Ground Report
How Odisha’s Kondh tribe resolves conflicts
The community prefers internal conflict resolution instead of approaching the police or courts since the local mechanism is a cost effective process involving mediation by village elders.
Self-help groups – learning from the roots
While the reasons that motivate women to join self-help groups are the same, developing each group through a facilitative process instead of on a pre-conceived concept works better.
How this young man from MP is ‘ringing’ in a new future
With the right guidance and practical training, this rural youth from Barwani, Madhya Pradesh, has transitioned from a small shop assistant to successfully launching his own mobile phone repairing business.
Multiple income streams sustain tribal families in Assam
From growing multiple crops on forest land they have been cultivating for ages to rearing livestock and weaving, tribal families in Assam rely on different income sources to sustain themselves.
3Ms herald prosperity in troubled Bastar
Bastar, once synonymous with Naxalism, is seeing a slow change for the better through moringa and millet cultivation, besides wage work through the rural employment scheme.
The much-maligned khaaps still have potential
Though rigid at times, the centuries-old informal social institution of khaap can still be effective in solving issues if it adapts to the needs of a changing society.
Women shed ‘forest encroachers’ tag, turn land owners
Dubbed as encroachers in the forest land they tilled, the women of a village in Odisha claim their land rights and get their name recorded on the property document.
Tribal women stitch a new future in Gujarat’s Dang
Left without farm work after the harvesting season ended, women from two villages in Dang district of Gujarat come together to form successful tailoring units.
The ‘queen’ of king chillies in Assam
From growing them commercially to starting a nursery, this woman farmer helps others realise the market potential of bhoot jolokia – one of the hottest chillies in the world.
Tribal woman ushers in organic farming in India’s last village
In Madhupur, a village in Assam close to the Bhutan border, an Adivasi woman’s successful switch to organic farming prompts the entire farming community to follow suit.
Student initiative promotes green period products
Bleed Green, an initiative of the students of VidyaGyan school, aims to create awareness about the menstrual cup, an eco-friendly hygiene product for women.
Kotwalia women break menstruation taboo
If lack of water forced Kotwalia women to relieve themselves in the open, their ingrained mindset made menstruation taboo. With toilets and sanitation training, they now follow good menstrual hygiene.
Less methane means more income for Gujarat herders
A balanced diet programme to curb methane emission from livestock helps Gujarat’s pastoral communities get more income through reduced fodder intake and increased milk production.
Business becoming the buzzword for tribal youth in Gujarat
Though tribal youngsters are increasingly looking to start their own businesses, they face several challenges along the way. Providing the right support and guidance is helping them become successful entrepreneurs in Dang, Gujarat.
Rajasthan village teams up to revive dhok trees, vultures
The once-degraded common lands around Kekariya village in Rajasthan are now teeming with several treasured species of plants and animals, thanks to the community’s efforts.
‘All large animals are facing increasing human pressure’
Species become endangered due to several reasons and a multi-pronged approach is needed to boost their numbers, says wildlife-biologist Sumit Dookia, faculty member at GGS Indraprastha University, who also works on conservation projects in Rajasthan.
Banni Maldharis battle to rear cattle in Kachchh
The migrating Maldharis of Kachchh have been rearing cattle for generations but they now find it hard to sustain their traditional profession.
Canadian Punjabi returns to his roots to empower women
Onkar Jot Singh returned to India from Canada to help the youth – especially girls – of his town and nearby villages.
Overcoming the many hurdles to women’s inheritance rights
Prameelaben, a single child, faced many challenges on her way to claiming inheritance rights until support arrived from the local women’s collective and a grassroots organisation
Solar-powered water supply eases women’s struggles
Gone are the days when Andharkachhala village in Gujarat faced acute drinking water shortage. A solar-powered system managed by a woman-led user group ensures adequate water supply now, besides bringing multiple other benefits.