How livelihoods of the poor can be strengthened

About 400 delegates, over 90 sector leaders, 20 exclusively curated sessions and associated events… the Livelihoods India Summit is bringing together stakeholders and experts from far and wide for a two-day event that aims to foster deliberations on issues relating to livelihoods promotion of the poor. The summit, being organised by Access Development Services on… Continue reading How livelihoods of the poor can be strengthened

How the Oraon tribe makes Mahua liquor

Mahua is a beautiful flower found on the Mahua tree. This magical tree provides valuable things like vegetable butter, medicines, syrups, and Mahua liquor – a special drink made from its fragrant flowers, making it particularly exciting. In Pics: Chhattisgarh’s magical mahua flowers Although many tribal communities make Mahua liquor, it is believed that the… Continue reading How the Oraon tribe makes Mahua liquor

Dhokra balances preservation & evolution amidst challenges

Sheltered from the frantic sounds of a city desperate to modernise, Dhokra artisan Bajrang Kuldip sits serenely in his workshop in the expansive craft city of Kondagaon in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. He wraps a female figurine with sinuous and noodle-like black wax strips, just as his ancestors did before. The open workshop, beneath… Continue reading Dhokra balances preservation & evolution amidst challenges

The 3rd Annual Village Vibe Photo Competition

We are at it again, folks. The photo competition. We want to see rural India through your lens for our third annual Village Vibe photo competition.   This year the photo competition is bigger and better. We are seeking entries in four categories – Food, Fashion, Culture and Aerial photography (Drone pictures). Through your camera, we… Continue reading The 3rd Annual Village Vibe Photo Competition

Transgender student uses art to reach hearts

Arnavi is  a third-year student at Jammu University’s Institute of Music and Fine Arts. She is on a journey that goes beyond simple artistic  brilliance. Through her work she tells stories of inclusivity, honoring the voices of the transgender community that are often ignored. Her intense desire to promote social change is evident through her… Continue reading Transgender student uses art to reach hearts

Farmers turn to organic farming thanks to this ‘agri-friend’

Geeta Rani Satpathy of Angisingi in Nayagarh district of Odisha is transforming the agricultural landscape of her village. Here’s her journey of how she convinced the farmers as a krishi mitra – in her own words.  I was spurred into organic cultivation when I came to Angisingi after getting married.  I observed farmers using a… Continue reading Farmers turn to organic farming thanks to this ‘agri-friend’

On Kolab reservoir’s perilous pathway, villagers await bridge

The Kolab reservoir, a manmade sea of water in the Eastern Ghats of Odisha, weaves a paradoxical tale of proximity and isolation. Built in the mid-1980s, this gravity-fed dam built across the Kolab river for a hydel and irrigation project birthed the reservoir that would separate 138 villages from their district headquarters town of Koraput.… Continue reading On Kolab reservoir’s perilous pathway, villagers await bridge

Acid attack survivor: I don’t want to hide my face

Kavita Bisht, who hails from Kanal village in Uttarakhand, was just 19 years old when a man threw acid on her face because she refused to befriend him. After going through several years of physical and emotional trauma following the acid attack, she gave new direction to her life, finding her life’s purpose in empowering… Continue reading Acid attack survivor: I don’t want to hide my face

Cutting out prejudices, barbers shine at Bhind weddings

It is wedding season, and the day starts as early as 4 am for Mata Prasad of Khaneta village in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh.  Prasad is not getting married, and nor is anyone in his family getting married. Yet, as a naai – called barber in English – he would be kept extremely busy… Continue reading Cutting out prejudices, barbers shine at Bhind weddings

‘My songs come from my heart’: Pushpan Pradhan

Pushpan Pradhan lives up to his name in more ways than one. Like the fragrance of a flower, his voice wafts softly through the air as he brings to the fore social issues through his melodies. And like the sweet-scented petals, the singer has blossomed through thorns and rough winds.  Pradhan is a people’s performer,… Continue reading ‘My songs come from my heart’: Pushpan Pradhan

Thar villagers revive ponds to tackle water scarcity

With sand stretching for miles and with limited rainfall, people living in the Thar Desert have developed several methods of collecting and storing rainwater for household and agricultural use and for their livestock.  Naadi or pond is one such system that has helped the desert communities tackle water shortage. Every village has its own ponds,… Continue reading Thar villagers revive ponds to tackle water scarcity

Jen and the art of making carpets fly in Maharashtra

Introducing “jen” – a versatile creation born from the fleece of sheep. Unroll it, and it transforms into a carpet, inviting into a meditative Zen state. Spread it out, and it becomes a mattress, or drape it as a cosy blanket – invoking the inner kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of change for the better. This… Continue reading Jen and the art of making carpets fly in Maharashtra

Dance to the beats of dollu at this Karnataka festival

Deep into the night, the sound of drums reverberated through a village in the hilly and wooded expanse of Shimogga district in central Karnataka. Barefoot dancers pulsated to the beat in colourful clothing – dhoti, angavastra (a shoulder cloth or stole worn by men), and turban. Dozens of people squeezed in for a closer look,… Continue reading Dance to the beats of dollu at this Karnataka festival

Tribal school in Bengal defies odds, nurtures cultural roots

A residential primary school for tribal students, run by tribal teachers, in a remote corner of West Bengal’s Purulia district has achieved a unique and rare distinction. Despite its unassuming infrastructure — two brick-and-concrete rooms, three mud-built units, a toilet block, a tube well, and a kitchen garden — the school boasts a 0 percent… Continue reading Tribal school in Bengal defies odds, nurtures cultural roots

Wake up and smell the coffee at this Muddenahalli homestay

TS Eliot once said he measured out his life with coffee spoons. The same can likely be said about many members of our society. Growing up in Karnataka, which accounts for more than 70% of the coffee produced in the country, M Muniswamy who owns a homestay now in Muddenahalli, would often start his days… Continue reading Wake up and smell the coffee at this Muddenahalli homestay

Drop of change: Rajasthan village’s inspiring water resurgence

The residents of Jodhpuriya village in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan still remember the time when they grappled with water scarcity and how it impacted their agro-pastoral livelihood. But now the village is an example of the potency of community-led initiatives in revitalising water resources.  With the use of technology and institutional support, the community has… Continue reading Drop of change: Rajasthan village’s inspiring water resurgence

Photos that reveal Kashmir’s hidden wildlife treasures

Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, 50, has been following the same routine for the last decade. He leaves his house in Nishat, Srinagar, before dusk and enters the Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary, where he guards and documents nature and its vibrant hues with wildlife photos. Bhat joined the Department of Wildlife Protection of Jammu and Kashmir in the… Continue reading Photos that reveal Kashmir’s hidden wildlife treasures

Rural fieldwork: A mosaic of learning and experiences

In 2016, I embarked on an academic journey to the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) in Bhopal. This decision unfolded into a transformative experience, immersing me in the diverse landscapes of Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.  I learnt firsthand that any developmental activity should not focus merely on economic aspects. This story narrates the… Continue reading Rural fieldwork: A mosaic of learning and experiences

Odisha school bridges gap between disability and ability

A poignant message graces the walls of Nandini Devi School in the Deulasahi neighbourhood of Odisha’s Dhenkanal town, echoing the aspirations of its unique community: “Know me for my ability and not disability.”  What sets this special school for deaf, mute and blind students apart is the boundless dedication of its seven teachers, including Minati… Continue reading Odisha school bridges gap between disability and ability

An elephant on the loom in river island Majuli

A paradox surfaces in a serene enclave of Majuli, the sprawling river island on the Brahmaputra in Assam. The women of the Mishing tribe, whose farms on the chaporis face relentless raids by wild elephants, weave intricate motifs of the modern-day mammoths onto Majuli gamochas. This heirloom, deeply embedded in Assam’s tradition, serves as a… Continue reading An elephant on the loom in river island Majuli