Governance

What is good governance? How well can a person or a community access help or push for a needed change? How often are they heard? Village Square shines a light on the people and schemes making the biggest impact or providing the most unique solutions.

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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.

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Is digital planning working for India’s villages?

India’s villages are the last stop in the government’s drive to digitize administrative planning and ensure a more transparent allocation of resources. But how effective is this digital push? Development worker Jitendra Pandit tackles this in his Field Report.

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Odisha’s “Twitter Girl” helps solve people’s problems

This International Women’s Day, Village Square spotlights social media activist Charubala aka Deepa Barik. By tweeting and tagging the officials concerned, she helps resolve people’s grievances.

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What the budget means for rural India

The finance minister predicts big economic growth for the next two years, but will rural India be part of that growth spurt? From natural farming and “kisan drones” to more clean drinking water for the poor – here’s what the budget brings to rural India.

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Odiya tribes discover the wonders of millets

Being climate-resilient and needing less water – never mind being super nutritious – millets are becoming the crop of choice for Odiya tribes, thanks to the state government’s Odisha Millets Mission.

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Protesting farmers won’t back down

Despite a victory, protesting farmers show no sign of ending their demonstration on the roads outside Delhi, with thousands heading into the capital to mark the first-year anniversary of their protest.

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Home insurance ignored by market and government

Natural disasters cost India dearly. Home insurance could be the answer, yet uptake is abysmally low. Who is missing a trick – home owners, the insurance industry or the government?

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Mahatma’s dream in a digital world

Can Gandhi’s idea of self-reliant villages work today? Using technology, villagers can discover markets for natural homemade products they can produce.

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Community ensures sustenance of vital ancient ponds

By ensuring regular maintenance and by preventing encroachment, villagers who consider their water bodies as sacred, protect centuries-old life-sustaining ponds.