Read the opinion pieces from those at the sharp end of development world – from practitioners in the field to district officers and even ideators creating schemes for the future. Field Journal is the place for civil society groups to share their experiences and insights – their highs and lows – in their journey to put India on the path to progress.
Ground Report
Millet-chocolate laddoos – fusion food and revenue for Rajasthanis
Recipe for success – mix a heap of millets, a handful of chocolate, a large amount of inspiration and an empowering self-help group and, voilà! Rajasthani women who never set foot outside their homes without a veil are now flying across India selling their food.
Farmer and pulse pioneer shapes a water-efficient future
As we celebrate World Pulses Day today, meet Balchandra Ahirwar, a pioneering farmer from the Bundelkhand region, who is championing water efficiency through pulse cultivation.
Mango plantations are reviving livelihoods in Chhattisgarh
Once a conflict-ridden region, the Community Model Mango Plantation Initiative has empowered tribal farmers in Sukma, Chhattisgarh to embrace sustainable farming practices, diversify their incomes, and reconnect with their ancestral land.
How a beloved community grandma overcame cancer
This is the story of Sarubai Laxman Kanade, a 65-year-old woman from Tirth Khurd in Maharashtra, and how she escaped from the grasp of cancer to reclaim her life.
A Bal Gram Sabha for kids
By imparting values of democracy and leadership, Bhata Dungariya, a nondescript village in Mandla, is grooming Gen Alpha to take on governance roles in the future.
Leaving a corporate job to take the road less travelled
Bismaya Mahapatra gave up his corporate career to work for marginalised communities in rural India. He changed his consultancy firm ‘Harsha’ to ‘Harsha Trust' in 2002 to work in a sustained manner with the poor rather than in a project mode. To set up the corpus for the trust, he donated Rs 10 lakh, his profits earned from his firm. The office initially operated out of his garage.
Munda women are safeguarding indigenous food systems
The Munda tribals of Chota Nagpur in Jharkhand are keeping their culture and identity alive by continuing to practice age-old traditions associated with agriculture.
Sacred Banni lends Amaritya a new lease of life
This is a story about how a village came together and joined hands with the Devnarayan Jalgrahan Vikas Samiti to combat deforestation and revitalise its natural resources.
A Santhal tribal’s journey from struggle to success
The success story of Biswanath Majhi, a Santhal from Mayurbhanj, is not merely a personal triumph but a powerful testament to the transformative potential of grassroots initiatives.