Think big, act bold

Lawyers weigh in with their demands from the new government

Forecasting the monsoon is not a task for the fainthearted. Despite changing climate patterns, few foresee changes in the reach and reliability of the torrential rain that makes its way up the length of India every year. The fortunes of many depend on the monsoons. Yet some now speak of a scenario where the monsoon – destabilized by human activity – becomes increasingly erratic and diminishes and fades from parts of the sub-continent.

The well-being of the population, especially in rural India, is deeply entwined with the availability of water, and speaking up now is vital if remedial measures are to be taken. After prolonged droughts and water shortages, getting it wrong is no longer an option.

Apprehension about monsoons looms large as the new government takes charge. Yet it is only one among the myriad challenges that lie in store.

In this vein, our Cover Story outlines the most pressing demands, as identified by the Indian and international legal community, for the new government to tackle. One issue that found resonance across our readership was the country’s complex and archaic labour laws. According to Manoj Kumar of Hammurabi & Solomon, there are currently 37 central laws and six amendments that govern labour matters – six laws relate to wages alone.

“For a growing country like ours we need to conduct a deeper study of these laws and compress them for less complication and more labour benefits such as financial and social security,” he says.