Mumbai: Prabha wants just one thing: a rented home for herself and her 9-year-old daughter. Unable to afford one, the 29-year-old beautician from Ulhasnagar travelled nearly two hours by train and bus to a doctor’s clinic in central Mumbai for 11 consecutive days to take hormone injections to stimulate her ovaries before doctors retrieved her eggs for another woman’s IVF treatment.For Prabha, the decision to donate had little to do with altruism, though Indian law permits egg donation only on an altruistic basis.She was promised Rs 85,000. Sitting in the clinic’s waiting room, she explains why she believes she is being paid more than other women there. “I’m a graduate. I’m fair and tall,” she says.Around her sit nearly 15 women, waiting either for health screening or their daily injections.Each has a reason. None admit to knowing that the law permits only one egg donation between 23 and 35 years of age.

Siya, a divorcee from Mankhurd, lives with her brother and young son. “My brother is getting married. Why will his wife tolerate me?” she asks. A friend connected her to an agent. “The agent asked me to WhatsApp my photograph and Aadhaar card before recruiting me.” She has never met the agent, who paid her Rs 30,000 twice, but says she now wants more.Twenty-six-year-old Shaheen from Bhiwandi lost her call centre job two years ago and has a 5-year-old son. “My friend told me about egg donation. I’ve donated a few times, earning Rs 35,000 each time. I’ve even travelled to Hyderabad and Chennai,” she says.Chembur-resident Triveni, 27, says egg donation has become her means of survival. “My husband doesn’t earn regularly. He told me to take care of my own expenses.”These women who don’t know one another form the invisible workforce powering India’s booming IVF industry.Most have little understanding of science. Over 10-12 days, they undergo hormone injections, repeated scans and blood tests before eggs are retrieved under anaesthesia through a needle passed through the vaginal wall. Though most recover within a day, the procedure carries risks, including bleeding, infection and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.The biggest exploitation, experts say, is financial. An IVF cycle using donor eggs can cost up to Rs 2 lakh, but the women whose eggs make those pregnancies possible get less than 20% of the sum.IVF specialists estimate donor eggs are required in nearly 10% of the 2.5-3 lakh IVF cycles performed annually in India. “So, India needs at least 20,000 egg donors a year,” says a Bandra-based fertility specialist. But, as IVF specialist Dr Kedar Ganla puts it, the demand has outstripped supply: “There is a shortage of egg donors today because women are delaying childbirth and ovarian reserves in Indian women begin declining around 32.”Three months ago, Maharashtra Police unearthed an alleged illegal egg donation racket in Badlapur and arrested eight. Investigators said more than 250 illegal egg retrievals were carried out using 30 women, with one woman allegedly undergoing the procedure 37 times.Police say the racket preyed on poverty.Female agents approached women during suburban train journeys or in their neighbourhoods, striking up conversations about debt, alcoholism and family problems before offering what appeared to be an easy Rs 30,000-40,000.Investigators allege the women were taken not to authorised clinics but to residential flats for hormone injections. Forged Aadhaar cards and fabricated affidavits were allegedly used to bypass safeguards under the ART Act. Police also claim the women were not paid every time, with the racket coming to light after one donor complained at a Badlapur primary health centre that she had not been paid.The case has reignited debate within India’s fertility community.Dr Ganla points out that the law permits retrieval of only seven eggs from a donor. “However, studies show 15 eggs may be needed for a successful IVF cycle. Fewer eggs mean fewer embryos and reduced success rates.”Others believe the controversy is temporary. A senior IVF specialist said nearly 90% of ART clinics have now been registered under the ART Act. “Soon, every donor’s Aadhaar details will be on a central database. If a woman attempts to donate a second time, AI tools will flag it.”But a senior fertility expert believes India must confront an uncomfortable reality.“In the UK, egg donation is altruistic, but donors receive a fixed compensation of £900 for their time, travel and inconvenience,” he said. “In the US, women may receive up to $15,000 per donation and can donate up to six times,” he said, adding India should fix a compensation for women.In the fertility clinic waiting room, Prabha isn’t thinking about policy, regulations or the economics of IVF. She is thinking about giving her daughter a place to call home.(Names of donors have been changed)

Mumbai: They balanced on the compound walls of Art Deco buildings, jumped on top of stationary police vans, and wore the national flag on their shoulders. The crowds at Friday’s Tiranga rally held cheeky placards and proud banners: “They said Gen Z only knows how to scroll. Turns out they know how to take a stand.”For much of the past week, they have taken that stand not at Azad Maidan, the officially designated space for protests at CSMT, or in Instagram-famous Bandra, but at Shivaji Park, a historic space closely associated with the city’s particular brand of street politics.The advantages of the neighbourhood are evident: a large open space; well connected by public transport, especially with the addition of the new Aqua Metro line; and, perhaps most importantly, accustomed to political gatherings, especially by the Shiv Sena and the Thackerays, who have thrown their backing behind the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) movement to hold the govt accountable for the NEET exam leaks and other education failures.

The protests give the Thackeray cousins an opportunity to regain political relevance — even without hoisting their party flags. The Shiv Sena (UBT) had lost ground after Eknath Shinde split the party in 2022, and the MNS led by Raj Thackeray has been politically sidelined. But Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was an early supporter of both the CJI’s Abhijeet Dipke and the activist Sonam Wangchuk. Uddhav had received Wangchuk at his residence on June 12 and held a public rally in his support at the park on July 19. On Friday, Uddhav, son Aditya, and Amit Thackeray, Raj Thackeray’s son, shared a stage not only with CJP representatives but also one-time opponent Tushar Gandhi.With no impending elections, the Thackerays’ support had no political agenda, claimed a senior Sena (UBT) functionary. “But it has rejuvenated our party and made us more relevant, especially with the young,” he acknowledged. More importantly, he says, the movement has demonstrated that the BJP is not invincible.Young people at Friday’s protest certainly seemed conscious of the need for diverse political representation. “The problem is that all power is concentrated in the hands of one party, in the Centre and states. So, they don’t want to listen to anyone,” said Nilesh Sutar, a BCom student. For others, this protest may be the beginning of political engagement. Akanksha, 19, from Mumbra plans to take NEET next year—and register as a voter by the next election. “Now I know who not to vote for,” she said.Interestingly, this was also the first protest for many older people as well, from parents to working professionals. But for many residents of the neighbourhood, some of whom also showed up at the protest, the gathering was hardly strange.Politics of a ParkShivaji Park has a long history of being a space for political struggle, one that predates its use as a recreation ground, notes 86-year-old Shanta Gokhale, a writer who has lived in the neighbourhood for most of her life. That history dates to the Independence movement. “During one of Gandhi’s imprisonments, his wife, Kasturba, had to speak on his behalf, and it was at the park that she did so,” Gokhale says.But it was in the 1960s that the park really gained importance by hosting rallies for the Samyukta Maharashtra statehood movement. Uddhav’s grandfather, Prabodhankar Thackeray, lived south of the park, and the writer P K Atre, who was involved in the statehood movement, lived north of the park, Gokhale recalls. “Political culture was part of Shivaji Park culture at one time along with music, gymnastics and cricket,” she says.Later came Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s massive Dussehra rallies. Lakhs of people also camp out every year in and around the park in the run-up to Babasaheb Ambedkar’s death anniversary at Chaityabhoomi on Dec 6. Large crowds also flood the area during Ganpati Visarjan. And recently, the space has also begun to be used for state funerals like Lata Mangeshkar’s in 2022.The current protests are thus less a “revival” of the park’s political function but a “continuation”, Gokhale says. Most of Friday’s protesters came from distant suburbs, not the immediate neighbourhood, whose culture and demographics are changing as swanky new towers replace three-storey tenanted buildings. Gokhale lives in one of those buildings, and though she no longer steps out much, she’s been hearing the slogans from her window. “I sit and fume every time there’s a paper leak,” she says. “I am with the protesters. More power to them.”

Mumbai: The city crime branch arrested three more servants of Shiv Sena deputy speaker Sachin Ahir for allegedly stealing gold, diamond jewellery, silver and other valuables worth Rs 2.6 crore.On Friday, police arrested Pravin Solanki for his alleged involvement in the case. During the course of investigation, Unit 3 on Saturday arrested Satishkumar Mistry (26), Amit Yadav (26), and Suraj Gautam (21), taking the number of arrests to four. All three were produced before the court.Their lawyers, Umesh Kumar and Nirali Sharma, told the court that their clients have been falsely implicated as nothing has been recovered from them. The court remanded the trio to police custody till Aug 1.

Police told the court that they have recovered a 100-gram gold biscuit worth Rs 15 lakh and a gold ingot worth Rs 29.7 lakh from Solanki and they want to recover the remaining booty from these arrested accused.The case came to light after someone tipped off the Ahir family that two of the accused, namely Satish and Amit, who were drawing a salary of around Rs 18,000 working as cook and household work, had allegedly acquired a new house, purchased land, a tempo and a car in their native Jharkhand, besides transferring large sums to relatives. The informer also sent photos to corroborate his claim.Krishna Ahir, son of Sachin, who is the complainant in the case, told police that four domestic workers had been employed at the family’s Worli Sea Face residence for several years. Dashrath Sharma had been working as the family’s cook for about 17 years, while Amarjit Shah had been cooking for nearly 13 years. Satish Kumar Mistry and Amit Kumar Rambachan Prasad had been employed for six to seven years for household work and serving meals, while Suraj Kumar Gautam had joined as a housekeeper about two-and-a-half years ago.Krishna told police that the accused had intimate knowledge of the family’s daily routine, the locations where valuables were kept and access to CCTV systems. After a fire caused by an alleged short circuit at the residence on Oct 13, 2025, the family initially believed that some valuables and cash had been destroyed. However, subsequent scrutiny allegedly revealed missing CCTV footage and raised suspicions of theft.

Film personalities welcomed the education minister’s resignation following protests.

MUMBAI: From calling it a “victory of students” to hailing Gen Z as a “tsunami of hope”, film personalities on Saturday welcomed Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation following weeks of protests over the NEET paper leak issue.Pradhan stepped down earlier in the day amid growing pressure over alleged irregularities in the conduct of several competitive examinations.In his resignation letter, he said he was “disturbed” by the developments of the past 10 days and had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, news agency PI reported.Reacting to the development, Shabana Azmi said, “So proud of our youth. I am truly humbled.

Thank you for showing us that our Constitution is our greatest strength.”Azmi has been among the most outspoken voices from the film industry supporting the student movement.The veteran actor, who was expected to join the students’ protest in Mumbai but could not attend after being diagnosed with swine flu, said the movement must continue until wider reforms are introduced.“It is the first step towards the students’ victory. But the resistance must continue till the educational system is overhauled and all demands are met,” Azmi added.The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation began at Jantar Mantar on June 20 over the NEET paper leak and examination irregularities before spreading to several cities, with Pradhan’s resignation becoming the movement’s central demand.The protests intensified earlier this week after police used batons and tear gas to disperse students marching towards Parliament in New Delhi.The action drew widespread criticism and prompted several actors and filmmakers to express support for the protesters, PTI reported.Prakash Raj, who had also participated in the Jantar Mantar protest, shared an Instagram post congratulating his “dear cockroaches” and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who undertook a prolonged hunger strike in solidarity with the movement.“Dear Sonam Wangchuk sir and every single one who stood by the youth. You have proved that you can bring a regime down to its knees,” he wrote.Alia Bhatt posted on her Instagram Stories, “Gen Z showed up! The rest is history.”Filmmakers Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar also reacted to the resignation. “GEN Z… You are a tsunami of hope,” Kagti wrote.Farhan Akhtar posted, “Democracy is a system of government where power belongs to the people.”Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared a news article announcing Pradhan’s resignation on her Instagram Stories.Dia Mirza said she had only admiration for Gen Z and thanked Wangchuk for “walking the path of peace and showing our children what true love looks like”.“Thank you to every young student asking for accountability, transparency and reform in our education system. @cockroachjantaparty remain respectful, peaceful and consistent as you have,” she said.Aditi Rao Hydari posted, “Fighting the good fight and winning it… RESPECT. Gen Z for the win. More power to honesty, dignity, non-violence, accountability, freedom of speech, and intelligence. May these always be louder than fear, division, and hate.”Vijay Varma shared a photograph of Pradhan on social media with the caption, “Accha chalta hoon… duaaon mein yaad rakhna,” quoting the popular song “Channa Mereya” from “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”.Comedian-writer Varun Grover congratulated the students and activists who spearheaded the movement.“Congratulations, India. The seriousness of @Cockroachisback, @SauravDassss, @abhijeet_dipke, @neha_aisa, Aameen, Manish, and the unhinged non-seriousness of the Gen Z memes has made the kings blink today,” he wrote.Vir Das shared a photograph with the caption “Friends” before posting a message applauding the students.“You restored a single word of a tiny little sentence of that book we all read in school and forgot. You beautiful kids. Whatever the hell happens from here, you won. Now hurry up and celebrate,” he wrote.Pankaj Tripathi said, “In a democracy, arrogance and the baton ultimately break. And in breaking, they make democracy stronger. Salute to Gen Z.”Huma Qureshi, who had also visited Jantar Mantar with her brother Saqib Saleem, posted, “Salute to the youth.”Tillotama Shome said she felt fortunate to witness the historic youth-led movement.“‘Youth is wasted on the young’ can retire officially. And other tired cliches and cynical smart-alecs. And, NO, not back to business as usual. Thank you, thank you to the YOUTH of INDIA!!!” she added.Zahan Kapoor posted, “Accha din aa gaya!!! (The good days have arrived).”Ishaan Khatter described it as a victory for India and democracy.“The collective empathy of millions washed the apathy of habit. So f***ing proud. THIS is the INDIA I grew up in. Maa tujhe salaam,” he wrote on Instagram.Bhumi Pednekar congratulated Gen Z, saying their “conviction, courage, and belief in the power of change has inspired us”.“I truly hope this movement leads to meaningful reform in systems that are broken, not just in education, but across every institution that needs correction.“Now is the time for decisive reform and lasting change. I think for every Indian, whether you are serving in office or are an ordinary citizen, the nation, its prosperity, its people and its security should always come first,” she said.Saba Azad posted, “Chaatr ekta zindabad!!!” while Swara Bhasker described the development as a “Huge victory for students.”Malayalam actor Parvathy Thiruvothu shared a screenshot of Pradhan’s resignation letter and wrote, “Resigned!!!!”“Jai Hind,” wrote Tovino Thomas.Sonakshi Sinha, Divyenndu, Vaani Kapoor, Vikramaditya Motwane, Swara Bhasker, Twinkle Khanna and several others also shared posts on social media celebrating Pradhan’s resignation.(With agency inputs)