Livelihoods
Goa’s villagers struggle with fewer tourists
As if the COVID pandemic weren’t bad enough, the Russian war deals a harder blow to Goa’s tourism, forcing tourism-dependent villagers to find new means of income.
Chai and Bandhu brew a perfect blend for Chakla
Suspicious of his motives, his tea shop and Muslim identity, the people of Chakla village shunned Abdul Nazar until they realised his chai shop was a springboard to develop their village.
Same dam yields more fish through cage fish farming
With increasing number of fishermen vying for a catch in the same dam, their livelihood was at stake. Growing fish in cages within the dam helps the fishermen earn more.
Weaving a way out of destitution
Weaving indigenous handloom clothes offers destitute women and those who have been trafficked a safe and stable livelihood in the hills of Darjeeling.
Floods in Assam fan out to new areas, cause more harm
While the intense rains and obstructions on river courses cause floods in Assam, the flood waters enter new territories, causing more damage than before.
A thousand ponds for this Maharashtrian village’s vineyards
When switching from water-intensive crops to grapes didn’t solve problems for farmers in drought-prone Manerajuri, they found a sustainable water source by digging farm ponds and harvesting rainwater.
“Assam’s worst flood in four decades”
The floods in Assam have caused major disruptions to human life. Village Square speaks to Jyotishmoy Deka and Rajdeep Sarkar of Transforming Rural India Foundation (TRIF) , who are involved with flood relief work in Bodoland Tribal Region (BTR).
Gasoo – the strawberry bowl of Kashmir
Farmers who once grew paddy are tasting commercial success after switching to strawberry cultivation, making Gasoo village a hub that supplies strawberries to almost the entire valley.
West Bengal’s flower trade booms beyond state borders
With growing demand for flowers from the north-eastern states, and government initiatives to boost floriculture and inter-state trade, flower cultivators and traders are reaping the benefits.
The flower power behind Holi
For centuries the coloured powder used during the spring festival Holi, nevermind political rallies and countless parties, was made from natural vegetation. Until chemical colours entered the scene. But as a growing number of Indians realise natural holi powder is kinder on the skin and the environment, the women who turn the flowers into powder are reaping the rewards. (Photos by Gurvinder Singh)
Watermelons bring sweet success to women farmers
In remote villages lacking livelihood opportunities, never mind adequate transportation for taking produce to market, women successfully take up watermelon farming.
The silent revolution: The DAY of hope and promise
Leading development expert, Sanjiv Phansalkar, is in awe of Deen Dayal Upadhya Antyodaya Yojana - a social programme that’s impacted over 86 million households through over 8 million self-help groups of women.
Tangy food craze – appemidi mango pickles
A must-have condiment of coastal Karnataka - pickles made from small but fragrant appemidi mangoes are so popular and in high demand now that more farmers are growing the hardy mangoes.
Producers of sweet mangoes feel bitter about losses
With low flowering of trees and expected yield to be a small percentage of their normal production, mango farmers across Odisha feel the impact of climate change.
Rural youth turn to cool eco-tourism jobs
Converted into an eco-tourism facility, the scenic spot near Kodar Dam in Chhattisgarh offers a perfect weekend get-away, while ensuring local employment for rural youth and better income.
Boom in Kashmir’s bloom business
Stuck at home in the pandemic, many Kashmiris became avid gardeners and are now turning their passion into a business by transforming their backyard patches into plant nurseries.
Black cardamom loses flavour among Kalimpong farmers
Farmers who considered black cardamom a golden crop are now shifting to other crops due to losses caused by plant diseases and their own reluctance to adopt modern farming practices.
“Beej Gram” scheme makes farming financially viable
Farmers benefit by distributing seeds produced from the high quality foundation seeds that the Government of Madhya Pradesh supplies at a subsidised rate.
“I drove taxis and lorries to feed my family”
When PG Deepamol’s husband became unwell, she had to drive cabs and lorries to support her family. Now she is Kerala’s first woman ambulance pilot and finds helping patients the most rewarding of all driving jobs. Read her story in her own words.
Kalbeliya beadwork hanging by a thread
Most famous for their ‘snake charmer’ dance, the Kalbeliya tribes have another precious legacy they are desperate to preserve and earn a livelihood from - the unique bead jewellery that is part of their costume.