Health & Well Being
Pandemic pushes impoverished villagers into further debts
With income from marginal landholdings and rain-fed agriculture unable to sustain them, tribal communities migrate for work to clear loans. Pandemic has pushed them into perpetual debts.
How can rural India prepare for a third wave
Experience from Jharkhand proves that synergic effort involving local administration, community collectives and civil society organizations can help villages face COVID-19 third wave.
When COVID-19 reaches the vulnerable tribes in hilltops
Despite government’s efforts, reluctance to get tested and isolated, and not adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols, has led to an increase in infection among Odisha’s particularly vulnerable tribal groups
Community establishes subcenter for better health care
Sharing a cramped space with the anganwadi, the health subcenter lacked facilities. Villagers joined hands and opened a subcenter in spacious premises, enabling maternal care and COVID-19 vaccination
Maternal and child health sidelined amidst COVID-19 emergencies
Rural women dependent on public health care system have not been able to access maternal health care services as hospitals’ focus is on overcoming the COVID-19 crisis
Decentralization to localization: the emerging community–PRI–government compact
As communities rose to fill the lacunae in rural public systems, it is time the potential of the social capital was recognized, and grassroots institutions strengthened for rural transformation
COVID-19 and rural India: Is no news good news?
With lack of requisite health infrastructure and testing facilities, besides testing hesitancy among villagers, there is no clear picture on the impact of the pandemic in rural India
Lack of facilities in villages hamper COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment
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
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
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
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
Marital blessing helps women understand reproductive system
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
Eco-friendly sanitation wins proponent civilian award
Subburaman, who is credited with constructing India’s first community eco-san toilet, besides successfully installing various eco-friendly sanitation solutions, gets recognized with a Padma Shri
How climate-induced changes affect children more
With extreme weather events affecting villagers, children miss education, are more susceptible to malnutrition and diseases, and are forced to take up labor work
Rural women are unaware of the risk of breast cancer
Due to lack of information about breast cancer, misconceptions, shame and social stigma, women in villages risk their life by not getting screened and treated
Women continue to roll beedis despite low wages, health risks
Due to lack of education and alternate sustainable employment avenues, millions of workers, especially women, endure beedi rolling. Familiarity and fear prevent them from switching jobs
Farming proves therapeutic to the intellectually challenged
Varied activities in the residential farm helps those with intellectual disabilities calm down and learn many social and life skills, besides offering a livelihood