The latest rural news, most touching stories and insights from villages – where nearly two-thirds of India lives. Find out about rural start-ups and livelihood trends, impact of rapid development on the environment, advances in health and nutrition, innovative approaches in learning and literacy, and much more.
Rural News
Livelihoods
Tribal woman in Odisha champions heirloom seeds
Raimati Ghiuria, popularly known as the Queen of Millets, from the Bhumia tribal community of southern Odisha’s Koraput district, has championed heirloom seeds and local agrobiodiversity. She has also shared her knowledge of organic farming with over 2,500 farmers.
Drought-hit Maratha village turns to natural farming
Kumbharwadi, a drought-prone village in Maharashtra, is set to rewrite its future as it undergoes a natural farming revolution. The lands are now laboratories for organic farming and natural practices as farmers apply what they learn at “school”.
Chhattisgarh farmer’s transformative “ATM model” of crop-growing
Like an ATM that dispenses money anytime, a Chhattisgarh farmer creates a process of cultivation where a field produces crops that can be consumed and sold anytime. He calls it his “ATM model” and it’s catching on.
Environment
Nature’s wonder: Odisha welcomes Olive Ridley Turtles
In an annual ritual, Odisha gets ready to welcome its marine guests from the Pacific as thousands of Olive Ridley turtles descend on the shores of the Rushikulya estuary for their mass-nesting.
All stakeholders on board with whale shark conservation
Conservation actions are in place for whale sharks, a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, in Kerala. Village Square looks at one project initiated in the state by the Wildlife Trust of India in 2017, and the perspectives of the fishing communities on such efforts.
Living with stripes – struggles in Ranthambore
Ranthambore, home to Bengal tigers, faces rising human-wildlife conflict. As tiger numbers grow, territorial pressures push them into nearby villages, creating life-threatening encounters for humans and wildlife.
Health & Well Being
Braving the snow: ASHA workers’ unseen fight
Healthcare workers in Kashmir’s Kulgam district stand between triumph and tragedy in the remote snowy region, putting their own well-being second to that of the people they serve. It’s time their efforts are suitably rewarded.
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.
The discipline behind tree-pose record breaker’s success
Mayank Bhatt’s unwavering determination, the challenges he faced during his practice, and the disciplined life at his gurukul have been instrumental in supporting him in achieving a record-breaking feat.
Education
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.
Learning math, the Vedic way
The ancient wisdom of Vedic Maths is gaining popularity at home and abroad for its enhanced computational proficiencies and problem-solving abilities. In the process it is rekindling love for an otherwise dreaded subject.
Village crime school in Madhya Pradesh grooms next generation of thieves
Kadiya village seems plucked from the pages of a Dickensian novel, but crime here is a profession, taught and executed, as parents hand over their children to local gangs that teach them the dark arts of pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and deceit.
Gender
The portrayal of women in Kalighat paintings
Kalighat paintings offer a fascinating glimpse into the complex and evolving relationship between societal expectations, gender roles, and females in India. By portraying women as both symbols of tradition and catalysts for change, the art form serves as a valuable record of a transformative period. The contemporary depiction of women in Kalighat can be seen as a continuing struggle for gender equality and women’s rights in today’s society.
Her cafe’s Kangri dham a big draw
Started by Manisha Thakur in 2022, Her cafe is an all-women-run cafe in Bir that serves local Himachali delicacies and provides the feel of a home-cooked meal in their village-inspired cafe setting.
Reimagining the idea of processed foods
A Chennai-based food technologist, with the help of farmers, has pioneered a movement of consciously processed foods and given a completely new dimension to the idea of healthy eating.
Governance
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.
Dalits’ pursuit of dignity and rights
While there have been significant changes to Dalit lives – more work needs to be done, especially in rural India, to ensure they’re given equal opportunities to thrive, says JNU assistant professor.
Mandla makeover – How MP’s cyber crime hub became a literacy model
When 4,500 volunteers set out to transform Mandla in 2020, it was notorious for its low literacy rates and cyber fraud. It then became the first district in Madhya Pradesh to achieve 100 percent functional literacy.
COVID-19 Impact
Boom in Kashmir’s bloom business
Stuck at home in the pandemic, many Kashmiris became avid gardeners and are now turning their passion into a business by transforming their backyard patches into plant nurseries.
Uninhibited menstruation talk on “Hello Saathi” helpline
Want to have an uninhibited talk about menstruation? Try the “Hello Saathi” helpline, a game-changing scheme from the menstrual health group Uninhibited helping 150,000 people in less than two years, as two of its practitioners report.
Rural theatre acts out vaccine hesitancy
Setting the stage to bust myths around vaccine hesitancy, tribal dance and theatre productions manage to convert the unvaccinated in Rajasthan, proving the power of tailor-made messaging.