Environment
Flood-prone Assam village sees hope with terra water filters
In the flood-prone Barak valley of southern Assam, where monsoon floods often leave villagers without clean drinking water, terra filters installed by a non-governmental organisation have become a lifeline.
Can India curb its agricultural greenhouse gas emissions?
With a majority of farmers practising traditional agriculture which results in considerable greenhouse gas emissions, it’s time to switch to eco-friendly farming that ensures food security and prevents environmental degradation.
Meet India’s youth climate activists with rural roots
This World Environment Day, Village Square speaks to youth activists with rural roots who are working towards climate literacy, climate change mitigation, flora and fauna conservation, river protection and preserving traditional knowledge in sensitive ecosystems.
‘Even small ponds make a big difference’
It’s not just us but also our water bodies that are parched today. And community-driven water conservation is the need of the hour for rural empowerment and environmental sustainability, says Maulik Sisodia, executive director, Tarun Bharat Sangh.
Battling extinction: Fight to save the elusive Batagur baska
Once a delicacy for British colonialists and native Bengalis, the critically endangered northern river terrapin in Sundarbans was on verge of extinction with only 100 mature adult turtles left in the wild. Conservation efforts are now giving them hope.
Cow power drives mid-day meals in this Bengal school
This primary school in a village in Purulia district of West Bengal has implemented biogas technology for preparing the mid-day meals for students, converting cow dung into cooking fuel to reduce costs and promote eco-friendly practices.
A youth in Rajasthan becomes the bird man of the desert
A young man who became a guide in the Desert National Park to make a living gets drawn to birds, and learns to identify the local and migratory birds, earning the epithet ‘bird man of the desert’.
Villagers unite to battle forest fires in Odisha
As forests provide them sustenance, residents of Nitigotha village in Odisha unite to contain the forest fire spreading from neighbouring areas and take collaborative steps to prevent fire incidents.
Purulia farm transforms barren land into green oasis
Breathing new life into the arid, red soil and the souls of its people, this agricultural venture has transformed into a catalyst for community empowerment and ecological restoration in West Bengal’s Purulia district.
A journey of devotion and activism to revive Odisha’s Prachi river
As the once-glorious Prachi river languishes in neglect, a noble initiative known as Prachi Parikrama and led by spiritual guru Paramahamsa Prajnanananda seeks to breathe new life into its waters.
Sparrow Saviors of Jeypore: A Tale of Community Conservation
A contract worker pours in his savings, and efforts, for the cause of the sparrow in Odisha’s Jeypore city where urbanisation has taken its toll on the species.
Her rural oasis of green lends respite to Ludhiana
Agripreneur Ramandeep Kaur Sandhu’s dream project – a plant nursery in Birmi village near Ludhiana – offers over 1,000 varieties of plants and provides employment opportunities to villagers.
Spare a thought for the sparrows
One man's mission is to save the sparrows on his land after being devastated by the death of three little birds trapped in his house.
Birds worth – One for sparrow
Once a familiar sight at our houses, sparrows are now rarely seen in our neighbourhoods. This World Sparrow Day, we present a silver living – photographs of these tiny birds clicked at various locations in India.
Indian rivers in peril, and their saviours
This International Day of Action for Rivers, which is observed on 14 March, we revisit the stories done on Village Square to bring attention to the rivers facing risks, and what’s being done to conserve them.
Assam villagers ward off elephants with draw of lots
Over 160 villages located near Manas National Park in Assam participate in an annual lottery that funds upkeep of solar-powered electric fences to keep rampaging elephants off crop fields and homes, reducing human-wildlife conflicts.
Climate change — With 2 tiger attacks a month, Sundarbans reels under human-animal conflict
Climate change and rising sea levels are pushing farmers deep into the mangroves of the Sundarbans where they become victims of deadly tiger attacks
From Mud-walls to Wilderness: Inside Kashmir’s Nature School
Concerned by the degradation of the natural environment and widespread lack of environmental awareness, a lawyer, launched Kashmir's first Nature School, aiming to produce future environmental stewards.
Photos that reveal Kashmir’s hidden wildlife treasures
Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, a forest guard who joined the wildlife department reluctantly, is now a passionate photographer who wants to make people interested in the rich natural fauna of the region.
Odisha school bridges gap between disability and ability
Teachers at Nandini Devi school for deaf, mute and blind students in Dhenkanal prove that with love and dedication, every obstacle can be transformed into an opportunity.