within society. From the 50s, prisoners were not seen as individuals with rights and there was barely any focus on their well-being and health,  let alone vocational guidance or life skills.  In 1993, when Kiran Bedi took over as Inspector General of Tihar Jail in Delhi and transformed it by introducing education, mediation, vocational training, medical aid, improved diet and living conditions. She won the Magsaysay Award in 1994.  She established the India Vision Foundation in 1994 after she was conferred the award. The Foundation has various programmes for prisoners- both former and current- on rehabilitation and integration with society, as well as a programme that works with vulnerable children of incarcerated families. Suno India's Menaka Rao interviewed Dr Bedi during the Foundation’s 29th-year celebrations. Dr Bedi spoke about how she understands prison reforms, and how reform can actually help in crime controlSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The Central government recently suspended Professor KS James, the director of the International Institute of Population Studies, that works with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to conduct important studies such as National Family Health Survey, Global Adult Tobacco Survey among others. The government cited irregularities in recruitment as the reason for suspension, as academics came out in support of him. The opposition parties claim that this suspension reflects the government’s uneasy relationship with data-based evidence.  In 2019, PC Mohanan from the National Statistical Commission quit saying that one of the reasons was the late release of unemployment data measured under the National Sample Survey Office NSSO. The data that was officially released after the election results showed that joblessness was up to 6.1% in the country then, the highest it had been for 45 years. The government has recently also rejected the data released by the World Health Organisation related to excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021.  Suno India’s Menaka Rao speaks with Dr Aashish Gupta, a demographer and a sociologist. His research looks at the interrelations between health, environment, and inequality in developing countries. He has been published extensively on various subjects including Covid-19 related mortality, life expectancy, open defecation in relation to gender, and caste among other variables.  References  'Unhappy With Data Sets,' Modi Govt Suspends Director of Institute Which Prepares NFHS Scientists, Opposition slam Centre over IIPS Director’s suspension - The Hindu Was sidelined, govt not releasing job figures, says National Statistics Commission chief PC Mohanan on why he quit - India Today Unemployment rate at 45-year high, confirms Labour Ministry data - The Hindu Global Hunger Index attempt to tarnish India’s image: Centre - The Hindu. Reversing the Gaze - Re-examining Estimates of India's Development Indicators by International Organisations Shamika Ravi writes: Statisticians can be wrong | The Indian Express Shamika Ravi is wrong. It is unfair to blame survey methodology when results disagree with a view point | The Indian Express Why is anaemia being dropped from National Family Health Survey? Centre defends National Family Health Survey-6 questionnaire, says disability data won’t change fast - The Hindu Govt initiates moves to set 'Indian' standards for stunting in children | India News Growth reference charts and the nutritional status of Indian children (PDF) Are Children in West Bengal Shorter Than Children in Bangladesh? Delayed NFHS derails health monitoring - The HinduSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Welcome to the third episode of "Chinatown Fading," an engaging mini-series where reporter Suryatapa Mukherjee continues her exploration of Kolkata's dwindling Chinese-Indian community. In this episode, she delves into the captivating world of cultural preservation through the eyes of martial arts and lion dance teacher, James Liao.   Join in as we uncover the remarkable art of lion dancing, a cherished tradition that stands as a testament to the resilience of the community. Through the vibrant anecdotes shared by James Liao, we traverse the steps of this ancient dance form, known as much for its dynamic movements as for its symbolic significance.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

"Chinatown Fading" is a captivating mini-series where our reporter Suryatapa Mukherjee delves into the vanishing stories of Kolkata's Chinese-Indian community. In the second episode of “Chinatown Fading,” she embarks on a culinary exploration that goes beyond flavours.  The episode traverses the evolving landscape of Chinese-Indian cuisine, witnessing its widespread popularity across the nation. From vibrant street stalls to upscale restaurants, the allure of Indo-Chinese dishes has swept India. However, within this culinary triumph lies a poignant narrative—the fading essence of authentic Chinese cuisine, lovingly preserved by the dwindling immigrant community. Join in as we unravel the tale of Chinese food—a journey of cultural fusion and preservation.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

"Chinatown Fading," is an enchanting mini-series that unravels the forgotten stories of the Chinese-Indian community in the heart of Kolkata. It delves deep into the alleys of history, guided by the poignant tales of those who remain. Join our reporter Suryatapa Mukherjee on a journey through time.  In the first episode, Surya's conversation with Lawrence Ho, a resident of Tiretti Bazaar, guides us through the Old Chinatown's historic streets. The fading clubs, once vibrant with life, now echo with memories. These clubs, resembling temples and churches, embody the community's unity during times of adversity, like the aftermath of the Sino-Indian War. To know more on how amidst towering temples and quiet churches, the Chinese-Indian diaspora found solace and how the community built resilience and strength, join in.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode, we delve into the recent events surrounding the internet shutdown in Manipur, India, which lasted a staggering 83 days, raising critical questions about the impact of such measures on law and order. On Tuesday, July 25th, 2023, the Manipur government finally issued a conditional order lifting the internet ban, but with significant restrictions. Initially enforced on May 3rd for a mere 5 days, the ban's extension was repeatedly justified by the government citing law and order concerns. However, the recent national outcry over a viral video of two Kuki women being sexually assaulted brought to fore discussions if internet shutdowns truly help stop violence; While there is a partial restoration of broadband services, mobile internet services continue to remain suspended. Internet shutdowns in India have gained worldwide notoriety for their arbitrary nature of imposition. To better understand the implications of this conditional restoration and the broader context of internet shutdowns, Suno India Editor-in-Chief Padma Priya reached out to conversation Radhika Jhalani, a volunteer legal counsel associated with the Software Freedom Law Centre India (SFLC) one of India’s oldest digital rights organizations. SFLC maintains the Internet Shutdowns Tracker, providing real-time data and documentation of shutdown instances across the country. In this episode, we explore the effectiveness of internet shutdowns in maintaining law and order, the significance of the imposed conditions, and the impact on freedom of speech and internet liberties in Manipur and beyond.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

To all the questions on deforestation for development projects, the Central government’s repetitive response has been compensatory afforestation. Land in the Yamuna floodplains has been used for compensatory plantation. If the ecological premise of the government's restoration projects rest much on compensatory afforestation, are there enough studies to show whether the floodplains are the best place for afforestation? Are floodplains meant to be turned into forests? Do they not have an ecology of their own that is valuable? And what happens to the existing ecosystem? Does this initiative help them? What would that do to the river that flows through the floodplains and sometimes spills out of its banks? Most importantly, what if the river overflows, as we saw in the past week? In this episode, reporter Sneha Richhariya visited the compensatory afforestation sites along the Yamuna floodplains and met the plantation labourers. She spoke to Pramod Kumar, District Forest Officer (DFO), Noida and Faiyaz Khudsar, who is a scientist in the Biodiversity Parks Programme of Centre for Environment Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), University of Delhi. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode of The Suno India Show, join Suno India's Editor-In-Chief Padma Priya as she delves into the alarming decline of press freedom in India, highlighted by the recent World Press Freedom Report. Ranking 161st among 180 countries, India's safety of journalists category hit a staggering low at 172. Padma engages in an insightful discussion with Joel Simon, a senior American journalist, press freedom activist, and Founding director of Journalism Protection Initiative, Newmark Journalism School to explore the evolving role of journalists in today's society. Discover what it means to be a journalist in this era, the crucial role of news consumers, and the pressing challenges faced by the media industry globally.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In the middle of June this year, temperatures in several parts of Uttar Pradesh had ranged between 42C and 47C during mid-June. The media reported that in Ballia and Deoria districts of Uttar Pradesh, 119 people have died from ‘heat-related ailments’. But what exactly is meant by ‘heat-related ailment’? How are heat wave deaths actually reported? How does the doctor medically certify a heat wave death? How are heatwave deaths certified if existing comorbidity is severed by heat, leading to death? In this episode, reporter Sneha Richhariya seeks answers to all such questions. She visits a district hospital and speaks to Dr. Abhishek Sharma, Emergency Medical Officer at Noida district hospital and Abhiyant Tiwari, Lead climate resilience and health consultant at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).    Additional material Cause certified in just 22.5% of deaths registered in 2020 | India NewsSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In May, a wave of violence engulfed Manipur, leading to the displacement of thousands and severely disrupting the education of countless young individuals in the region. To delve into this critical issue, Suno India co-founder Rakesh Kamal spoke with Dennis Lallienzuol Hmar, an indigenous development professional, distinguished climate leader, and a survivor of conflict. In this discussion, he shared his own experiences, shedding light on the challenges faced by the youth whose hopes and dreams are now uncertain and hanging in the balance.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.