5 February 2020: Towards an Ethical Refugee Policy in India

This consultation examined the history of refugee policy in India and the economic and political impacts of migration of refugees to India. It also contextualised India’s refugee question at the international level, looking for best practices globally.

Panel members included KP Fabian (former diplomat), Roshni Shanker (Migration and Asylum Project), Prashant Bhushan (Lawyer and Activist) and Harsh Mander (Author and Activist).


Harsh Mander

31 October 2019: Codes of Conduct: Labour Codes in India

The recent labour reforms by the NDA government have led to the streamlining of 44 labour legislations into four broad codes: on wages, occupational safety, health and working conditions, industrial relations and social security and welfare. Those on the side of labour have argued that the 44 labour laws were a result of prolonged struggles of workers of various sectors demanding emphasis on the specificities of each of these sectors. One rule to govern them all may gloss over many of these particularities of an extremely diversified labour market. While others on the Left have also argued that the complex web of laws as they exist today are tedious to navigate and several safeguards un-implementable because of the legal knots and loopholes.

In this context, the Centre for Equity Studies (CES) in collaboration with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung organised a panel discussion on the drawbacks in the existing labour laws, the implications of the recent labour reforms and the challenges it poses to collective bargaining.



Ravi Srivastava on history of labour rights in India:

Nivedita Jayaram on the Occupational Safety and Health Code:
Praveen Jha:

31 August 2019: Consultation on Universal Social Rights

As citizens can we imagine a more substantive measure of democracy than just competitive jingoism and posturing? Can we imagine an idea of substantive democracy that also broadens its definition and guarantees a set of universal economic and social rights to each of its citizens. If yes, what should these set of rights be? Is it actually practicable in terms of resources and feasibility?
In this context, Centre for Equity Studies in collaboration with Rosa Luxemberg Stiftung organised a consultation on Universal Social Rights.

23 April 2019: Peasants, Policy and the Polis: Deepening agrarian crisis and the way ahead

Harsh Mander in conversation with Utsa Patnaik, Siraj Hussain, Ajay Vir Jhakar and Arindam Banerjee.

18 February 2019: Manifesto for the 99%

In conversation with representatives from political parties (K. Raju, Congress Party; Manoj Jha, Rashtriya Janta Dal party; Richa Singh, Samajwadi Party)

11 October 2018: Where the Mind is Free, and Knowledge in Reach: Higher Education, Public Funding and Equity

In conversation with Apoorvanand, N Sukumar, Nandita Narain & Satish Deshpande, moderated by Harsh Mander.

Do we tax enough? And do we tax the right people?

In conversation with C P Chandrashekhar, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Devaki Jain and Rajeev Malhotra, moderated by Harsh Mander.

13 August 2018: The Long Shadow of Joblessness in the High Noon of Growth

In conversation with: Jayati Ghosh, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Renana Jhabvala & Atul Sood.