Perspectives
Patriarchy, sustainability and shame
In the present rural development model, a gender lens is lacking in the development designs, leaving women continue their demarcated role, with no progress or empowerment in sight
Of cockroaches and digital health records
While digital health policy and proposed digitization of health records look good on paper, for it to be effective, basic rural health care services should function
Losing livelihood, landless families bear the lockdown brunt
Entrepreneurial villagers from landless tribal communities opted for alternate livelihoods. Despite easing of lockdown restrictions, the current challenges are pushing them back to poverty
Returned migrants: A pause or the end of a dream?
Lockdown has forced migrant workers to return home. Left with no cash savings and duped of overdue wages, their future seems uncertain more than ever
Returned migrants prefer local livelihoods in native region
Villagers who migrated to other states for want of local livelihoods are back and do not wish to migrate again. They seek creation of local earning avenues
Multi-pronged plan would help Northeast create sustainable economy
The Northeast, with its past social instability and lack of livelihood avenues lags in development. The pandemic gives the region an opportunity to develop a new economy
Amphan deals a severe blow to struggling Sundarbans villagers
With standing crops lost and soil turning saline when seawater came in, the cyclone has aggravated villagers’ malnutrition and food security problems, adding to their lockdown woes
Returned migrants: Despair and coping
Distance to host city, commitment of employer and livelihood opportunity at native village help returned workers decide on post-lockdown migration. Till then they cope with available resources
Will the post-pandemic government be more responsible and responsive?
COVID-19 crisis showed how government can work with zeal and efficiency. It will be a welcome outcome of the pandemic If the momentum continues in the new normal
Identifying farmers’ needs helps producer company find footing
When members’ ownership, exchange of ideas and process-driven systems take precedence over turnover and profitability, farmer producer companies will become self-reliant and succeed
Lacking access to bamboo, Basor artisans struggle for livelihood
Coordinated efforts are needed to make raw material available for the Basor community, to help sustain their traditional bamboo weaving skills and forest-based livelihood
Decentralized administration will prevent post-lockdown rural crisis
Social and behavioral aspects, besides economic and medical dimensions of the migrants need to be considered, to avoid cracks on existing rural fault lines
Odisha government needs to intervene to mitigate migrant distress
For Odisha that is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, government needs to develop multiple strategies to ensure economic resilience of migrant households against unforeseen shocks
Multiple post-pandemic measures will stabilize farm economy
Farm sector faces challenges of workforce shortage and disrupted supply chain. Multiple measures by government can stabilize farm economy and sustain everyone in food production
Lockdown break will undo remote tribal students’ learning
First generation learners in remote villages lack online and community resources to learn at home during lockdown, as mandated by government. They will need to relearn, to make up for lost time
Multi-pronged approach will reboot flagging rural economy
Enhancing the resilience of rural production system through multiple measures, besides soil and water conservation initiatives would help the rural populace find a firm footing
Disrupted supply chains need to be mended to revive rural economy
Infusion of working capital at some levels of the supply chain and easing of transportation regulations would put ruptured supply chains back on track and reboot rural economy
Misconceptions about COVID-19 result in poultry value chain erosion – II
The poultry value chain suffered a macro tragedy due to rumors linking the pandemic and chicken consumption. Compensation to women poultry farmers, infusion of capital and logistics permission can restore the sector
Social capital enables tomato farmers to sell produce during lockdown
A federation of farmer producer companies has coordinated with a few organizations, helping farmers sell their produce at reasonable rates, by supplying vegetables to consumers through multiple channels
Lockdown adds to distress of forest tribes facing development challenges
For Adivasis in Panna Tiger Reserve, lockdown and ensuing lack of financial resources add to the persisting multiple challenges, as they struggle to sustain themselves