Lalita Panicker leads the opinion section at Hindustan Times. Over a 33-year career, she has specialised in gender issues, reproductive health, child rights, politics and social engineering.
Articles by Lalita Panicker
Economic opportunity key to inclusion of transgenders
Despite the government setting up shelters and framing pension and health insurance schemes, the transgender community is still largely on the peripheries when it comes to equal opportunities in the job market.
Published on Aug 24, 2024 09:10 PM IST
A blockchain boon for women’s health
A pilot project will give women control and access to their own documentation and enable them to demand the benefits that are owed to them
Published on Aug 10, 2024 09:09 PM IST
WASHing away the climate crisis risks
Given the vulnerabilities faced by women due to the climate crisis, localised adaptation strategies, enhancing infrastructure resilience, and ensuring community awareness and consensus must be prioritised.
Published on Jul 27, 2024 09:22 PM IST
Parties must fulfil poll promises to women
A lot has been done, to the credit of all parties, but a lot more needs to be done and women cannot be relegated to being just valuable voters at election time.
Published on Jul 06, 2024 09:31 PM IST
A pink auto route to empowering women
The pink e-autos initiative could be replicated across India. It will tick several boxes, empowerment of women, getting more women into the labour force, contributing to a cleaner environment and breaking gender stereotypes about what work a woman can or cannot do
Published on Jun 22, 2024 09:01 PM IST
Mediation matters: A need for more women
The new government must eliminate institutional barriers for women mediators. A key step is ensuring adequate funding and training.
Published on Jun 08, 2024 11:45 PM IST
State needs to address the plight of domestic workers
It is hard to understand why more effort is not being made to make it easier for women to stay in the workforce.
Published on May 25, 2024 10:00 PM IST
How SHGs influence women voters in India
As women realise that power at the grassroots can affect power structures all the way up to Parliament, greater empowerment is sure to follow.
Published on May 11, 2024 10:00 PM IST
In the shadow of war, Gaza women battle on
While the world waits for a political resolution to the crisis, more attention must be given to how the crisis in Gaza has impacted gender relations.
Published on Apr 27, 2024 10:08 PM IST
In parched cities, water brings women closer
Embracing innovative solutions to strengthen water quality testing, and embrace circular water economy principles can build resilience in water governance.
Published on Apr 06, 2024 08:12 PM IST
Women are leading the fight against TB
Awareness and early treatment are even more vital given that women and girls make up nearly one million of the estimated 2.8 million TB cases in India each year
Published on Mar 23, 2024 09:13 PM IST
The continuing battle for bread and peace
We should remember that the fight for a woman’s right to nutritious food is a fight for a future where the promise of bread and peace is fulfilled for all.
Published on Mar 09, 2024 10:04 PM IST
Manipur women face trauma in relief camps
In many camps, there are 200 women to one toilet in most camps and often only open spaces for bathrooms
Updated on Feb 26, 2024 11:10 AM IST
View family planning through a gender lens
Building capacity among health workers, addressing intersectionality, and implementing innovative solutions can improve access to family planning services
Published on Feb 10, 2024 09:50 PM IST
Fear of unsafe public spaces erodes women’s autonomy
The study argues that as the idea of the unsafe city has taken hold, women have been forced to restrict their own conduct in public while facing restraints
Published on Jan 27, 2024 10:05 PM IST
Empower women in emerging tech fields
India, with its considerable expertise in all new technologies, can take many steps to build equal access to them for women
Published on Jan 13, 2024 11:25 PM IST
Women must be heard in climate decision-making
The government must support the voice of women in the response to the climate crisis through increased participation in policy design
Published on Dec 30, 2023 10:13 PM IST
Lalita Panicker picks her favourite reads of 2023
To understand what is happening in Gaza, it is necessary to look back at the many works on the subject, especially Failing Peace: Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict by Sara Roy, which provides a deep understanding into the origins of the conflict
Updated on Dec 29, 2023 05:42 PM IST
Women's power surges in political landscape
The real testimony to women’s political rights will come when they hold significant positions of power across the political spectrum
Published on Dec 16, 2023 10:00 PM IST
In Delhi murder verdict, a plea to make cities safe
Youth-led decision-making can contribute to the betterment of the cities, while also empowering youth as informed and active citizens
Published on Dec 02, 2023 10:19 PM IST
In Gaza war, women and children suffer most
There should be a much greater international effort to protect Gaza’s women and children, who are the most vulnerable in this conflict.
Published on Nov 18, 2023 10:17 PM IST
Trafficking calls for urgent State action
Child trafficking networks uncovered in MP and Rajasthan, highlight gaps in the justice system
Published on Nov 04, 2023 10:37 PM IST
Women as building blocks of liveable cities
The Mukta project in Odisha empowers women through self-help groups and aims to increase the involvement and empowerment of women
Published on Oct 21, 2023 10:35 PM IST
Women farm workers need workplace safety
Measures such as collecting data, raising awareness, and creating safe spaces are needed to combat violence against women in agriculture.
Published on Oct 07, 2023 10:00 PM IST
Brave new world of women entrepreneurs
The gig economy presents a significant opportunity for women's entrepreneurship, and the government needs to support the private sector in its business models.
Published on Sep 27, 2023 01:11 AM IST
Ensure justice for women prisoners
Overcrowding in Indian prisons is a major issue, especially for women prisoners who face isolation and lack of legal aid. Rehabilitation efforts are essential
Published on Sep 09, 2023 09:52 PM IST
Urban development needs a gender lens
We need thoughtful urban planning along with equitable allocation of public services, keeping in mind the unique needs of historically disadvantaged communities
Published on Aug 26, 2023 10:22 PM IST
Educate men and boys on gender sensitivity
The horrific attack on women in Manipur highlights the need for societal change in India to address gender-based violence
Published on Aug 12, 2023 08:54 PM IST
Empower women to combat violence
Gram sakhis and women's forums in Kishangarh, Ajmer are promoting helpline numbers to deal with violence against women, covering 33 villages in the district.
Published on Jul 23, 2023 12:06 AM IST
Universal basic income can be a game changer
Universal Basic Income (UBI), if implemented on a larger scale, could be a game changer for women's empowerment in India.
Updated on Jul 09, 2023 10:09 AM IST