Livelihoods
30 hours to literacy
Spending an hour every day on activities and custom-made lessons in a cheerful environment helps migrant workers of all ages come out of literacy poverty.
Mushroom cultivation becomes lifeline
After years struggling on paltry incomes, growing mushrooms provides West Bengali women better livelihoods and nutrition – and gives urban India more varieties.
Barge oil spill hurting beach, mangrove and livelihoods
Cyclone Tauktae bashed a barge into rocks, resulting in an oil spill that still hasn’t been cleared, hurting Mahim’s sandy beaches, unique mangrove ecology and livelihoods of fisher folk.
Sustainable honey offers sweeter returns
Smoking out honeybees hurts the bees, biodiversity and the taste of honey. So it’s no wonder a more sustainable method is catching on and increasing earnings.
Himachal government strives to boost seed production
Dependent on other states for seeds that are often unsuited for local conditions, Himachal Pradesh government has introduced a scheme to produce quality seeds locally
Eco-conscious Bishnois ensure good groundwater levels
Known for their tree-hugging environmentalism, Bishnois combine traditional knowledge and contemporary practices of agriculture to conserve groundwater.
To prevent crop raids, villagers throw seed balls in forests
To stop wild animals from attacking their crops, villagers of Uttarakhand are ensuring more fruit trees and plants are available to the animals within the forest
Traditional breeders conserve indigenous Dangi cattle
Combining traditional knowledge and technical support from scientists, breeders in Maharashtra conserve indigenous Dangi cattle known for their hardy nature
Haryana introduces crop diversification to prevent groundwater exploitation
Haryana’s groundwater extraction is much higher than the state’s annual extractable resources. Government encourages farmers to switch from water-intensive paddy to reduce depletion
Climate change disrupts livelihood of Kerala’s fishers
Extreme weather and cyclone alerts reducing the number of fishing days, besides dwindling fish catch, climate change is taking a toll on fishers’ livelihood
Rains and elephants compound farmers’ lockdown challenges
Incessant rains and wild elephants damaged water melons that cultivators could not sell during the lockdown. Organizations helped them reach buyers via social media
Committed efforts will create progressive villages
By working together with zeal, development organizations and governments can overcome inherent challenges in rural India and bring about a positive change
Ration sustains marginalized households through lockdown
Relief package of dry rations alleviated the hunger and food insecurity of informal wage workers who had lost their livelihood during the pandemic.
Rural job guarantee program sequesters tons of carbon
MGNREGS, the anti-poverty scheme has ensured food security to millions, especially during the pandemic. The natural asset created through the scheme helps in carbon capture
Kashmir’s plum no longer a plum crop for farmers
With increasing production costs and constant selling price over the years, farmers find growing plums economically unviable. They hope to explore new markets for better returns
Women sustain traditional wisdom of conserving indigenous seeds
Understanding the close link between crop diversity and resilience, women farmers in Mandla ensure that the conservation practice of climate-resilient traditional seeds continues
Extreme weather events destroy Himachal’s apple orchards
Unseasonal rains, snow fall and hailstorms have damaged lakhs of apple trees, ruining Shimla’s famed fruits. This has dented the orchardists’ income and government’s revenue
Ostriches or supplicants? Missing home insurance in rural India
Disasters destroy houses. Despite living in disaster-prone areas, people do not opt for home insurance. They prefer to take the disaster relief offered by the government
Conservation of bio-resources improves farmer’s livelihood
Revival of non-forest timber produce species that are rare and have market value, and the species’ mass multiplication ensures conservation while enhancing farm income
Tribal women seize opportunities, turn micro entrepreneurs
With the right support, women in Khunti have overcome challenges and emerged as entrepreneurs. Each woman’s micro business has been her family’s financial mainstay during the pandemic