Ground Report
Facing bias: My MBA journey and beyond
India’s diverse population is a blessing for the country. But the flipside can be discrimination, something Himadri Das, an executive with PRADAN in Udaipur, faced firsthand during her MBA days. Here she recounts her experience.
From waste to wonder – Odisha’s eco-friendly cow dung toys
At a time when plastic and rubber toys rule the market, artisans in Ganjam district are crafting them in the traditional way. From dolls to animal masks and vegetable shapes, the toys come in various forms and sizes.
A digital platform to connect rural buyers and sellers
Marketmirchi.com, a multilingual web-portal developed by IIT Bombay and Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG), is transforming business in the agricultural sector by bringing together over 30,000 entrepreneurs, FPOs and self-help groups to buy and sell products.
Maharashtra village revamps ‘kurma ghar’ to ensure period dignity
In a small tribal village in Maharashtra, a community-led revolution aims to dispel the prevailing stigma around menstruation. The menstruation huts, once a symbol of shame, are slowly becoming a space for empowerment here.
Substitute for clay to ‘fortify’ Karnataka’s Bidri art
Did you know that the famous Bidri products were traditionally made with clay from a 15th century fort? Now scientists at IIT-Madras have come up with a chemical alternative to help artisans sustain the craft while preserving the monument.
A blooming business journey against the odds
Karishma Choyal, a young entrepreneur from rural Madhya Pradesh, transformed adversity into opportunity when she built a thriving flower business during the pandemic.
Mechanised device brings ‘shear’ benefits to shepherds
A cost-effective, durable and indigenous mechanised shearing device reduces sheep farmers’ drudgery in shearing the fleece, helping them produce better quality wool and earn more.
How a woman from rural UP built her beauty business
A woman from a small village in Uttar Pradesh turned her passion for beauty into a successful business with the support of a local youth hub overcoming many challenges.
Bihar’s STEM girls embrace coding to land lucrative jobs
School of Programming, a collaborative initiative of Project Potential and NavGurukul in Kishanganj, is empowering young women from rural Bihar with software coding skills, opening doors to aspirational careers and transforming their future.
Bobbing along: How a simple machine can uplift artisans
The simple yet revolutionary hank to bobbin machine can transform the ancient art of weaving, enhancing incomes and preserving tradition while ushering artisans into a more prosperous future.
Tribal women ensure safe drinking water for their village
In Kantakoli, a remote village in Odisha where the indigenous Juanga community lives, a severe water crisis spurred women to take action and ensure access to clean drinking water and improved livelihoods.
Air-cooled pushcarts to keep vegetables fresh for long
For vegetable hawkers who suffer losses due to deterioration in the quality of fruits and vegetables during summer, air-cooled pushcarts offer a simple cooling innovation to keep their produce fresh for longer periods.
How community-based primary mental healthcare can safeguard the aged
Lack of awareness and dearth of qualified professionals hinder mental health services for older people in rural areas. Primary mental healthcare, which involves the family and community, ensures that older people get the needed care.
Meet the 24-year-old who wants to preserve Mising culture through music
Rediscovering the rich roots of the Mising culture during a fellowship, Sikur Padma Pao promotes and preserves the indigenous peoples’ natural and cultural heritage through the music that he and his band, The Dynamics, create.
Gandhian-era Bageshwari charkha gets a makeover after 90 years
The traditional foot-operated Bageshwari charkha, which has had the same design for nine decades, has got a technological revamp now, helping shepherds in the Himalayan region produce fine quality wool at a faster pace.
A crumpled Rs 100 note shows hope in Chhattisgarh village
A small village in Bastar, once plagued by mistrust and corruption, finds hope through inclusive planning, symbolised by one villager's offer of a crumpled Rs 100 note.
Education brings a ray of hope in Chhattisgarh’s red corridor
Schools in Sukma district in the red corridor of Chhattisgarh became nonfunctional due to Naxal insurgency. Now the district administration is making education available for everyone and successfully coaching students for professional courses.
Cold storage units running on pico hydropower help farmers earn more
With limited transportation and no cold storage facilities, farmers in Himalayan states sell their produce at the local market for a low price. Cold storage units powered by pico hydropower offer a cost-effective solution.
Why I chose fieldwork in rural areas over desk-based roles
Based on his experience of observing how anganwadis function, an aspiring development professional makes a case for the importance of fieldwork for understanding ground realities which will help in policy making.
Farmers’ dilemma: How cooperation can address water security
In India's dry regions, farmers face a tough choice – work together on crops or risk losing everything. Cooperation is the key for farm prosperity given serious water shortages in these areas.