Improving the health and nutrition of a community often comes down to one thing – communication. Village Square champions those with the most effective megaphones, but also showcases new or quirky trends in food and healthy living.
Health & Wellbeing
Abandoned as an infant, she brings up orphaned girls
Knowing the pain of being abandoned and growing up in an orphanage, Parkash Kaur brings up abandoned girls, giving them a loving home, care and a good education.
Award takes Kaithapram’s therapeutic music to a higher note
Having experienced the healing powers of music, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, a Padma Shri awardee, believes music therapy can cure illnesses and disabilities.
Weak and vulnerable pandemic babies
The pandemic cut off health care, and sometimes even food, from many marginalised Indians, with pregnant woman often taking the brunt of the burden. Now their children are paying the price.
1 billion doses down
In nine months one billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccines are taken – a feat that would not be possible without the development community mobilising local influencers to help get the job done.
Kashmiri girls pedal out of taboos
Kashmiri women who cycled were once ridiculed. But the pandemic-induced lockdown spurred them to cycle their way to better health and fitness, breaking patriarchal shackles along the way.
Pandemic pushes impoverished villagers into further debts
With income from marginal landholdings and rain-fed agriculture unable to sustain them, tribal communities migrate for work to clear loans. Pandemic has pushed them into perpetual debts.
How can rural India prepare for a third wave
Experience from Jharkhand proves that synergic effort involving local administration, community collectives and civil society organizations can help villages face COVID-19 third wave.
When COVID-19 reaches the vulnerable tribes in hilltops
Despite government’s efforts, reluctance to get tested and isolated, and not adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols, has led to an increase in infection among Odisha’s particularly vulnerable tribal groups
Community establishes subcenter for better health care
Sharing a cramped space with the anganwadi, the health subcenter lacked facilities. Villagers joined hands and opened a subcenter in spacious premises, enabling maternal care and COVID-19 vaccination