By Editors
Starting in September 2024, the Mumbai chapter of the Network of Women in Media, India, conducted five webinars to help the media better understand Maharashtra in the run-up to the 2024 elections to the Vidhan Sabha.
Political scientists, academics, activists and journalists shared their insights at these meetings. They discussed the real concerns of the people who would be lining up outside the polling booths on November 20.
The gross neglect of the agricultural sector is accelerating distress migration into the cities. New ‘big ticket’ infrastructure projects in the cities cater to the rich while ignoring the difficulties faced by the urban poor. Women are worst affected by these policies. And social tensions are increasing across the board.
Instead of addressing these issues, the political class is caught up in jingoism, sloganeering and numbers games, and horse trading will surely be key in the post-election scenario.
Webinars 1, 3, 4 and 5 were recorded and are available for viewing here, along with a report on Webinar 2.
Links:
Reservation politics: what to look for in the 2024 Maharashtra state polls
Coalition khichdi- impact on policy, politics and people
Mumbai’s infrastructure woes: the battle for the ballot
Rural Maharashtra: government schemes, job crisis, markets & polls
