Friday, July 11, 2025

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its 7th Frontiers report, *The Weight of Time*, in July 2025. It warns of growing threats from extreme heat and toxic pollution to the world’s ageing population. The report marks how climate change and environmental hazards increasingly endanger older adults, especially in urban and low- to middle-income regions.

Rising Heat Threats to Older Adults

Heat-related deaths among people aged 65 and above have surged by 85% since the 1990s. If global temperatures rise by 2°C, deaths could increase by 370% by 2050. Older adults have reduced ability to regulate body temperature. Extreme heat raises risks of cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke and pneumonia. Tropical and mid-latitude regions face doubled or even tenfold rises in dangerous heat exposure. India already shows increased heatwave days for the elderly.

Urban Ageing and Climate Vulnerability

Cities will house 68% of the global population by 2050, with a rising share of older residents. In 2015, 58% of people aged 60+ lived in urban areas. Older people often move to cities for healthcare and social access. However, urban heat islands and pollution worsen risks during heatwaves and climate disasters. The report urges cities to become age-friendly, resilient, and greener to protect elderly residents.

Legacy Pollutants and Flood Risks

Flooding can release toxic legacy pollutants buried in sediments. These include heavy metals like lead and cadmium, and persistent organic chemicals from pesticides and industrial waste. Such pollutants do not degrade easily and accumulate in rivers, lakes, and coastal sediments. Floodwaters can spread these toxins into the environment and food chains, causing neurotoxicity, cancer, and reproductive harm. Examples include floods in Texas (2017), Niger Delta (2012), and Pakistan (2010, 2022).

Environmental and Health Impacts of Pollutants

Cadmium and other pollutants harm sediment-dwelling organisms and humans. Cadmium is carcinogenic and disrupts endocrine functions. It can damage kidneys, bones, and affect pregnancies. UNEP calls for more research on pollutant release during floods to assess risks to ecosystems and health. Monitoring polluted sediments is crucial as rainfall intensity and flood events increase globally.

Solutions – Urban Planning and Flood Management

The report recommends the ‘15-minute city’ model to support ageing in place by ensuring essential services are within walking or cycling distance. This reduces car use and pollution. Flood-control strategies should combine nature-based solutions like wetlands restoration with traditional infrastructure such as dikes and retention basins. River basin management plans must balance flood retention with ecosystem conservation. Adaptive management and community involvement are vital for effective response to contaminant remobilisation.

Strong unity

Ambedkar and Gandhi’s dream of a functional form of consensual democracy is dead in the Houses of elected representatives. But in scattered villages that thought is still alive

A motley group of villagers are engaged in a quiet consultative meeting. Each one of them speaks his or her mind on the issue at hand: which millets to take up for this season; the challenges they will confront in planting a new crop; if and how the millets would benefit them. They speak freely and frankly, and without any agitation in their voices, even when they differ on some points with others. After the day’s proceedings, consensus is sealed and decision taken. This is a recent incident in the tiny, nondescript village of Bijapur, inhabited by Gond tribals, in the north of Gadchiroli district, one of the most economically backward districts in Maharashtra.

Miles away from Bijapur, in an equally backward and often cut-off region of Melghat, a hilly and forested part of Amravati district in the same state, poor and uneducated Korku tribals of Sosokheda village are brooding over their problems. At the gram sabha, one by one, they speak of their problems and discuss possible and potential solutions — administrative, technical, and social. Again, it is a dialogue, not confrontation.

Move to Enabavi, a non-tribal village in Telangana’s erstwhile district of Warangal which became one of the first fully-organic villages of the country. Here too, decisions are not taken by a majority vote but through a long consultative process which M.K. Gandhi would see as a working model of consensual democracy. Differences are honoured; contrarian views and opinions respected with humility.

These are but a few samples of the functional forms of consensual democracy at the grassroots; there are thousands of such villages, even small towns, where people participate and engage with their issues, and do not leave it to the elected few to evolve solutions to their complex problems. Remarkably, while most of rural India wilts in the face of a deepening economic distress, these villages stand up to the test of time and deal with their problems collectively, with all their wisdom.

This writer has observed the workings and functioning of these and many such villages across India with a sense of adulation, as they portray a refreshing contrast to the dysfunctionality of our country’s higher Houses of elected representatives where, for over a decade now, dialogue seems to be an anathema. Even the media, supposed to be platforms for dialogue and different points of view, do not reflect the maturity that the tiny and dispersed pool of such villages demonstrate in dealing with the poly-crises they confront. They are economically lagging, but evolved in their behaviour.

A veteran advocate of the consensual form of democracy, Devaji Tofa, from Mendha Lekha — the place where the slogan, “Mawa Nate, Mawa Raj” (my rule in my village) first echoed loudly — told this writer once: “there could be delays in our decision-making, because it takes time to forge a consensus, but once a decision is taken by all of us, it clears a robust path for a better future. We are in it or out of it together.”

Some of these villages have people belonging to different faiths, castes, and classes, and yet they have found a way in collective decision-making and problem-solving. They function mostly without the backing of the Indian State. If at all, the State complicates their existence with an endless list of impractical and often autocratic rules.

B.R. Ambedkar and Gandhi’s dream of a functional form of consensual democracy is dead in the Houses of elected representatives. One helplessly watches the pointless proceedings of the legislatures, the abdication of basic responsibilities by those in power, autocratic governance at every level, the lack of answers on questions of national importance and so on. But in scattered villages, even small towns, in the nook and corner of this vast and diverse land, that thought is still alive as seeds waiting to germinate.

Jaideep Hardikar

Source: Telegraph India, 11/07/25

Monday, May 26, 2025

Lady Justice

Justice B.V. Nagarathna recently said that at least 30% of law officers representing the Centre and the state governments should be women, highlighting the urgent need for gender diversity in the judiciary. While women have made significant strides in the legal profession in India, systemic barriers continue to hinder their full participation at higher levels.

The enrolment of women in law schools has seen a remarkable rise over the years. In some premier institutions, women constitute nearly 40-50% of students. Women have also been making inroads as public prosecutors and corporate lawyers, challenging traditional gender norms. Several landmark moments reflect this shift. Justice Leila Seth became the first woman judge of Delhi High Court in 1991, and the first woman chief justice of a state high court. In 2018, Justice Indu Malhotra became the first woman lawyer to be directly appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India from the bar. Nagarathna herself is poised to become the first woman CJI in 2027. These developments signal a gradual, albeit slow, transformation.

Women make up only 13.4% of the judges in the high courts and just 9.3% in the Supreme Court. In eight high courts, there is either no woman judge or just one. The Allahabad High Court, the largest in the country, has only three women judges out of 79. At present, the Gujarat High Court is the only one with a woman chief justice. Additionally, women judges are appointed at an older average age (53 years) compared to men (51.8 years), limiting their chances of reaching senior positions. The situation in the Supreme Court is even more alarming. Despite a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, the court has historically had very few women justices. At present, it has only one sitting woman judge.

Across the higher judiciary, women make up only 14.27% of the total judges, with just 109 women judges out of a working strength of 764. The Centre told Parliament in February that since 2018, only 17% of lawyers elevated to various high courts have been women. The gender disparity is even starker in the Supreme Court where not a single woman has been appointed among the 28 judges inducted since 2021. Over the last 75 years, the Supreme Court has had just 11 women judges — an abysmal 4% of the total 276 judges.

There are structural barriers that contribute to this under-representation. Women struggle to gain senior designations in the Bar and face resistance in being considered for elevation to the Bench. The absence of transparent selection criteria disproportionately hinders women as the male-dominated Collegium allegedly often overlooks meritorious female lawyers. Lack of mentorship and an unsupportive work environment discourage women from sustaining long careers. Sexism in the judiciary runs deep. The senior advocate, Indira Jaising, once stated that a senior male lawyer addressed her as ‘that woman’, whereas he referred to his male counterparts as ‘my learned friend’. Litigants also often exhibit bias against women lawyers, tending to favour male lawyers.

There is a need for legislative interventions for greater female participation in the judiciary. A transparent and inclusive appointment process, encouraging mentorship programmes and institutional support for women in law can ensure career longevity. Addressing gender biases at a cultural level is essential for true parity in the legal profession. Systemic reforms and proactive measures are necessary to ensure that women rise to the highest echelons of the judiciary. Just as caste, religion, and regional representation are often considered in judicial appointments to ensure a representative judiciary, gender diversity must also be a key factor. The higher judiciary should aim for at least one-third representation for women, if not an equal share, to ensure a more balanced and inclusive Bench.

Aditya Mukherjee

Source: Telegraph, 26/05/25

Yashoda AI

The recently launched Yashoda AI – Your AI SAKHI aims to enhance women’s literacy in artificial intelligence and digital awareness. Spearheaded by the National Commission for Women (NCW), it targets women from rural and semi-urban areas. The programme aligns with India’s vision of a Viksit Bharat, promoting technology and inclusion.

Objectives of Yashoda AI

Yashoda AI seeks to empower women by providing essential skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital safety. The initiative aims to encourage digital literacy and self-reliance among women. It encourages active participation in discussions about AI-related crimes and digital privacy.

Community Engagement

The initiative promotes community-driven digital education. It actively involves students, educators, and policewomen. This engagement ensures that women are not just learners but also leaders in the digital space. The programme aims to create a supportive environment for women to thrive in technology.

Importance of Digital Literacy

Digital literacy is crucial in ‘s technology-driven world. Yashoda AI focuses on equipping women with the knowledge to navigate the digital landscape confidently. This includes understanding digital safety and the implications of AI on society. The initiative aims to prepare women for the challenges posed by the digital age.

Collaboration with Future Shift Labs

Yashoda AI is a collaboration between NCW and Future Shift Labs (FSL). FSL is known for its work on ethical technology deployment. This partnership aims to create frameworks for responsible AI and digital inclusion. Together, they strive to build an inclusive technological landscape for women.

Key Messages from the Launch

The launch event featured notable speakers who brought into light the importance of digital empowerment. They emphasised the need for women’s leadership in technology. The presence of NCW dignitaries reinforced the message of equity in India’s technological journey.

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