Trriing, trringgg… Hello Samvidhaan!
On the occasion of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birthday, we bring you a special episode of Samvidhaani Pitaara that promotes civic awareness. Hello Samvidhaan is a dramatised simulation of a call-in radio show where listeners from across India raise questions about how the Indian Constitution applies to everyday life.
In our daily lives, we often encounter situations where our rights as citizens intersect — or sometimes clash — with the law. While it’s one thing to study the Constitution article by article, it’s quite another to understand the nuances of when and how to exercise those rights.
What if you had the chance to call in and consult a constitutional expert? Would that make you more aware of your rights — and more empowered as a citizen?
On the occasion of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birthday, we bring you a special episode of Samvidhaani Pitaara that promotes civic awareness. ‘Hello Samvidhaan’ is a dramatised simulation of a call-in radio show where listeners from across India raise questions about how the Indian Constitution applies to everyday life. A cast of characters present a variety of dilemmas, each met with clear, practical guidance from an expert.
One caller is confused about why he can’t use the RTI to find a bride — after all, isn’t the “right to information” supposed to help with everything? A private school teacher is denied paid maternity leave because her contract is ending — can she still claim her rights? A domestic worker from West Bengal, now living in Bengaluru, recounts her ordeal after her husband is falsely accused of theft — how can she access justice without money for legal help? A young schoolboy complains of being beaten and pressured into tuition by his teacher — does he have any say in how he learns?
The Indian Constitution is 75 years old, and it’s time citizens embraced its possibilities fully. In ’Hello Samvidhaan’, host Vineet KKN Panchhi reflects on emphasising the importance of not only knowing our rights, but also upholding our duties as citizens.
Credits
Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar
Acknowledgements
Performers: Gulshan Badgujjar, Johanna Lokhande, Hiya
Experts: Archana Relan, Geetanjali Prasad, Harsh Gupta, Shivangi Anand
Resources
Maternity Rights & Working Conditions
- Article 42 – Just and Humane Conditions of Work and Maternity Relief | Constitution of India
- The Maternity Benefit Act – Detailed Analysis | iPleaders
- Rights of Working Mothers in India | LawBhoomi
Right to Education
- Government of India – Overview of RTE Act
- Right to Education in India – Explained | iPleaders
Right to Legal Aid
- Who is Entitled to Free Legal Services | NALSA
- Article 39A – Legal Aid and Justice | Lawyers Club India
Right to Information (RTI)
- RTI Act FAQs – Government Portal
- RTI Success Stories – When the Act Made a Difference | RTI Foundation of India
- RTI as a Fundamental Right | iPleaders
- RTI Act – A Comprehensive Overview| iPleaders
- RTI & the Constitution – Analytical Piece | Legal Service India
Women’s Reservation in India (In Panchayats, Legislative Assemblies, and Parliament)
- PRS India – Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023
- Press Information Bureau – Government Press Release
- Indian Law Institute Journal Article – Legal & Constitutional Analysis
- UN Women – Feature on India’s Women’s Reservation Law
- ORF – Lessons from 30 Years of Women’s Reservation in Panchayats
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