Climate change is impacting the world. It is the poorest who suffer the most. Yet often rural Indians are leading the way in sustainable advances and trialling schemes that – if rolled out on a macro scale – can create real change in the environment.
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.