Podcasts about suno india

What prevents women from seeking safe, legal abortions? Studies show that the awareness about abortion and its legality is very low among people. To add to the confusion, the implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 or PCPNDT Act which makes sex selection illegal gives anti-abortion messages.  This is the fifth and final episode of a series Matter of Choice, a series that explores how women face medical, legal and social barriers to abortions. Suno India's Menaka Rao spoke to Saraswati Sahu, a leader with the Chhatisgarh Mahila Mukti Morcha that works on the rights of workers, who talks about her own abortion stories and how she used to feel abortion was illegal, and that she had to undergo abortion surreptitiously. Menaka also talked to Pritam Potdar, the managing director with the Pune-based non-profit, Samyak Communication and Research Centre, which works on gender rights. Menaka also spoke to Vinoj Manning, the CEO of the international non profit Ipas Development Foundation and his colleague, Samina Parveen who works as a specialist in the research and evaluation team at IPAS which recently released a survey on the attitudes of Indians about abortion.  This podcast is supported by Pulitzer center References Trends in selective abortions of girls in India: analysis of nationally representative birth histories from 1990 to 2005 and census data from 1991 to 2011 - PubMed Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 | India Code At 914, child sex ratio is the lowest since Independence - The Hindu https://www.masum-india.org.in/images/Sex%20selection%20and%20safe%20abortion.pdf Doctors wary of conducting abortions after 12 weeks | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times Illegal sale of abortion pills: Drug inspectors raid seven medical stores in Beed | Mumbai News - Times of India Private detectives to check sex determination tests in Punjab | Chandigarh News - Times of India Why getting a safe abortion by a registered gynaecologist has become almost impossible (PDF) " If a woman has even one daughter, I refuse to perform the abortion " : Sex determination and safe abortion in India (PDF) Evaluating the relative effectiveness of high-intensity and low-intensity models of behaviour change communication interventions for abortion care-seeking in Bihar and Jharkhand, India: A cross-sectional study Improving care seeking behavior of young women for sexual and reproductive health in Assam and Madhya PradeshSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

How getting an abortion is linked to contraceptive use How a person seeking abortion is treated often relates to their contraception history. When someone seeks abortion, the health system discriminates against those who take temporary contraceptives or no contraceptives at all. The public health hospitals often deny abortion unless women undergo a permanent sterilisation or at least take a long acting contraceptive such as intrauterine devices. This is the fourth episode of a series 'Matter of Choice', a series that explores how women face. This podcast explores how these systemic denials and attitudes have classist and casteist implications. Suno India's Menaka Rao also speaks to women who got pregnant after a sterlisation surgery, which is rare. Despite exhausting all their methods to avoid pregnancy, these women barely get any help when they seek abortion. medical, legal and social barriers to abortions. This podcast features women from Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Menaka speaks to human rights activist and educationist, Shreya Khemani, and labour rights activist, Saraswati Sahu, both of whom are based in Chhattisgarh. Menaka also spoke to Dr Suchitra Dalvie,  gynaecologist and coordinator of Asia Safe Abortion Partnership.  This podcast is supported by Pulitzer Center.  References Mistreatment and Coercion: Unethical Sterilization in India Men's Participation in Family Planning & Reproductive Health Comparative effectiveness of hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilization for women: a retrospective cohort study - ScienceDirect End sterilisation camps, says Supreme Court - The Hindu India sterilisations: More Chhattisgarh botched cases - BBC NewsSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Bihar has the lowest electricity consumption per person in India, mostly due to lack of power availability. The government is now focusing on solar energy projects, like rooftop installations, floating solar panels, and solar street lights, to boost clean energy. But is this solar energy boom in Bihar addressing the energy poverty challenge? Suno India's Sneha Richhariya travelled to the neighbouring villages in Gaya district of Bihar to understand how renewable energy is penetrating in Bihar. This episode explores the extent of solar adoption in the state and looks at whether solar adoption in Bihar transcends socio-economic factors like income, occupation and caste. This is the third story as part of a three-episode mini-series supported by Earth Journalism Network. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

This summer, temperatures in India soared beyond 45 degrees Celsius, sparking discussions about the necessity of cooling as a fundamental need rather than a luxury. In India, fans, coolers and later air conditioners have been effectively used for seeking comfort from the heat. But with rising CO2 levels, experts have expressed the need for sustainable cooling methods.  In countries with modern and planned infrastructural settlements such as Japan, Canada, Middle East, Sweden, USA, France and some parts of Europe- ‘District Cooling' has been used as a popular cooling solution. But what exactly is district cooling? How does cooling happen in a typical district cooling setup? How climate-friendly is this solution?  And is it a viable solution for India?  Suno India's Sneha Richhariya speaks to Sudheer Perla who is the Managing Director of Tabreed Asia. Tabreed provides district cooling solutions in the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council. They plan to collaborate with Indian real estate companies and corporations to establish district cooling systems, targeting airports, aero cities, and green buildings. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Extreme heat this summer has indicated the need for a robust urban cooling system. It shows an urgent need to build community cooling centres which can be accessed by the most vulnerable groups such as the urban poor, women and elderly.  To understand the challenges and solutions for urban cooling in Indian cities, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to Abhiyant Tiwari, who is the lead climate resilience and health consultant at National Research Development Corporation or NRDC India. He talks about the feasibility and scalability of cooling strategies like community cooling centres and district cooling systems, and effective integration of cooling measures in city planning.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

This year, Delhi faced severe heat waves with temperatures that soared past 45 degrees on several days. The most vulnerable people—those who live in informal settlements—suffered the brunt of this extreme weather.  The Union Health Ministry and India Meteorological Department issued public health advisories as heatwave conditions persisted in various parts of the country. The advisories talk about following precautions such as monitoring the health of vulnerable individuals, staying hydrated, staying indoors during peak hours, keeping the house cool and so on.  Suno India's Sneha Richhariya visited Nandlal Juggi in Gopalpur village near Mukherjee Nagar in North Delhi, to understand whether these advisories reflect the lives of the urban poor and more.  See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Owing to the water shortage in Delhi, the state's Water Minister Atishi began an indefinite fast on June 21 demanding water for the national capital. The Delhi state government said that it has not got its share of Yamuna water, and there is an urgent need for a sustainable solution. The debate over fair distribution of Yamuna water has persisted for years. This is not the first such inter-state water dispute. In this episode, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya  speaks to Srinivas Chokkakula, who is the President and Chief Executive of the CPR (Centre for Policy Research). He is the Ministry of Jal Shakti Research Chair for Water Conflicts and Governance at CPR, leading the Transboundary Rivers, Ecologies, and Development studies program that he founded. His research focuses on transboundary water conflict, cooperation, and governance, with extensive publications on these topics. He talks about the legal implications of such disputes, and the politics around it and the possible solutions.   See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

There is a strong belief that recycled plastic is always good for the environment, and is safe to use. But increasing, increasing evidence shows that recycled plastic should be used with caution. Toxics Link, a Delhi based  environmental research and advocacy organisation conducted a research to assess the toxic contaminants in recycled plastic products that were recycled in Delhi.  As part of this study, 15 samples of recycled plastic products, including food contact materials and toys were tested.  In this episode, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to Priti Mahesh who has authored this study. She talks about several issues related to recycling of plastic. Some of these are: The recycling of plastic waste in India is mostly done by the informal sector which uses unsound, improper recycling methods. All recycled plastic products are not necessarily safe to use. There are harmful contaminants in recycled plastic that could pose health risks. This is an understudied subject The laws and policy regarding plastic recycling in the country There is a need for enforcement and standardisation of plastic recycling in India  See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

There is a strong belief that recycled plastic is always good for the environment, and is safe to use. But increasing, increasing evidence shows that recycled plastic should be used with caution. Toxics Link, a Delhi based  environmental research and advocacy organisation conducted a research to assess the toxic contaminants in recycled plastic products that were recycled in Delhi.  As part of this study, 15 samples of recycled plastic products, including food contact materials and toys were tested.  In this episode, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to Priti Mahesh from Toxics Link who has authored this study. She talks about several issues related to recycling of plastic. Some of these issues are: The recycling of plastic waste in India is mostly done by the informal sector which uses unsound, improper recycling methods. All recycled plastic products are not necessarily safe to use. There are harmful contaminants in recycled plastic that could pose health risks. This is an understudied subject The laws and policy regarding plastic recycling in the country There is a need for enforcement and standardisation of plastic recycling in India   See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

At least 33 people died in heatwave during the 2024 General Election's last phase in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. The people who died include polling officials. The average heat related mortality has increased by 85% in 2013-22 as compared with 1991-2001. Excess heat can cause:  Cardiac related illness Lung damage Kidney injury Adverse pregnancy outcome  Mental health impact But often these deaths are not recorded as heat-related deaths or are not accepted by the respective governments or local bodies.  The National Action Plan on Heat Related Illnesses, 2021 gave detailed guidelines on how to record a suspected heat-related illness death. Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a document examining autopsy findings of those who died of heat-related illnesses. This is an attempt by the govt to standardise the approach of confirming such deaths.  We are replaying last year's episode. In this episode, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya visited a district hospital to understand the challenges of recording a heat-related death. I spoke 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).  References India heatwave kills at least 33, including election officials - The Economic Times National Action plan on Heat Related llnesses.pdf AUTOPSY FINDINGS HEAT RELATED DEATHS Cause certified in just 22.5% of deaths registered in 2020 | India NewsSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Since the 2024 General Election results have been declared, questions have been raised about the way mainstream media had represented the Indian voters' sentiment. We want to highlight the work of a media collective, ChalChitra Abhiyaan that works in Western Uttar Pradesh, and recorded people's discontent about the government.  Suno India's Menaka Rao speaks to Nakul Singh Sawhney, a documentary filmmaker who made several films including the widely acclaimed Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai on the religious riots that broke out in UP's Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts in 2013. He is the founder of the film and media collective ChalChitra Abhiyaan based in West UP. It is  a collective that trains youth from marginalised communities in filmmaking and media. His upcoming film is on the historic farmers movement called - A Million Churnings.  Nakul talks about how in large parts of Western UP where they report from, people have switched to consuming news on YouTube and how there is massive distrust towards the mainstream media.  References https://chalchitraabhiyaan.com/ Trailer- A Million Churnings... || लाखों मंथन... || ਲੱਖਾਂ ਬਗਾਵਤਾਂ...  - A CCA production CCA - ChalChitra Abhiyaan - YouTube  See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

As part of an aggressive push on solar, there is a strong emphasis on establishing “solar cities” in Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya is being developed as a model solar city under the Solar City program in Uttar Pradesh. How far is Ayodhya from becoming a Solar city? How will the Solar City initiative change Ayodhya and the lives of its people? Where do people stand in Ayodhya's Solar city dreams?  Suno India's Sneha Richhariya travelled to energy poor areas of Uttar Pradesh to find out what the solar schemes like PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojna and other policies on solar mean to the people. In this episode, the focus is on Ayodhya as it is being planned as a “solar city”See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Connecting more and more people with solar energy has become an election plank for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Ram Mandir was consecrated in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, 10 million poor and middle-class households in India are supposed to get residential rooftop solar.  In this series, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya investigates what a scheme like this means to the people. In May 2024, she travelled to some energy-poor areas of north India. Where do the poor and the middle people fit into this policy framework? In this episode, Sneha tries to find out whether the scheme is accessible to the people it is intended to benefit. This is the first episode in Suno India's ‘Indian Solar Dream' series. Reporting for this series was supported by Earth Journalism Network. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In April 2024, that is last month, Suno India published the story featuring Iliyas Marandi, a 23-year-old tribal man who lost his eyesight after taking miltefosine drug for Post-Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis, a skin manifestation of the deadly Kala-azar. This May, he underwent a corneal implant surgery at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences. Suno India's Menaka Rao spoke to Iliyas after the surgery, and his doctor, Dr Rakhi Kusumesh. This is Iliyas's second corneal implant.  In 2022, the World Health Organization stated that 83 cases in India had possible links to miltefosine intake. While the government issued guidelines in 2022 to prevent people from losing vision after taking miltefosine, there are no plans yet for those who lost eyesight before 2022. Iliyas is one such person. He has so far mostly sought medical help with his own money, and resources. Except for some Ayushman Bharat scheme's insurance money, Iliyas was on his own for this corneal implant too.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this podcast episode, Suno India's Cofounder Rakesh speaks with Kaushik Shridhar, Founde & CEO, Orka Advisory and author of the book The Art of Winging It: What's the Worst That Could Happen?. He shares his journey from a professional tennis player to a career in sustainability. He discusses the inspiration behind his book and the lessons he has learned along the way. Kaushik emphasizes the importance of slowing down, appreciating life, and taking a positive approach to challenges. He also reflects on personal experiences, such as surviving a plane crash and overcoming bullying, and how they have shaped his perspective. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On April 6, 2024, the Supreme Court gave a landmark judgement bringing the right to be free from adverse effects of climate change within the ambit of fundamental rights.  Indian jurisprudence had earlier held that people had a right to clean air and a clean environment. The right to be free from adverse effects of climate change is a new addition. This flows naturally from the right to life, and the right to equality guaranteed in the Constitution under Article 21 and 14 respectively.  But what are the implications of this ruling for climate litigation in India? How will this help in India's fight against climate change? Suno India's Sneha Richhariya explains in this episode of Climate Emergency.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

This is the last episode in the series on Kala Azar reported by Suno India's Menaka Rao.  The Indian government has said that it has hit the elimination target for Kala-azar, a parasitic disease that is life-threatening. But miltefosine, the drug used to treat the skin manifestation of Kala-azar, called Post-Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL), is being linked to eye problems, including blindness.  The government has taken steps to try to reduce the side effects in 2021, but not much has been done for those who have lost their eyesight either in one eye or both, possibly as a result of miltefosine. The World Health Organization has found 83 cases of people in India who have suffered a problem in the eye after intake of miltefosine.  In this episode, Menaka spoke to Iliyas Marandi, one of the patients who lost his eyesight completely after taking miltefosine treatment. She also spoke to ophthalmologists Dr Rakhi Kushumesh and Dr Asim Sil who treated such patients, and helped develop the guidelines to prevent such ocular side effects.    References  https://www.indiaspend.com/health/how-a-drug-to-treat-dermal-kala-azar-is-affecting-patients-eyesight-901497 Keratitis occurring in patients treated with miltefosine for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis | British Journal of Ophthalmology https://ncvbdc.mohfw.gov.in/WriteReadData/l892s/PKDL-Guidelines-220512.pdf Using focused pharmacovigilance for ensuring patient safety against antileishmanial drugs in Bangladesh's National Kala-azar Elimination Programme Keratitis After Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis Corneal complications following Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis treatment | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases Adverse ocular events on miltefosine treatment for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in India - Suman Saurabh, Manish Mahabir, 2020 Advisory Committee on Safety of Medicinal Products (ACSoMP): Measures to minimize the risk of ocular adverse events with miltefosine Statement on miltefosine - Potential ocular disorders in patients treated with miltefosine for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL).See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The cooling industry contributes significantly to global CO2 emissions. As pressure mounts to address climate impacts, there's a crucial need for the industry to overhaul its manufacturing and disposal practices of appliances.  But how are your cooling appliances making the climate worse? What exactly is energy efficiency and what makes an appliance energy-efficient? What role can the consumers play? What do they do with their refrigerant-filled equipment once they are done using them? Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to Bishal Thapa, senior director at CLASP, an international nonprofit organisation which provides technical and policy support to governments worldwide and works to implement energy efficiency standards and labels for appliances.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On 17th March 2024, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the Capital notified the new Delhi Solar Policy, 2024, rolling out larger incentives and subsidies for people to install solar power systems at their homes and businesses. The vision is to make solar energy accessible and affordable for all consumers in Delhi.  In the past months, the government has repeatedly promoted the policy that appears less like an environmental step taken to reduce emissions, but more like a policy to push subsidies and reduce electricity bills. Notably, the policy is being sold to all middle and working-class people. But is it really inclusive? Is it really consumer friendly as the government says? Will the middle class who have access to conventional forms of electricity switch to solar energy? Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to people in Delhi to understand the complexities of residential rooftop solar adoption.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode, Suno India's Padma Priya talks to Dr. Abhishek Mangeshikar, a gynecologist specializing in endometriosis. He explains what endometriosis is and why it is difficult to diagnose. Dr. Mangeshikar also addresses common myths surrounding endometriosis, such as the belief that pregnancy or menopause can cure the disease. He emphasizes the importance of patient advocacy and provides advice on how to push back against dismissive attitudes from medical professionals. Additionally, he discusses risk factors for endometriosis and the presence of silent symptoms, such as kidney damage. In this conversation, Dr. Abhishek Mangeshikar discusses various aspects of endometriosis, including diagnosis, management, surgical considerations, psychological impact, and patient education. He emphasizes the importance of thorough imaging and the limitations of routine gynecological ultrasounds in diagnosing endometriosis. Dr. Mangeshikar explains that while hormonal treatments can provide relief from pain, they do not stop the growth of endometriosis. He also highlights the significance of choosing an experienced endometriosis surgeon and provides key questions to ask when considering surgery. The conversation touches on the recurrence of endometriosis, the psychological impact of the disease, and the resources provided by Endometriosis India. Dr. Mangeshikar shares his approach to patient education through social media and emphasizes the need for action in improving the understanding and treatment of endometriosis.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

We're seeing what is being called one of the worst droughts in recent years in Karnataka. Bangalore has become unliveable. Bangalore has access to only half the amount of water that it needs on a daily basis. There's no water in many high and mid-rise buildings, gated colonies. The government is rationing out water tankers, construction using the adjacent Kaveri river is banned, new bore wells are being dug and so on.  In this episode of Climate Emergency, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya speaks to Shreya Nath, who heads the urban water program at Well Labs, which is an environmental research organisation based in Bengaluru. Last year, Well Labs conducted a study on ‘How water flows through Bengaluru?' to understand where is Bengaluru's water, how much of it is there and in what condition.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The Bharatiya Janata Party government has been pitching for One Nation One Election for years. The High Level Committee on One Nation, One Election submitted a report to President Droupadi Murmu on March 14, 2024. The 21-volume, 18,626-page report has suggestions from representatives of various political parties, economists, officials from the election commissions, businessmen, and other experts.  The report unanimously supports one election for Centre, state and local bodies such as panchayats and municipalities. We are republishing an older episode hosted by Suno India's Rakesh Kamal where he interviewed Chakshu Roy to understand the complexities and challenges of holding simultaneous elections. Chakshu Roy heads the outreach team and leads the legislator and citizen engagement initiatives at PRS legislative research. He has been involved in setting up the state laws project, training civil society and journalist groups about tracking Parliament. For additional reading: PRS Summary of the Report  ANALYSIS OF SIMULTANEOUS ELECTIONS : THE “WHAT”, “WHY” AND “HOW” Standing Committee Report on the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections.pdf (Dec 2015) Law commission report (1999) on electoral reforms.pdf https://onoe.gov.in/HLC-Report The Suno India Show | Can ‘one nation, one election' work for IndiaSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On March 11, 2024 a few months before the Lok Sabha Elections the central government notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules. This has come approximately four years after the Parliament passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in 2019. As per the amendment, the government can grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Jains, or Christians from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan on or before December 31,2014.. conspicuously leaving out Muslims. It was passed amid nation-wide protests as linking citizenship to religion goes against the secular nature of the constitution.  The bigger fear is about a nationwide National Register of Citizens or NRC. Assam is the only place with NRC.  At the time of passing the Act, the Home Minister, Amit Shah told Parliament that a nationwide NRC is on the cards. However, in a blogpost, press information bureau at the time clarified repeatedly that no announcement has been made to begin NRC exercise.  Now with the rules being released, nationwide implementation of the Act will begin. In 2019, the United Nations Human Rights Office issued a statement condemning the “fundamentally discriminatory” Citizenship Amendment Act. At the time in 2019, Suno India's Padmapriya had spoken to Pia Oberoi, senior advisor on migration, UN Human Rights Office to understand their concerns around the Citizenship Amendment Act. We are republishing it as it continues to be relevant today.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In 2013, Indian law codified workplace protection for working women, both in the formal and informal sectors under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) (POSH) Act.  A report of Human Rights Watch says that India has failed 94 % of its women who work in the informal sector - this includes women who work as domestic help, sweepers, construction workers and so on. Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to domestic workers, Local committee members, lawyers and civil society organisations to understand how the law has played out for working women in the informal sector.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On 28th February 2024, Wakeel Hassan, Uttarakhand Tunnel rescue hero once again made headlines when his house was razed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).  The demolition of Hassan's house was the most recent in the spate of evictions across the country. There have been questions over why the government disproportionately targets working-class and minority community people such as Wakeel Hassan. Here is an extended cut of an interview with Dr. Ghazala Jamil from an episode of the Suno India Show where Suno India's Menaka Rao reported on the aftermath of the April 2022 Jahangirpuri riot followed by a demolition drive. Ghazala is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance,  Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. In this episode, hosted by Suno India's Sneha Richhariya, Ghazala explains what makes an illegal structure in a city and what makes some illegal structures more illegal than others. References: Uttarakhand tunnel rescue hero's home demolished in Delhi; Declines DDA's temporary accommodation offer MP demolition drive: Authorities face charges of doing away with due processMCD to beautify city, remove encroachment from February 6 ahead of G20 summit Mehrauli demolition: Survey DDA relied on was found incomplete by HC panel last year Olga Tellis & Ors vs Bombay Municipal Corporation & Ors. Etc on 10 July, 1985 THE PUBLIC PREMISES (EVICTION OF UNAUTHORISED OCCUPANTS) ACT, 1971 Thousands Traumatised In New Delhi: As Law Is Ignored, Homes & Lives Are Torn Apart For G20 SummitSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Even as the MPs were suspended, in December 2023, the Parliament passed laws completely upending the major criminal laws of our country. What does this mean in a democracy?  On 30th January 2024, Maansi Verma, a lawyer and public policy researcher, posted a thread on the platform ‘X' (formerly Twitter) about the ‘wrongs' committed by the government during its term. The list of ‘wrongs' mentioned in this thread is glaring enough to make any concerned citizen worry.  Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to Maansi Verma, who is also the founder of “Maadhyam”- which is a civic engagement initiative working to bring Parliament and policy-making closer to people.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode of The Suno India Show shorts, we talk about the live-in relationships as defined under Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code Bill that was passed on February 7, 2024. Suno India's Menaka Rao and Sneha Richhariya discuss the law threadbare and why it should matter to everyone in India. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Access to clean cooking has been on the radar of policymakers for several decades. With over half of rural households still using traditional, polluting cooking methods, the need for cleaner alternatives is more pressing than ever.  In this episode of Climate Emergency, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya speaks to Noble Varghese, who has studied India's transition to e-cooking. Why should we think about transitioning to cleaner cooking options, more specifically e-cooking? How are India's villages going to see this transition? Is e-cooking more polluting than LPG? Can India make e-cooking a reliable cooking option? This episode attempts to find out. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss the Supreme Court's verdict on electoral bonds, a scheme that allowed anonymous donations to political parties. We explain why the court ruled it unconstitutional and what it means for Indian democracy.We are republishing a part of our episode from our show “Every Voice Matters'' which was originally published in 2019. The host and Suno-India editor Padma Priya then spoke to General Anil Verma of the Association of Democratic Reforms on this contentious topic.  The second part of the episode talks about electoral bonds. This is his take;  Also listen: Electoral bonds controversy – RTI documents reveal the liesSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Kala Azar was a public health problem in India till recently. In 2023, the disease is close to the elimination target set up by the World Health Organisation. As per the WHO target, there should be less than one case per 10,000 population at block level. In this second podcast in a series on Kala Azar, Suno India's Menaka Rao reports on the key contributions of various stakeholders and policies. She spoke to Dr Shyam Sundar, who runs the Kala Azar Medical Research Centre, in Muzaffarpur, Dr Krishna Pandey, Director of Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna, and Rakesh Kumar, Bihar state in-charge for Kala Azar.  Reporting for this story was supported by the MSF-DNDi Grant on Neglected Tropical Diseases as part of the Without Borders Media Fellowship. The fellowship encourages independent, impartial and neutral reporting on health and humanitarian crises.  References Kala-azar in India – progress and challenges towards its elimination as a public health problemHistory of Kala-Azar in India - PMCMiltefosine in the treatment of leishmaniasis: Clinical evidence for informed clinical risk managementElimination programme for kala-azar in India and Bihar during the last century - ignoring the obvious.An E-mail interview with Prof. Shyam Sundar - PMChttps://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa021556https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa0903627Safety and efficacy of short course combination regimens with AmBisome, miltefosine and paromomycin for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Bangladesh - PMChttps://scroll.in/pulse/819854/india-has-been-talking-about-defeating-kala-azar-since-1947-and-now-has-a-good-chance-of-doing-soSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Even though Kala-azar is closer to elimination in the country, questions related to how the disease spreads still remain unanswered. Only recently, scientists in India and Bangladesh have understood the dynamics of how Post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis or PKDL, the skin manifestation of the disease, spreads kala-azar. For the third podcast in the series on kala-azar, Suno India's Menaka Rao speaks to Dr Rahul Chaubey, entomologist at Kala-azar Medical Research Centre, Muzaffarpur to understand the latest in vector research. Reporting for this story was supported by the MSF-DNDi Grant on Neglected Tropical Diseases as part of the Without Borders Media Fellowship. The fellowship encourages independent, impartial and neutral reporting on health and humanitarian crises.  References Transmission Dynamics of Visceral Leishmaniasis in the Indian Subcontinent – A Systematic Literature Review - PMCLivestock and rodents within an endemic focus of Visceral Leishmaniasis are not reservoir hosts for Leishmania donovani | PLOS Neglected Tropical DiseasesEstablishing, Expanding, and Certifying a Closed Colony of Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) for Xenodiagnostic Studies at the Kala Azar Medical Research Center, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India - PMCOn a Herpetomonas Found in the Gut of the Sandfly, Phlebotomus Argentipes, Fed On Kala-Azar Patients - PMCTen years of kala-azar in west Bengal, Part I. Did post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis initiate the outbreak in 24-Parganas? - PMCBionomics of Phlebotomus argentipes in villages in Bihar, India with insights into efficacy of IRS-based control measures | PLOS Neglected Tropical DiseasesSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

This was a very sombre Republic Day, coming in a few days after the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, churning up questions on the secular nature of our country. The inauguration of the Ram Mandir marks a significant chapter in our country's history. The temple's construction replaced the 16th-Century Babri masjid, which was demolished by Hindu mobs in 1992, leading to nationwide riots and the tragic loss of nearly 2,000 lives, after the Supreme court allowed it. This became a national event, even though we have a sizable population of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, among others.  Suno India's Sneha Richhariya and Menaka Rao took interviews of young persons in their 20s, all of who were born after the Babri Masjid demolition. We attempt to understand what they think about this national event, what it symbolises, and how they understand secularism. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Efforts towards fighting plastic pollution are being made by governments across the world. India is also speeding up its fight against plastic pollution. On July 1, 2022, a ban was imposed on single-use plastic items. This ban was ambitious, covering 19 items.  In this episode, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya tries to dig deep and understand all about single-use plastics. She speaks to retail shopkeepers, wholesalers whose businesses rely heavily on single use plastic items and to Siddharth Singh from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) who has conducted a study to assess the status of the ban.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On 21st and 22nd December, 2023, authorities in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district cleared thousands of trees over hundreds of hectares for the phase-2 extension of coal mines in the Hasdeo Arand forest.  Over the past one decade, Adivasis have been a part of a struggle to save Hasdeo Arand forests that stretch across over 1,500 km through Chhattisgarh. The area is home to India's tribal communities, with an estimated five billion tonnes of coal buried under the dense forests.  In this episode of Climate Emergency, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya speaks to Adivasis from villages in Korba and Sarguja districts of Chattisgarh, to understand their concerns regarding the felling of trees in Hasdeo for coal mining.  She also speaks to Alok Shukla, the convenor of Chattisgarh Bachao Andolan and has been associated with the Hasdeo moment for a decade. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Kala Azar, a deadly parasitic disease, is very close to elimination in India. As per the World Health Organisation, the definition of elimination is the annual incidence of less than one case per 10,000 population at block level. The last few districts which are on the borderline remain in Jharkhand, and public officials appear confident that this year, the country may achieve the elimination target. The target has to be kept for 3 years for it to receive a WHO tag. Suno India is publishing a series of podcasts related to Kala Azar elimination. Suno India's Menaka Rao travelled to Jharkhand and Bihar for the reporting of these podcasts. Reporting for this story was supported by the MSF-DNDi Grant on Neglected Tropical Diseases as part of the Without Borders Media Fellowship. The fellowship encourages independent, impartial and neutral reporting on health and humanitarian crises. In this episode, Suno India's consulting editor Menaka Rao talks about the challenges of another complication related to kala-azar called Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis. This can manifest in about 5-10% of patients who recovered from kala-azar. This disease is now scientifically proven to spread kala-azar in the community. This disease is hard to detect, and cure. Menaka speaks to persons affected by this disease, and other health workers who are trying hard to control it in the community.  References Kala-azar in India – progress and challenges towards its elimination as a public health problem KALA-AZAR SITUATION IN INDIA Kala Azar and its subsequent skin manifestation, PKDL, shattered these women's lives, left them with uncertainty, stigma Xenodiagnosis to evaluate the infectiousness of humans to sandflies in an area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar, India: a transmission-dynamics study Ten years of kala-azar in west Bengal, Part I. Did post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis initiate the outbreak in 24-Parganas? - PMC DNDi's Centres of Excellence: Towards the sustainable elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in India Safety and Effectiveness of Miltefosine in Post–Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis: An Observational Study - PMC Kala Azar and its subsequent skin manifestation, PKDL, shattered these women's lives, left them with uncertainty, stigmaSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On November 21, Pranshu who is a 16-year old queer child, died of suicide in Ujjain. The school going child was a self taught makeup artist, with nearly 17,000 followers on Instagram. Pranshu posted a reel dressed in a sari, which went viral during Diwali, getting more than 4000 comments, most of which were homophobic in nature. Last year, another class 10 student, Aarvey Malhotra died of suicide. His mother, Aarti Malhotra has alleged that Aarvey was bullied mercilessly in school on account of his sexuality, and that his school authorities were not responsive to their complaints and failed to protect him. In the recent past, there have been many conversations about protection of children in the social media space. Whistleblowers of Meta have alleged that Meta knew its products were harming children, particularly young girls but did not do enough to protect them. In October, many US states filed a lawsuit arguing that Meta has contributed to a youth mental health crisis. What is missing in these discussions are the experiences of queer children.  Suno India's Menaka Rao spoke to Rohin Bhatt, a queer rights lawyer and activist and a bioethicist to understand what kind of legal and policy framework can help protect queer children, but also help create a safe space online.  References 'My Child Did Nothing Wrong,' Mother of Queer Artist Who Died By Suicide in MP “The school has killed me”: Arvey Malhotra's mother recalls his suicide note and elaborates on the bullying that led to her son's death; awaits justice even after 4 months - Times of India Congress Is Pushing An Online Safety Bill Supported By Anti-LGBTQ Groups https://twitter.com/BhattRohin/status/1729734070261658026/photo/1 Yes, We Exist (@yesweexistindia) • Instagram photos and videos Filmmaker Onir says his movie script on gay soldier has been rejected by defence ministry: 'I won't demean anybody'. National and Delhi Commissions for Protection of Child Rights on opposing sides on adoption by same-sex couples – The Leaflet Kerala HC asks government to take appropriate action against ‘NGO' that calls queerness “wokeism” and “rainbow mafia” – The LeafletSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Solar energy has been an important player in India's energy transition. But how does the growth of solar align with the global targets of reducing emissions and alleviating energy poverty? How do we see the world's transition towards clean energy? How do we eliminate disparities in energy access? How do we make sure that renewables are cost-effective? To delve into this further, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya talked to Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and discussed a range of issues, from current challenges to the solar industry to ISA's journey so far and the expectations at the climate change conference this year.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The alarming situation in Gaza has now entered its fourth week leaving over 8000 Palestinians dead, of which 3000 are estimated to be children. The harrowing situation began on October 7th when an attack by the armed rebel group Hamas which launched an unprecedented attack on Israel left nearly 1400 Israelis dead and many hundreds taken hostage.     On 27th October, The United Nations General Assembly adopted a major resolution on the Gaza crisis, calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.” Despite the non-binding UN resolution, Israel continued and stepped up its bombardment on Gaza. On Saturday, October 28th, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that  Israel had entered the second stage of the war with Hamas, saying ground forces had gone into what he called "that stronghold of evil" - describing Gaza - to "dismantle" Hamas and bring hostages home. He also said this will be a long and hard war.  In this episode of The Suno India Show, we will hear about the situation on the Gaza Strip, how the violence is leaving aid workers stretched, doctors unable to help sufficiently and the unfolding humanitarian crisis. Suno India's Editor-in-chief Padma Priya spoke to Farhat Mantoo, Executive Director, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) South Asia on the situation in Gaza. MSF has been calling for an immediate ceasefire to stop the bloodshed.  Additional reading:  https://msfsouthasia.org/msf-immediate-ceasefire-is-needed-in-gaza-to-stop-the-bloodshed/ https://www.unfpa.org/crisis-gaza#:~:text=The%20humanitarian%20crisis%20in%20Gaza,access%20to%20reproductive%20health%20services.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwZ0l2lzjJg See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In a country as diverse and culturally rich as India, discussions around sexuality and sexual health often remain shrouded in silence. This lack of open dialogue has led to a myriad of problems, from high rates of teenage pregnancies to the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Sex education isn't just about teaching anatomy or discussing contraception. It's about empowering young people with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their bodies, relationships, and personal boundaries. In this episode of The Suno India Show, Suno India's Editor-In-Chief, DVL Padma Priya has a conversation with two young adults Aiswarya, a lawyer turned entrepreneur & Sudhanshu, a part-time podcaster & full-time corporate professional about how they navigate the world of sex, where they access sex-positive information and what the biggest barrier they are facing is, about sex education and more.  This episode is part of ‘The Talk', a series of stories, each produced by a different newsroom or team, painting a picture of the state of sex education around the world. During the month of October 2023, stories will be published by CNN As Equals, Kontinentalist, the Impact Newsletter, Unbias the News, Nadja Media, Suno India and BehanBoxSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On October 16, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court rejected the abortion plea of a 27-year-old mother of two boys. She moved the court as she was suffering from postpartum psychosis after her second child. She was more than 6 months pregnant, and had crossed the 24-week barrier that is prescribed in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.  This case is significant because a two-judge bench had given an order permitting the abortion. But the case flipped after a doctor from All India Institute of Medical Sciences doctor raised clarifications with the bench seeking a specific directive to stop the foetal heart. The case then resulted in a split verdict, going to a higher three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. The higher bench denied the abortion plea, and asked her to deliver the child at AIIMS. The court even said that they can give up the child for adoption if they wish to.   Suno India's consulting editor Menaka Rao spoke to this woman's lawyer, Amit Mishra. He talks about her journey through this case, and a few other women he represented and says that women have a hard time getting abortion in the country if the pregnancy advances beyond 20 weeks.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

  On October 3, 2023, the Delhi police arrested the founder and editor-in-chief of Newsclick Prabir Purkayastha, and the Human resources head, Amit Chakraborty -under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act). The same day it raided the homes and offices of 46 people including reporters, columnists and commentators associated with the news portal and seized their laptops, phones and other devices for further examination.   In a letter to the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud at least 18 press bodies have expressed alarm over the impingement of press freedom and spoken about the need to urgently issue guidelines related to search and seizure of personal digital devices drawing attention to the matter pending in the Supreme Court. Suno India's Menaka Rao speaks with Prasanna S, who has filed the 2021 PIL for academics Ram Ramaswamy, Sujata Patel, Madhav Prasad, Mukul Kesavan, and Deepak Malghan seeking guidelines for the seizure of electronic documents.  Additional Resources: Delhi Police arrest NewsClick founder, HR head in alleged terror case - The Hindu FIR links NewsClick case to legal aid for Chinese companies - The Hindu NewsClick raids: Young staffers and part-time employees to freelancers – no one spared NewsClick Raids: Can journalists be compelled to share passwords and hand over electronic devices? | Explained - The Hindu In NewsClick FIR, ‘false narrative' on Govt, ‘paid news' fall in terror ambit | India News - The Indian Express NewsClick Case: Pressing Questions on Delhi Police's Powers To Search and Seize | OPINION Hackers Planted Files to Frame Indian Priest Who Died in Custody | WIREDSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Bundelkhand region in Central India is infamous for its frequent droughts. The lack of water in the region.Farmers in this region have been either aligning their farming with seasonal rainfall patterns or are dependent on diesel or electricity operated pumps for irrigation. But the erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and poor electricity supply have disrupted farming practices, making them riskier.  Pumping ground water using solar energy is now seen as the solution to these water woes. The Central government started the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-Kusum) scheme in  2019 to overcome challenges of irrigation supply. Through this scheme the government subsidises these solar pumps for the farmers. However, solar water pumps rely on existing or available groundwater, which is already scarce in the region. In this episode, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya travels in three districts of Bundelkhand to understand if solar water pumps can solve the issue of irrigation for the farmers of this region and figure if it possesses a threat to its groundwater levels.  Note: This report was produced with the support of Internews' Earth Journalism Network. It was originally published by Suno India on 28 September 2023. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

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.

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 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.

Earlier this week, news broke that the CoWin App, an app indigenously developed during the pandemic to track immunisation & issue vaccine certificates was breached. A telegram account was showing the personal details of many people including senior members of the parliament. The alleged leak is said to impact more than 100 core individuals who have secured vaccinations after signing up through the CoWIN portal. This includes more than 4 crore children between the age of 12-14 and over 37 crore people over the age of 45, a significant part of which could be senior citizens. In this episode, Suno India's Editor-In-Chief, Padma Priya spoke with  Srinivas Kodali, a digital rights expert on what this leak means for us & why it is important for us to pay attention to similar data breaches.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Manipur has witnessed month-long communal clashes following the dominant Meiti community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The clashes between Meities and tribal groups, mainly Kuki and Zo tribes, show no signs of abating since May, after the Tribal Solidarity protest. In this episode of the Suno India show, our reporter Sneha Richhariya speaks to a 49-year-old Kuki tribal woman who had fled from Imphal with her two sons. She gives horrific descriptions of violence back in Manipur. The episode sheds light on the plight of the Manipuri people who have been forced to flee their homes due to ongoing communal clashes. The episode takes us inside a tribal student's protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The episode captures raw emotions and personal stories of those affected by the violence.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On March 27, 2023 the Supreme Court released a death row convict, Narayan Chetanram Chaudhary on ground that he was a juvenile at the time of his arrest. Narayan convicted for gruesome murders in Pune where eight people were killed in 1994. Despite being on the death row, Narayan decided to educate himself. This journey led him to a path where he realised he was a juvenile at the time of offence, which was finally proved this year. In this episode, Suno India's Menaka Rao speaks with Narayan and his lawyer, Shreya Rastogi. Rastogi who is the founding member of Project 39a and the director of Death Penalty Litigation in the organisation, which provided pro bono legal aid to Narayan and many others. This episode is about the alienation of accused persons in the legal system, and how Narayan fought his way out of it.  Project 39A — Death Penalty India ReportSupreme court judgement March 2023.pdfNarayan Chetanram Chaudhary & Anr vs State Of Maharashtra on 5 September, 2000Pratap Singh vs State Of Jharkhand & Anr on 2 February, 2005Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2000. Free, after 25 years on death row: ‘Lost so many years. I want time to stop for me' | Pune News, The Indian ExpressFreedom to me is what the most precious material to the world is: Death row prisoner on release after 28 years in jailRajasthan: An error that sent Indian teen to death row for 25 years - BBC NewsSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In 2019, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and The National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre released a report called- National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use. At the national level, an estimated 2.9 crore of people in India are dependent on alcohol. About 25 lakh Indians are dependent on cannabis such as charas, ganja, and 28 lakh Indians are dependent on opioid substances such as heroin.  In this episode, Suno India's Ayesha Fatima explores what addiction is like for addicts themselves, as well as their family members. Ayesha speaks with two former addicts who shares their battling journey of de-addiction spurring and inspiring people to overcome this ordeal. She also speaks with V Gideon is a de-addiction therapist and is the director of  Living Sober Rehab, a deaddiction centre in Hyderabad, and Dr Lakshman Sudhir Gandham who is a consultant psychiatrist at Cadabam Hospital, Hyderabad. Ayesha Fatima worked as an intern. References Magnitude of substance use in IndiaWhy are Drugs so Hard to Quit? | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings - NCBI BookshelfSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.