Marital blessing helps women understand reproductive system

The Phulo-Phalo blessing that every newly married couple receives is an analogy for reproductive system and a blessing for fertility (Photo courtesy Bajaj Alliance Campaign)

The traditional phulo-phalo blessing that every newly married couple receives seems a materialistic blessing. With a deeper meaning about fertility, it helps women understand reproductive health

Community prevents pollution, keeps lake clean

With preventive measures, the lake conservation committee ensures that tourists do not litter and pollute the lake (Photo courtesy TPSS)

By taking all possible preventive measures, community ensures Tsogmo Lake, a popular tourist destination in Sikkim with rich biodiversity, remains tidy and pollution free

Tribal women reap benefits of collective farming

Collective farming using modern agricultural practices has helped Santhal women increase their farm income (Photo courtesy PRADAN)

Switching to modern agricultural practices and coming together as producer groups have helped women farmers have the bargaining power about their produce and earn more

Transitional houses help villagers rebuild life after cyclone

Transitional shelters have helped villagers like Subhashi Naik rebuild their life after Cyclone Fani (Photo by Rakhi Ghosh)

Villagers have rebuilt their life after Cyclone Fani, by building transitional shelters with local material. Building by themselves has given them dignity, besides a safe space

Bihar farmers grow makhana to tackle weather uncertainties

Farmers in Bihar have turned to makhana cultivation, as extreme weather events damage traditional crops more (Photo by Chinmayanand Singh)

Climate-induced extreme weather events damaging their traditionally grown maize and paddy crops, farmers have switched to growing resilient foxtrot, known for its nutritional value

Young farmer scientist conserves landraces

With training and practical experience farmer Pawar has been conserving landraces of various crops (Photo courtesy BAIF)

A traditional farmer, after undergoing training under agricultural scientists, has been conserving various landraces and sharing his knowledge, besides establishing a community seed bank

Lockdown cash crunch effects organic farming

Livelihood of farmers like Madhabi Jana has improved after they shifted to organic farming due to lockdown cash crunch (Photo by Gurvinder Singh)

With the men away, women farmers had no money to buy chemical inputs during the lockdown and shifted to organic farming. They are already reaping the benefits

Farmers go green by growing organic cotton

After switching to organic cotton cultivation, soil health of Hemantbhai Metaliya’s land has improved and cost of cultivation has reduced (Photo by Piyush Vadodariya)

Switching to organic farming practices has resulted in improved soil health. It has reduced cost of cultivation for farmers, despite organic cotton fetching the same market price

Administrators hope to appease relocated tribes of Simlipal

Khejuri village after the relocation of tribal residents in January (Photo by Basudev Mahapatra)

With discontentment among relocated tribes leading to conflict between tiger conservation and tribes’ habitat rights in Similipal, administrators hope to change mindset with education and employment

Community involvement improves waste management

Collecting and segregating has helped Kelwara, a tourist attraction, manage its waste better (Photo courtesy Seva Mandir)

With awareness lacking in rural areas, waste management is an issue, especially in tourist attractions. A multi-stakeholder model, with the community at the helm shows the way

Eco-friendly sanitation wins proponent civilian award

Subburaman, has been chosen for the Padma Shri Award for his sustained dedication towards total sanitation (Photo courtesy M. Subburaman)

The government primary school in Pagalavadi village in Thuraiyur administrative block of Tiruchirappalli – commonly referred to as Trichy – district boasts of SATO pan toilets. A product of LIXIL, the name SATO is derived from safe toilets. The toilets need just 500ml of water because of a simple mechanical-cum-water seal in the pan. The… Continue reading Eco-friendly sanitation wins proponent civilian award

Visitor toll helps tribes develop their villages

Revenue from the toll has helped the waterfall development committee to use the money on developing the village and helping the needy (Photo by KWDC)

District administration permits tribes to collect toll from tourists visiting Kataki waterfall. With the revenue, the toll committee upgrades the village and waterfalls, besides helping the needy

Bengal’s traditional shellac dolls face lacklustre future

Brindaban Chanda is the lone artisan practicing shellac doll making that shows signs of revival, after a shellac Ganesha was presented to prime minister (Photo by Gurvinder Singh)

Lack of demand coupled with rising cost of raw material has sounded death knell for shellac dolls in West Bengal with just a single artisan practicing it

Cooperative helps rural women gain financial independence

As members of a women’s cooperative, women like Kunwarben Rana have overcome disabilities to be financially independent (Photo by Palak Gosai)

Celebrating International Women’s Day gives members of a rural women’s collective the opportunity to reflect on their improved livelihood and progress with renewed zeal towards financial sustenance

Tribes welcome revival of traditional cultural centers

Ghotuls, where youth once networked and learnt responsibilities, are being revived as tribal cultural centers (Photo courtesy Unexplored Bastar)

Ghotuls, traditionally where youth learnt to take on responsibilities, fell into decline for many reasons. Tribes believe the government’s plan to revive them would uphold the tribal culture

Water-starved villagers harvest rainwater in multiple tanks

The villagers have found a small solution to the water problem by making small reservoirs to store water (Photo by Girish Chandra ‘Gopi’)

Post-monsoon water scarcity was a common problem. By storing rainwater in many miniature plastic-lined tanks, villagers have solved their water woes and used it for remunerative cultivation

Villagers deify pangolin to protect the animal

Residents of Dugave village worship a replica of the pangolin, along with village deity Goddess Waghjai, as a way of pledging their protection (Photo by Bhau Katdare)

In a region where hunting and poaching of pangolins are rampant, villagers pledge to protect them by giving equal reverence to the animal as their village deity

Centenarian pioneer woman farmer honored with Padma Shri

Centenarian Pappammal, recipient of civilian award Padma Shri, continues to work in her farm (Photo by George Rajasekaran)

A hands-on farmer from a young age, unlettered Pappammal has been at equal ease in her farm and in scientific discussions, and a proponent of sustainable and modern farm practices

Villagers dig well during lockdown to solve water problem

Residents of Tindori used their lockdown free time productively by digging a community well and solving their water problem

Increased water demand during lockdown brought to fore Tindori village’s lack of a reliable water source. Digging a well near monsoon ravines, community has ensured prolonged water availability