Ground Report
Women adopt organic farming to transform a Karnataka village
The old adage – empower a woman and it will transform not just her and her family but the entire community – is coming true once again as more women take to organic farming in Handanakere of Tumkur district in Karnataka.
Smashing gender discrimination one theatre skit at a time
Nukkad naatak (street theatre) is not only helping a group of tribal women raise awareness about gender discrimination and the digital divide in Banka, Bihar -- but it’s helping bring about real change too.
Alu Kurumba art depicts the tribes’ connection with nature
In the remote forests of the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, one man tries to keep the art of the Alu Kurumbas tribe alive despite the impact of a cultural shift.
Synchronised farming, collective marketing boost farmers’ income in Odisha
Farmers in an Odisha village are reaping rewards from synchronised cultivation and coming together as a collective for purchase and sale of their produce.
How a tribal woman farmer increases income with this new approach
Balmati Goud was your average struggling tribal farmer who worked as a daily wage worker – until she adopted the ‘50-cent (0.5 acres of land) model' of organic farming, transforming her life and becoming an inspiration for other women farmers.
How millet magic is empowering women in rural Odisha
Loaded with nutritional benefits and climate resistant properties, finger millet can be a life-transforming crop – especially if mini-millet flour mills, making the processing easier.
Kudumbashree: A 3-tiered programme tackling Kerala’s gender-based violence
Tackling gender-based violence, Kerala’s Kudumbashree programme works on the three principles of transformation, prevention and support - offering community-based centres and counselling for those in need.
Irrigation facilities improve farmers’ lives in Odisha
Many tribal farmers in Odisha were living below the poverty line due to lack of irrigation facilities. New bore wells and farm training are helping them earn more now, according to a Harsha Trust social worker.
For women in Ayodhya, becoming micro-entrepreneurs is not just about money
Coming together as collectives and running micro enterprises help rural women not only earn more and provide better for their family but also become more confident decision makers.
How farmers flourish with community-owned solar-powered irrigation system in UP’s Bahraich
A common eco-friendly solar-powered irrigation system for a group of farmers helps them earn more while weaning them off polluting diesel pumps or relying on rains.
Marathi women keep alive poet Sant Janabai’s songs of life
Following the Varkari religious tradition, women in Maharashtra take pride in singing the songs of and about Janabai – a 13th century Marathi religious poet and saint.
Nagaland: Young girl breaks the norm, drums her way towards her dreams
A teen teaches herself to play the drums, encourages other girls to hone their innate talents and nurtures future dreams for her village in Nagaland that is shedding patriarchy.
Good or bad to call women leaders ‘mahila sarpanch?’
Identifying women leaders by gender – like ‘mahila sarpanch’ – seems a step back, but one development worker sees it as acknowledging the challenges women overcame to become leaders.
Physically challenged women ensure mother-child health
These resilient frontline health workers ensure nourishment and development of young women and children in their village, despite their own physical disabilities and challenges.
New survey shows processed snack foods lure rural Indians
A new survey by the Development Intelligence Unit shows that obesity is a rapidly evolving problem, especially in rural India, and needs to be addressed through policies and awareness campaigns
Tribal women trained in safe home deliveries
In remote tribal areas where hospitals are hours away, women deliver their babies safely at home, thanks to traditional birth attendants trained in safe practices.
Young girl fights the devadasi tradition
A leading women’s rights activist tells the story of a young girl fighting the devadasi practice that enslaves girls of vulnerable communities into the flesh trade, either through direct dedications or false marriages.
Healing mental health wounds
Access to mental health care is lacking in rural India - especially for the marginalized - which is why The Banyan mental health service organization enlists local community women to help them help those in need.
Poshan Maah – eat nutritious, eat local
September’s Poshan Maah (nutrition month) helps development professionals drive home the importance of eating locally-sourced, nourishing food to eradicate malnutrition through discussions and games.
Reverse dowry – empowering or subjugation?
Though the practice of Barela tribesmen marrying women by paying a “bride price” – or reverse dowry – appears to be empowering for women, a development worker finds it is essentially “buying” brides.