Ramjas College's Chetna Malik declared winner of Speak for India 2024 Delhi-NCR Edition

The Speak for India 2024 organised by the Federal Bank of India in collaboration with TOI and NBT, culminated in the victory of Ramjas College’s Chetna Malik amid spirited debates and discussions. Over 450 colleges and more than 3000 students from the Delhi NCR region participated in this two-month-long event.
The final round of the Speak for India debate competition for the Delhi-NCR edition took place on Tuesday, March 19th.Chetna Malik from Ramjas College emerged victorious after a rigorous debate spanned nearly three hours and featured eight participants. They deliberated on topics ranging from gender pay equality to the legal age for internet usage and the reality of climate change.
How it all unfolded- 8 contestants, 3 rounds, 3 topics and 3 judges
The competition comprised three rounds, each focusing on different issues, with three judges overseeing the proceedings. In the first round, participants were divided into two groups, debating for and against the motion on the given topic within three minutes.
Topic one: Pay parity
The first topic that was addressed was whether female athletes should receive equal pay and prize money in sports. Priya Singh from Ramanujan College argued in favour, emphasizing that parental support is crucial for children pursuing sporting careers. Meanwhile, Bharti College’s Ojasvi Gupta stressed the need for grassroot level changes to achieve gender equality. Shashank Gupta from KMC highlighted the nuances of wage structures and cited examples from various sports leagues to illustrate his point. In opposition, Chetna Malik from Ramjas argued that equality remains elusive and pointed out discrepancies in wage structures across different sports with clarity. She shared, "Equality was never there. It's just compensation. Look at the revenue of the Women's Premier League and the Indian Premier League. In Grand Slams, men and women are awarded equal prizes. PV Sindhu said that your salary depends on how many sponsors you bring. Deepika Padukone didn't get paid for opportunities. She only got paid when she brought in audiences and sponsors."

Second Topic - Legal age for internet usage in India: 13 or 18?
The second topic centered on the legal age for internet usage in India. Pankaj Upadhyay from DVACC advocated a flexible approach, acknowledging the changing landscape of internet usage and its educational benefits. Priyadarshini Singh from BR Ambedkar University however, spoke for maintaining a higher age limit, citing concerns about children's decision-making capabilities. Somdatta Chakravarti (Miranda House, DU) and Priyanshu Raj (Loyd Law College) presented contrasting views on the risks and opportunities associated with early internet exposure.
Third Topic - Is climate change: a real or fake threat to humanity?
The third and final topic addressed the threat of climate change and whether it is accurate or exaggerated. Chetna argued for urgent action, citing evidence of increasing natural disasters and environmental degradation. Priyanshu, on the other hand, questioned the severity of climate change, citing historical precedents and scientific skepticism.
About Speak For India
The Speak for India competition encourages youth engagement in addressing pressing societal issues and driving positive change. With participants from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, the platform provides a valuable opportunity for dialogue and debate on crucial topics affecting our society. Actor Tisca Chopra was the celebrity guest at the competition. She thanked TOI, NBT, and the Federal Bank of India for their commendable initiative that saw participation from more than 450 colleges.

Times of India’s Ajay Iyyer spoke about how this initiative by Federal Bank, TOI, and NBT was launched at Ramjas College in New Delhi on January 29, 2024. Under this, district-level competitions were held in 15 districts of Delhi and 5 districts of NCR. More than 450 colleges and over 3000 students enthusiastically participated. The finale of Speak for India was organized at Mata Sundari College for Women, Delhi University, Mandi House.
Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Speak for India by Times Internet’s Spotlight team.