Livelihoods

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Why villagers are against a proposed marina

Government proposes to develop a marina of international standards to promote tourism. Residents of coastal villages oppose it, fearing an impact on their livelihood and the ecology

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Lack of local livelihoods forces men to migrate far

With no industrial jobs, and low wages in agriculture, men from Bhagabanpur in Maldah district migrate to faraway places like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, to make a living

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Constraints that prevent farmers from becoming prosperous

Land holding size, water availability, funds and markets impact farmers’ incomes. This second piece of a four-part series explores constraints and viability of mixed farming for farm prosperity

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COVID-19 assistance helps villagers find a footing

Odisha Livelihood Mission’s financial support has enabled many vulnerable rural families, especially women entrepreneurs, to recover from the economic shock of the pandemic-induced lockdown

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Can farmers farm for prosperity?

Those who intervene for farmers’ welfare seem to prefer maintaining the poor-farmer image than ensuring financial success. The first of a four-part series explores this aspect

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Farmer runs people’s academy to share knowledge

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A Pawara tribe farmer, who transformed his unproductive land and started conservation of landraces, serves as a resource person at field trainings despite lacking formal education

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Alcohol addiction gives way to organic farming

Appalled by the lakhs they spent on alcohol, residents of a village vow to never touch liquor again. They turn their village into a successful organic model

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Community restores grasslands, makes village drought-resilient

Grasslands conservation, initiated to ensure water availability has increased the water table, resulting in reverse migration and cultivation of crops, and prevention of soil erosion

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Tribal women reap benefits of collective farming

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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

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Bihar farmers grow makhana to tackle weather uncertainties

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

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Farmers go green by growing organic cotton

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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

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Lockdown program helps villagers access welfare schemes

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An initiative launched to offer relief during lockdown has helped returned migrants and those who lost their livelihood access government’s social welfare schemes

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Bengal’s traditional shellac dolls face lacklustre future

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

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Cooperative helps rural women gain financial independence

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

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Women get trained for employment and starting enterprises

Second Chance program helps girls who had quit education take up jobs after a short training, and helps women farm and set up small units

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Paddy farmers reap rich harvest through SRI cultivation

Growing paddy the traditional way pushed farmers into poverty as the yields were low. Switching to SRI method has helped them harvest more than twice the normal yield

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Plant nurseries bear fruits of success, empowerment for women

By coming together as a group and raising plant nurseries, women who were being exploited by money lenders, earn more to feed and care for their families better

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Women weave plastic waste into utilitarian products

Traditionally adept at weaving, women around Kaziranga weave products with threads made from plastic bags, and cotton thread, to reduce plastic pollution and earn a livelihood

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Helping hands pull Jharkhand farmers from the brink

Farmers who were in the brink of starvation during lockdown were identified through vulnerable mapping. With quality seeds and training in better practices, they are reaping better yields

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Baul singers take to digital performances during lockdown

Minstrels of Bengal who carry on traditional baul singing were hit hard by the lockdown. Ticketed live streaming has enabled them to sustain themselves and their art