What is good governance? How well can a person or a community access help or push for a needed change? How often are they heard? Village Square shines a light on the people and schemes making the biggest impact or providing the most unique solutions.
Governance
Women unite to address problems and transform their village
Under an umbrella village organization, members of women self-help groups address common problems in their village, including a stand-off against a mining company
MGNREGS curbs distress migration, provides employment during lockdown
With agriculture turning unsustainable, villagers migrated to nearby towns for work. Community planning leading to sanctioned MGNREGS works has ensured local livelihood and has stemmed migration
With no increase in tiger count, tribes continue to be relocated
With discontentment among relocated tribes leading to conflict between tiger conservation and tribes’ habitat rights in Similipal, administrators hope to change mindset with education and employment
Will the post-pandemic government be more responsible and responsive?
COVID-19 crisis showed how government can work with zeal and efficiency. It will be a welcome outcome of the pandemic If the momentum continues in the new normal
Decentralized administration will prevent post-lockdown rural crisis
Social and behavioral aspects, besides economic and medical dimensions of the migrants need to be considered, to avoid cracks on existing rural fault lines
Women use mobile phones to maintain land records
Over half a million women, trained to access and maintain their land records through mobile phones, have learned to complete documentation, so that they are registered as owners
Volunteers in Odisha ensure stranded migrants do not go hungry
Social service personnel working on migration issues network with philanthropists, administrators and volunteers to ensure stranded Odia migrants and other state migrants in Odisha are fed
Multi-pronged approach will reboot flagging rural economy
Enhancing the resilience of rural production system through multiple measures, besides soil and water conservation initiatives would help the rural populace find a firm footing
Disrupted supply chains need to be mended to revive rural economy
Infusion of working capital at some levels of the supply chain and easing of transportation regulations would put ruptured supply chains back on track and reboot rural economy