- केएम भाई   भारत सरकार द्वारा स्वच्छ भारत मिशन के नाम पर बहुत बड़ा अभियान चलाया जा रहा हैं। जिसमें खुले में शौच मुक्त भारत का दावा किया जाता है। पर कानपुर में एक ऐसी जगह है जहाँ लोग आज भी खुले में शौच जाने को मजबूर हैं जी हाँ, आईआईटी कानपुर परिसर के अंदर  छात्रों के कपड़ों की धुलाई का कार्य करने वाले धोबी समुदाय के 34 परिवार आज भी खुले में शौच जाने को मजबूर हैं। महिलाओं और जवान लड़कियों को खुले में स्नान करना पड़ता है। 

Counterview Desk The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) on the attack on schools in Ahmedabad on December 24 with regards to Christmas related celebrations:    *** As per press reports in Ahmedabad Mirror and Navgujarat Samay, dated December 25, 2024 miscreants entered into 4 schools in east Ahmedabad, namely, Om Shanti School (CTM), Raja Bhagat Vidyalaya (Nr. Gor na Kuva), Udgam School (CTM) and The Mother English School (CTM Express Highway) and objected to Christmas celebrations by the schools.  The miscreants forcibly removed Santa Claus costumes of students, and tore down Christmas-related drawings, posters of Santa Claus and Christmas tree decorations displayed on the school notice boards.  The miscreants warned the school administrators and staff against celebrating Christmas in the future, and threatened to cause further harm to the schools including burning Christmas related costumes.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  OYO Rooms, also known as OYO or OYO Hotels & Homes, is a successful Indian multinational budget accommodation and hospitality chain that operates through leased properties and franchised hotels, homes, and living spaces. The company has recently updated its check-in policy, which now prohibits unmarried couples from checking into its properties. Under the new guidelines, couples are required to provide proof of their relationship status to complete the check-in process. This policy was initially introduced in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, following demands from local civil society groups. OYO is considering expanding this policy to other cities in India, depending on feedback from similar groups across the country.

By Dr Palla Trinadha Rao  Dominic D’Souza, a pioneering advocate for the Adivasis and other forest-dwelling communities of the Eastern Ghats, passed away on January 2, 2025. As a founding co-pioneer of LAYA, a Non-Governmental Organization based in Andhra Pradesh, Dominic leaves behind a legacy of transformative advocacy, social justice, and sustainable development. His life's work has profoundly impacted the lives of thousands of Adivasis, shaping their rights, livelihoods, and community resilience.

- राज कुमार सिन्हा  प्राकृतिक संसाधनों और कॉमन्स, जैसे सामुदायिक भूमि, वन, चारागाह और जल निकाय स्थानीय समुदायों के लिए महत्वपूर्ण हैं जो इन संसाधनों पर निर्भर हैं और उनके सतत् उपयोग एवं संरक्षण के लिए पीढ़ियों से प्रयासरत हैं। कॉमन्स न केवल हमारी पारिस्थितिकी को संतुलित रखते हैं, बल्कि ग्रामीण आजीविका, जैव विविधता, और जलवायु अनुकूलन के लिए भी महत्वपूर्ण हैं। दुर्भाग्यवश, हर साल इन संसाधनों में 4% की कमी आ रही है, जिससे पर्यावरणीय और सामाजिक चुनौतियां बढ़ रही हैं। इन कॉमन्स के संरक्षण और पुनरुद्धार के लिए दीर्घकालीन योजना पर कार्य करने की आवश्यकता है। जिससे एक बेहतर, समान और टिकाऊ भविष्य का निर्माण हो सके।

By Harsh Thakor*  At 52, Goli Shyamala, a resident of Samarlakota village in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district, achieved a monumental feat by swimming 150 kilometres across the Bay of Bengal. Her journey, which began in Visakhapatnam on December 28, 2024, and concluded on the shores of Kakinada on January 4, 2025, is a landmark accomplishment in the world of Open Water Swimming.

By Prem Singh  Over the last three and a half decades, neoliberalism and privatization in India have experienced an unbroken dominance. Today, it can be unequivocally stated that corporations, through neoliberal consensus, govern contemporary India. The Constitution, once the cornerstone of governance, has been reduced to a mere subject of contentious debates. Team Modi has not only embraced privatization but has escalated it into a systematic corporatization. Consequently, the much-touted "New India" (Naya Bharat) has evolved into "Corporate India" (Nigam Bharat).

By Md. Abu Saim*  The world bid farewell to 2024 which forged a phase marked by its democratic struggles, political reforms, and major shifts in power. From the streets of Dhaka to the battlefields of Myanmar, from election rallies of Washington to war-torn Syria and Ukraine, and to the polls of India and Russia, 2024 left behind a legacy that may reshape the global politics with tremendous effects and transformational reforms across the globe. 

By Harsh Thakor*  Conrad Hunte is arguably the finest opening batsman to have played for the West Indies. His 25th death anniversary was commemorated last December, marking his untimely passing from a heart attack in Sydney, Australia, where he had been attending a conference for Moral Re-Armament (MRA) as a keynote speaker. Hunte played a pivotal role in transforming West Indies cricket from its nascent stages into a global powerhouse. Beyond the field, he epitomized grace and morality, serving as a beacon of integrity and compassion.