As a consequence of India's caste system, the country's lowest class has been forced to work in the sewers. Hema Konsotia is a member of the lower-caste Dalit community, known by some as the "untouchables." She is also a college graduate and union activist who works with Dalits, teaching skills and urging political involvement.
Archive for March, 2009
One woman fights for members of India’s lowest caste
Tune in: Radio show on resources in the developing world
Worldfocus.org's weekly radio show explored the state of natural resource use, opportunities and dangers for resource-rich developing countries and the role played by the U.S. in this global issue. Dave Burdick, Michael Cohen and Alf Hornborg joined the conversation.
Watch the show from Tuesday, March 31: Conference on Afghanistan, Britain prepares to leave Iraq, one woman's fight to help India's "untouchables" and women in power in Liberia.
Africa’s first elected female president lifts Liberia
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is leading Liberia's efforts to rebuild after its 14-year civil war. Watch a video on her role in the country's road to recovery and an extended interview.
Iran offers to help reconstruct Afghanistan
On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other top foreign officials met at the Hague to discuss America's new plan to stabilize Afghanistan. Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation discusses the small but important step that the United States and Iran took toward improving three decades of tense, often bitter relations.
Guatemalans shed tears of frustration over U.S. immigration
Samuel Loewenberg of the Pulitzer Center is currently in Guatemala producing a couple Worldfocus signature stories. He writes about the experience of Guatemalan migrants to the U.S.
Terrorism puts a damper on South Asian cricket sport
Cricket is wildly popular in India, Pakistan and other South Asian countries, but even sports aren't immune to terrorism -- attacks in recent months have created doubt about the safety of holding matches, writes a Worldfocus contributing blogger.
Watch the show from Monday, March 30: Attack on a Pakistani police academy, cyber spies, India's caste system and Khmer Rouge trials.
India’s “untouchables” trudge through sewers
For all the progress seen in India's transformation into a modern global economy, the country remains strongly tied to the traditions of its caste system, which largely governs where Indians work and in what jobs. Worldfocus reports on the lowest form of work, for members of India's lowest class.
Chinese cyber spies hack into government computers
Over the weekend, a Canadian research group reported that a cyber spy network based mainly in China had hacked into the computers and secret documents of governments and organizations in 103 countries. Keith Epstein of BusinessWeek discusses the implications of cyber spying.