An inadequate rural healthcare system, a lack of awareness about the spread of coronavirus, combined with the difficulty in home isolation leads to increase in number of infections in Odisha
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Villagers are on a do-or-die agitation against coal pollution
Villagers near Kulda mines have been fighting against coal pollution for over a decade. With no respite after representations and court cases they took to renewed protests in January
Technology enables villagers access health consultations remotely
e-Sanjeevani, a technological application, enables rural patients consult doctors via mobile phones. It has come in handy for remote COVID-19 consultations during the pandemic and the lockdown
Participatory theatre helps frontline workers cope with burn-out
Allowing the audience to change the way a play progresses has helped frontline workers acknowledge personal pandemic fears and learn the importance of peer learning and support
Why villagers are against a proposed marina
Government proposes to develop a marina of international standards to promote tourism. Residents of coastal villages oppose it, fearing an impact on their livelihood and the ecology
Volunteers enumerate patients in remote villages, deliver medicines
Where villagers lack access to health facilities, district administration and development organizations enlist volunteers to monitor patients’ health and deliver COVID-19 medicines at their doorstep
Solar energy enables medical service during power cuts
With sustainable solar power, community health center is able to treat patients uninterruptedly, provide emergency care, bring down diesel expenditure for generators, and serve as a model
Lack of local livelihoods forces men to migrate far
With no industrial jobs, and low wages in agriculture, men from Bhagabanpur in Maldah district migrate to faraway places like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, to make a living
Constraints that prevent farmers from becoming prosperous
Land holding size, water availability, funds and markets impact farmers’ incomes. This second piece of a four-part series explores constraints and viability of mixed farming for farm prosperity
COVID-19 assistance helps villagers find a footing
Odisha Livelihood Mission’s financial support has enabled many vulnerable rural families, especially women entrepreneurs, to recover from the economic shock of the pandemic-induced lockdown
Gond youth keep their cultural traditions alive
Songs to mark celebrations and appeal to gods, accompanied by rhythmic drum beats and dancing, are part of Adivasi culture. Cultural melas help the youth continue their tradition
Can farmers farm for prosperity?
Those who intervene for farmers’ welfare seem to prefer maintaining the poor-farmer image than ensuring financial success. The first of a four-part series explores this aspect
A Tribute to Prem Kumar Verma
A village hero Prem Verma fought against flood for his fellow villagers in his entire life, could not rescue himself from Covid 19 and left for his heavenly abode. Prem Verma Secretary of a nonprofit organization Samta Khagaria (Bihar) was associated with the villagers of flood affected areas in his district. He ran programs for… Continue reading A Tribute to Prem Kumar Verma
Farmer runs people’s academy to share knowledge
A Pawara tribe farmer, who transformed his unproductive land and started conservation of landraces, serves as a resource person at field trainings despite lacking formal education
Alcohol addiction gives way to organic farming
Appalled by the lakhs they spent on alcohol, residents of a village vow to never touch liquor again. They turn their village into a successful organic model
Community restores grasslands, makes village drought-resilient
Lamkani, a village 40 km from Dhule in Maharashtra, was known for its grasslands and for being fodder-rich in the pre-independence era. The situation changed after the drought in the 1970s. The lush green village became completely barren after enduring drought again in the 1990s. Lamkani could no longer provide employment to its people nor… Continue reading Community restores grasslands, makes village drought-resilient
Trained tribal youth educate community about coronavirus
To prevent pandemic alienation of tribes, select local tribal youth were equipped with accurate information, so that they could demystify coronavirus myths among their community
Community ensures forest protection and sustainable management
Van panchayats, which are local forest management institutions with elected representatives, ensure protection of forests by reviving and conserving water sources and by adopting fire prevention measures
Where are the women in water governance?
When I started my master’s course in water science and policy, I had scant knowledge of the water sector. I was yet to become familiar with the challenges in equitable distribution, besides the different social, legal and institutional aspects of water. But, throughout the course, the social aspect of water was one thing that grabbed… Continue reading Where are the women in water governance?
Self-help groups effect social change in villages
Freeing themselves from the restraints of veils, rural women have become empowered to make financial contributions to the household and raise their voice for village needs