Author: Village Square
The flame of Ujjwala burns strong
Through financial assistance, Ujjwala scheme helps rural and migrant households access cleaner cooking gas. Women save time spent earlier in collecting firewood and cooking and are able to earn more.
Master strokes of a Mithila maestro
Manisha Jha, a passionate Mithila painter and architect dedicated to preserving tradition, talks about her journey, artistic roots and vision for sustaining the rich folk art of this region.
India’s most haunted villages
From ghostly apparitions to hair-raising tales, this list reveals the country's supernatural secrets.
Kulasai Dasara comes alive with devotion and delight
Dussehra takes a riveting form at Kulasekharapatnam village of Tamil Nadu, where thousands of devotees, wearing body paint and costumes to look like different deities, gather at the Sri Mutharamman Temple to celebrate Kulasai Dasara.
Delicacies from the heartland
On this World Food Day, we are celebrating the diversity of Indian cuisines -- from the Santhal tribe's red ant chutney in Odisha to Chhattisgarh's millets cafe that crafts burgers, pizzas and dosas, showcasing cultural uniqueness through food.
4 Badass rural women who made history
From changing sexual harrassment laws to growing trees at the age of 112 – these rural women have contributed to significant impact in India.
Inspiring rural women who defied expectations
They had only a dream to start with. And they have made their mark in various fields with a never-quit spirit. This International Day of Rural Women, we revisit some inspiring stories covered on Village Square.
‘Stigma, isolation aggravate mental health problems’
Access to mental health is a big challenge in rural India, particularly for the LGBTQIA+ communities and persons with HIV, says Rajesh Srinivas of Sangama, an organisation working for the cause.
Caught by cotton – the thread that binds Team VS
The love may be old, but the charm lives on. Village Square is a team of handloom lovers and we grabbed the occasion of World Cotton Day to pen our odes to the fabric that’s born of the soil.
5 unique homestays across rural India
Pack your bags and leave the city behind! We're about to unveil 5 hidden gems of rural India, where your next adventure begins with these extraordinary homestays.
‘Collaboration is key to protect water bodies’
We need to look back at our ancestors to learn the best practices about river and water conservation in India, says Shri Krishna of Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI).
‘Poaching of rhinos: You cannot save animals only with guns’
For Rathin Barman, a teacher who turned towards wildlife conservation over 20 years back, the unknown challenges of rescuing animals is exciting. He reflects on his work with rhinos and other animals in Assam.
What ails solar powered irrigation in rural areas?
Solar powered irrigation can help small farmers grow crops during dry season and increase their incomes but the implementation of poor-friendly innovations is beset with behavioural, economic, technical and policy-related challenges.
Sun comes to the aid of poor farmers
Solar power irrigation has emerged as a sustainable solution for the rural poor farmers but several technical, social and organisational challenges need to be tackled to ensure a wider reach.
‘Education should make people capable of helping others’
Technology plays an extremely important role in providing access to education and addressing the big rural-urban literacy divide, says Indraani Singh, the founder of Literacy India.
Join Village Square’s Webinar Series on Development Issues
Webinar - "How Solar Power is Revolutionizing Irrigation for the Rural Poor". Learn from experts about sustainable solutions for remote rural areas, discussing technical, social, and income-enhancing aspects.
Women Farmers: Struggling to light up the hearth
This International Photography Day, we present a compelling photo essay by documentary photographer Vicky Roy, spotlighting women farmers. Through his lens, Vicky, a documentary photographer, captures the daily lives of India’s resilient women farmers, shedding light on their kitchen tasks – an added responsibility amidst their already demanding roles as farmers.
Many Corners of Village Square – Stories and Insights from Rural India
Indian villages are full of stories that reflect the diversity, resilience and unique perspectives of its people. Capturing these stories and bringing them to the forefront is our coffee table book – ‘Many Corners of a Village Square’ Book your copy today
Earth Overshoot Day: A call for sustained conservation efforts
The World Overshoot Day today once again serves as a reminder that human demands on nature surpass the planet's biocapacity. The effects are for everyone to see, especially in rural areas.
Stepping into the tiger’s reserve
Project Tiger was initiated in 1973 at Corbett Tiger Reserve with the primary aim of safeguarding and fostering the tiger species. On this International Tiger Day on July 29, we join a safari jeep driver on one of his trips. He tells us what it’s like to live on the fringes of the forest and work in the reserve, and what tiger conservation means to him.