Environment
Karnataka village doctor’s green revolution
Dr Tejaswi HJ, a doctor in Karnataka’s Hassan district, has turned the weed-infested land surrounding a government hospital in Karle village into a thriving mini-forest with over 1,500 plants and fruit-bearing trees.
Artist aims to draw a sustainable future in Western Ghats
An artist from Karnataka has set up a centre for creativity and conservation in Shivamogga district to address the environmental and agricultural challenges of the region.
Reviving humpback mahseer in Cauvery’s hidden world
The Karnataka forest and fisheries departments have launched a recovery project for the critically endangered orange-finned mahseer, a fish native to the Cauvery river and known as the ‘tiger of water’.
Sustainable farming: Kerala village women sow seeds of change
Women in Wayanad district of Kerala are conserving native varieties of vegetable seeds, ushering economic prosperity and ensuring sustainable agriculture.
The menace called single-use plastic bag
Single-use plastic bags pose a serious threat to the environment. The issue can’t be resolved merely by focusing on the supply side and ignoring the demand from consumers.
Odisha’s vanishing tasar silkworm needs safety cocoon
Multi-pronged efforts have been launched to protect Similipal’s Modal ecorace silkworms, but more needs to be done to ensure that our future generations can continue to marvel at the delicate tasar silk produced by them.
Gypsum jam: Rampant mining troubles Kashmir villagers
Villagers in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir continue to suffer from health issues related to air and noise pollution even as complaints to officials against gypsum mining lie unattended.
Maharashtra village blossoms into green haven
With over 32,000 trees flourishing under its care, and waste management and healthcare upgrades under its belt, Gamewadi village in Maharashtra is now marching towards becoming a tourist hub for nature lovers.
Why Kerala needs revival of Kaipad rice
Traditional salt-tolerant rice varieties grown in coastal Kaipad lands are set on a revival course. But farmers need more support to produce the nutrient-rich organic crop.
Tuskers trample Bengal village’s jackfruits of labour
As north Bengal struggles to coexist with elephants, the fate of Nepali Basti’s once-thriving jackfruit trade hangs in the balance as farmers incur losses due to the onslaught from the tuskers and abandon cultivation.
Vermicompost: How earthworms helped this Kashmiri farmer succeed
This 70-year-old farmer in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir runs a successful vermicompost organic fertiliser unit from a mud house in his village.
Earth Overshoot Day: A call for sustained conservation efforts
The World Overshoot Day today once again serves as a reminder that human demands on nature surpass the planet's biocapacity. The effects are for everyone to see, especially in rural areas.
Panchkroshi – Maharashtra farmers harness the power of five
Maharashtra farmers are reviving the traditional concept of Panchkroshi, wherein five neighbouring villages come together, to boost sustainability in their drought-hit region.
Is rural India on the brink of a renaissance?
Will Indian villages be part of the country's galloping growth? A leading development conference holds over 100 conversations to find out.
This Bengal shopkeeper is turning his village green
Haraprasad Pal, who runs a small grocery shop in his village, has been planting flowering shrubs and trees to make his village green and help others enjoy the benefits.
Curtains down for Odisha dolls made of cow dung?
Though no way as fancy as the dolls that adorn upscale stores, Karadagadia village has carved out a niche for its toys made of cow dung, paper and flowers.
Young innovator revolutionises farming in Kashmir
Engineering graduate Naik Qayoom builds an automatic seed-sowing machine and other agri tools that have found significant attention and demand.
Impact of climate change on Kashmir’s mushroom pickers
Unpredictable weather patterns, early springs, and above-average temperatures have left gucchi mushroom hunters in distress, facing another season of low yield for the second consecutive year.
Horseshoe crab – the living fossil on brink of extinction
It has been living for 450 million years and has survived five mass extinctions, but the horseshoe crab is now in danger because of overexploitation of marine resources by humans.
‘Waste dumping in open has increased human-wildlife conflict’
Surge in tourism in the Himalayas has led to enormous plastic waste generation, adversely affecting the region’s environment and wildlife. Vishal Kumar, CEO, Waste Warriors, discusses how this problem can be addressed.