Author: K Rajendran
AI-based alerts help prevent elephant collisions against trains
As forest cover decreases and human-animal interactions increase, especially on railway tracks, railway and forest officials are turning to surveillance and alert systems based on artificial intelligence as a solution.
Kerala farmers prefer local plants over fences to ward off tuskers
Even as the Kerala government installs and plans more beehive fences to curb human-animal interactions, villagers in Attappadi taluk say that a local bean crop is more effective than the fences.
Hanging solar fences mitigate human-elephant conflicts in Kerala
As traditional methods of beating drums, digging trenches and building concrete walls proved ineffective in reducing human-animal interactions, Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department has installed hanging solar fences that deter elephants from entering villages.
Women ‘rise up’ to fight drug menace in Kerala
Distressed by the rampant drug abuse and alcoholism among local youth, women of Vattappankadu village get together to run a counselling programme to wean them away.
Kerala’s tribal farmers sow success with millets
After Kerala reintroduced millet cultivation among the indigenous communities of Attapadi taluk, the villagers enjoy better health and livelihood despite losing crops to wild animals.
Kerala’s first transgender lawyer helps promote inclusivity
Transgender people come out and seek her help after years of hiding their gender identity for fear of being ostracised. Padma Lakshmi is happy to oblige.
How Kollam became India’s first constitution-literate district
Democracy – without understanding the constitution that protects it – is fatal to society. That’s why one initiative, Citizen 2022, is setting out to ensure more of India’s villagers are constitution literate.
With no vaccine in sight, Kerala pig farmers feel the heat of African swine flu
While Kerala’s state government follows stringent measures to stop the spread of the swine flu, pig farmers in the state struggle with losses, despite government compensation.
Court unites lesbian couple separated by family
A young lesbian couple, forcibly separated by their families and reunited thanks to a court intervention, are filled with hope, though bracing themselves for a tough future.