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
Chashi bandhus help communities restore ecosystem in Bengal
In Bankura district of Bengal, known for its barren hillsides, chashi bandhus or farmers’ friends are recognising the importance of arresting rainwater runoff, and implementing measures to transform the landscape and people’s livelihoods.
How a sarpanch led the facelift of his Gujarat village
Suresh Chhanga of Kunariya gram panchayat in Kachchh district has ushered a transformation in his village, with a focus on safe water and sanitation services, demonstrating how villages can lead in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
With cans of filtered water, she exhibits ‘can do’ entrepreneurial spirit
Unable to sustain her family with an agricultural income, this Jharkhand farmer sees an opportunity in supplying filtered water. With the right support, she establishes herself as a successful entrepreneur and is raring to grow.
Women spearhead claim to community forest rights
In the absence of individual land rights, community forest rights empower tribal women in Gujarat and Odisha, amplifying their voices in village-level decision-making and reaffirming their role in protection and management of their natural resources.
Hakkum Mail wheels in hope for Chhattisgarh’s tribes
Development eluded Sukma district’s tribes due to their remote settlements and sociopolitical conflicts. Hakkum Mail, a new bus service, connects them to services essential for growth and a better quality of life.
Tharu tribes lose identity and livelihood to industrial development
The Tharu tribes of Uttarakhand have a symbiotic relationship with nature. With industrial development bringing in migrants and taking away land, they are at risk of losing their nature-centric way of life and livelihood.
Golden empowerment: Women effect change through turmeric
In a remote village in Jharkhand, women take to turmeric cultivation and processing – learning everything from scratch, transforming their lives and inspiring other women to follow in their footsteps.
Concerted efforts help communities get through Cyclone Remal
While early warning systems help the administration prepare communities to safeguard themselves and their possessions during a cyclone, collaborative post-disaster relief work with other agencies helps people in the Sundarbans recover fast.
Combating desertification and drought in Chhattisgarh
This initiative of Transform Rural India and Hindustan Unilever Foundation is working to restore land and water ecosystems in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh by layering scientific principles while planning and executing local development plans.