Livelihoods

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She uses the virtual platform to uplift artisans

Meenakshi Dubey, the founder of the online portal Yespoho and winner of the Union government’s Prajjwala Challenge, talks to us about how she uses technology to promote rural craftspersons.

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Handloom and hues of success in Maheshwar

This school at Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh helps aspiring master weavers polish their skills and gain cutting-edge know-how on the practices essential to succeeding in the handloom sector.

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Empowering rural women, one sustainable pad at a time

Through her biodegradable sanitary pads brand Apna Green, Aruna Dara has started a movement for underprivileged women. She talks about her journey and emerging as one of the five winners of the Union government’s Prajjwala Challenge.

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How bamboo farming is transforming lives in Tripura

In West Tripura district, a quiet revolution is taking root as farmers embrace bamboo cultivation under the state’s Bamboo Mission, redefining livelihoods and fostering sustainability.

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From homemaker to ‘Dehati Madam who teaches English’

With over 3 lakh subscribers on her YouTube channel, this “Dehati Madam” from Uttar Pradesh is teaching English and rewriting her destiny using a budget smartphone, mobile data and a strong desire to learn.

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A Punjab college for girls where every student is a teacher

Baba Aya Singh Riarki College in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district stands as a beacon of empowerment, challenging stereotypes and showcasing how girls are capable of achieving remarkable feats.

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A Manipur village dares to dream, one Kachai lemon at a time

The Kachai lemon of Manipur has transcended its role as a mere fruit to become a catalyst for economic empowerment and self-reliance for people.

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What this interim budget holds for rural India

While the Rural Development Ministry got increased allocation, with MGNREGS getting a boost, not all schemes saw hikes in the interim budget 2024-25 presented by the Union government on Feb 1.

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Maharashtra village morphs into pomegranate haven

Pomegranate growers in Maharashtra have much to thank farmers of Satmane village for their pioneering initiative to make orchards climate-resilient.

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Manipur kindergarten kids learn to rock

Pam’s Kindergarten in Ukhrul seamlessly integrates music with the foundations of early education, showcasing the remarkable talents of its young students, particularly with the ukulele.

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How livelihoods of the poor can be strengthened

The two-day Livelihoods India Summit being held in New Delhi brings together about 400 delegates with an aim to foster deliberations on issues relating to livelihoods promotion of the poor.

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Dhokra balances preservation & evolution amidst challenges

Despite the creation of a designated space in the craft city area of Chhattisgarh’s Kondagaon for artisans to work, Dhokra craftsmen still face issues such as not receiving fair prices for their finished products and difficulty in accessing raw materials.

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An elephant on the loom in river island Majuli

Battered by crop depredation and low farm yield, Majuli’s weavers grasp the loom of opportunity, creating not just garments but a narrative woven with threads of hope and transformation.

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Guardians of the hoolock gibbons of Hollongapar

In Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, Assam, tourist guides stand as sentinels, ensuring that the echoes of “hook hook hook-ooo” continue to resound through the ancient hollong trees, signalling a harmony between humans and nature.

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Maharashtra’s fiery Bhiwapuri chilli faces extinction

Bhiwapuri chilli, known for its bright red colour, intense heat and cultural significance, is teetering on brink as farmers face low yields and turn towards growing hybrid varieties.

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Kashmir stares at a saffron sunset

Pampore, the hub of Kashmiri saffron, casts a gloomy picture as production of the prized spice declines due to climate change, encroachment of fields, inadequate irrigation and intrusion of cheaper Iranian variants

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Rajanigandha perfumes Odisha’s cyclone-wrecked Ralaba

Ralaba’s rajanigandha fields are a source of livelihood and a testament to a community’s ability to reinvent itself after a natural calamity.

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Maharashtra village strives to preserve ancestral fishing practices

A bunch of determined fisherwomen of Thal village in Maharashtra’s Raigad district are fighting against odds and time to sustain their traditional fishing economy.

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Uri’s historic walnut market struggles to survive

The historic Lagama walnut market in north Kashmir’s Uri, dating back to pre-1947, is grappling with challenges such as cheaper imports, a 5% GST burden, and a drop in rates, impacting over 10,000 families.

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Building homes, the natural way

This architect couple is on a journey to revive, document and promote the traditional ways of constructing natural buildings, through their Thannal Natural Homes initiative in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.