Goa’s villagers struggle with fewer tourists

The flurry of tourists swimming in Goa’s sea and lakes, promenading through its small lanes full of cafes and clothing stalls has turned to a trickle. And with their departure so goes the livelihoods of people in nearby villages that thrive entirely on the influx of tourists, Russians in particular. Arambol resident Nilesh Naik has… Continue reading Goa’s villagers struggle with fewer tourists

Chai and Bandhu brew a perfect blend for Chakla

Tea is India’s most popular all-season drink. But one social worker took tea to a different level. Abdul Nazar, the social worker, brews tea in his shop in Chakla village of West Bengal – not to make money but to make friends. His tea shop is appropriately named Bandhu – meaning friend in Bengali. But… Continue reading Chai and Bandhu brew a perfect blend for Chakla

The infrastructure woes of government offices

While the whole country was gripped by huge power outages, we were sitting in the district nerve centre in Uttar Pradesh, using makeshift fans made of old reports and trying to cool ourselves down in the scorching 40 degree heat and pondering how sarkari babus cater to a district of 25 lakh-odd population with not… Continue reading The infrastructure woes of government offices

Where the water monitor lizards have a free run

 A 6-feet long Asian Water Monitor lizard roaming freely is enough to create panic among city folks. The site of it may force them to even retreat inside their houses.  But not for the people of Chak Manik village in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.  For the villagers, these creatures are a… Continue reading Where the water monitor lizards have a free run

International Friendship Day – Bridging the gap of language

The playmates: A kid in Mathura playing with a dog and her puppies stopped for the camera to capture this unique friendship (Photo by Chandrakala Srivastava) The seemingly unenthusiastic friend: While oiling the buffalo in Gazipur, Uttar Pradesh to protect him from flies and insects, the kids are merrily playing with their seemingly unenthusiastic friend… Continue reading International Friendship Day – Bridging the gap of language

“India is the guru of tiger conservation”

Village Square: What is the significance of July 29 as World Tiger Day? What does this mean for India? Samir Kumar Sinha: World Tiger Day is celebrated to create awareness about the endangerment of tigers around the world. At the World Tiger Summit in 2010 at St. Petersburg, it was decided to celebrate this day… Continue reading “India is the guru of tiger conservation”

Contribute in Shaping India’s Future – Millennial Actions for Tomorrow

As a nation, for 75 years, we have been striving to eliminate inequalities at all levels, which exist in the forms of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and gender bias. India’s rank in various development indices has barely grown over the years. If India is to improve upon these indices, the Indian Youth needs to take charge… Continue reading Contribute in Shaping India’s Future – Millennial Actions for Tomorrow

Life-changing Sunderbans trip creates SOUL

In 2015 a successful corporate executive from Kolkata, Subhankar Banerjee, took a leisure trip to G-Plot island – travelling five hours, including one-and-a-half hours in a boat, to the last stretch of the Sundarbans delta. Surrounded by the Bay of Bengal, the densely forested island is infested with tigers, crocodiles and poisonous snakes.  Within a… Continue reading Life-changing Sunderbans trip creates SOUL

Embroidery takes her mind off cancer

I learnt Kantha embroidery from my mother.  In Birbhum’s villages, you’ll find women in almost every household doing Kantha.  Kantha gives free rein to our imaginations.  The work is replete with folk motifs, themes and characters from mythology and epics. There are stylised birds, plants, fish, flowers and other scenes too in Kantha embroidery.  You’ll… Continue reading Embroidery takes her mind off cancer

How do tribal households view government interventions?

People belonging to the Scheduled Tribes inhabit areas that have traditionally been considered poorly connected and lacking in amenities. Commonly, if a little erroneously, referred to by the inclusive common name “adivasi”, these people lived in undulating, hilly and mountainous regions which were considered to be endowed with rich forest wealth. It was believed that… Continue reading How do tribal households view government interventions?

Sustainable roofs make houses in informal settlements cooler during summer

One hot summer day, Vivek Gilani noticed his house-help looking exhausted and struggling to complete the chores. The reason, he learnt, was that she hadn’t been sleeping well at night. During the day her house in an informal settlement in Mumbai got so hot that it felt like being in an oven at night. The… Continue reading Sustainable roofs make houses in informal settlements cooler during summer

Same dam yields more fish through cage fish farming

Abhik Sodi fishes at the Satiguda Dam, which is near his village in the Malkangiri district of Odisha.  He has been catching rohu (Labeo rohita) and catla (Lobeo catla) for over a decade.  But the catch has been dwindling with each passing year.  “I used to catch 15-20 kg of fish from the dam even… Continue reading Same dam yields more fish through cage fish farming

Our water, our management

Safe and adequate drinking water to every rural household by 2021 through tap connections – that is the goal of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JMM) of the Government of India.  Community-managed indigenous systems of water management existed in India for many centuries. These systems met the irrigation, drinking and domestic water needs of the community.… Continue reading Our water, our management

Floods in Assam fan out to new areas, cause more harm

Himashri Deka and her neighbour Mitali Deka shuddered to recall the moments when they hastily made a raft out of banana tree stems at night to save their baby daughters from drowning in the horrific floods in Assam last month.  The young mothers in their 20s reside at Milanpur hamlet in the Darrang district of… Continue reading Floods in Assam fan out to new areas, cause more harm

A thousand ponds for this Maharashtrian village’s vineyards

Farm ponds flanked by rows of grape vines growing on trellises is what greets a visitor at Manerajuri village in the Tasgaon taluk of the Sangli district. The village may derive its name from a mythical giant named Mani, but Manerajuri now owes its popularity to vineyards. Nashik in Maharashtra is known for producing grapes,… Continue reading A thousand ponds for this Maharashtrian village’s vineyards

“Assam’s worst flood in four decades”

The situation may, in fact, get worse in the coming months as the entire monsoon is yet to arrive. Village Square: What has been the impact of the flood in the BTR of Assam? Jyotishmoy and Rajdeep: BTR is made up of five districts and situated on the north bank of the Brahmaputra river below… Continue reading “Assam’s worst flood in four decades”

“8 billion people, 8 billion opportunities”

A world of 8 billion: Towards a resilient future for all – Harnessing opportunities and ensuring rights and choices for all. Village Square: What is the significance of World Population Day? Why does it matter for India? Deepesh Gupta: World Population Day seeks to focus on the urgency and importance of population issues. It was… Continue reading “8 billion people, 8 billion opportunities”

Call for applications – Shadow the Leader

You want to be a leader? You want to make a better India?  Well, here’s your chance.  Village Square’s Youth Hub is giving young, aspiring leaders a unique opportunity to learn leadership in action – from successful thought leaders in at the helm of national and international social action organizations. In our inaugural ‘Shadow the… Continue reading Call for applications – Shadow the Leader