Punjab

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A Punjab village where doorplates bear women’s names

In Manak Khana village of Punjab’s Bathinda district, sarpanch Seshandeep Kaur leads an initiative to install nameplates on houses with the names of the eldest woman in the family as part of a broader effort for women’s empowerment.

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Punjab farmer transforms trash into treasure

Gurmeet Singh from Burj Rathi village transforms discarded waste, especially old rubber slippers, into intricate works of art and toys, showing how garbage can be reimagined as a resource.

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Bamboo schools transform education for migrant workers’ kids in Punjab

Punjab’s eco-friendly bamboo schools address the pressing issue of migrant workers’ children missing out on education due to safety concerns and the lack of nearby institutions.

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Elders trade thumbprints for signatures in twilight of their lives

Bebe Bapu School in Punjab’s Bathinda district shows that education has no age limit as nearly 80 elders learn to read, sign their names and do basic maths under the guidance of a 28-year-old teacher.

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Dalit woman leads fellow caste villagers to land ownership in Punjab

Charanjit Kaur and other Dalit families from Gharachon village in Sangrur district won the right to bid for reserved panchayat land, despite systemic caste barriers and police action.

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Celebrating Teeyan in Punjab

Here is a festival for women where they celebrate through gatherings, dance and customs that have endured despite the passage of time.

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These two women are singing Punjab’s past into present

Virpal Kaur and Pawandeep Kaur from Khosa Kotla, dedicated to preserving Punjab’s folk music, have collected and documented hundreds of traditional songs to ensure the rhythms of Punjab’s past resonate with future generations.

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Village battles cancer as Punjab’s environmental crisis deepens

The village of Sirsiwala in Punjab's Mansa district is grappling with an alarming rise in cancer cases linked to groundwater pollution and intensive pesticide use.

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Patiala sisters balance school, goat farming to reap success

These two teenagers have turned a family need for goat milk into a successful business in Bahadurgarh, Punjab. Starting with a single goat, they now manage 65 goats of various breeds, producing milk, ghee and paneer.

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She stands as an inspiration amid Punjab’s farm tragedy

After her father, father-in-law and husband died by suicide due to the burden of agricultural debt, this 45-year-old mother from Ralla village in Mansa district has dedicated her life to empower those facing similar hardships.

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Pandemic-spurred self-help group is making huge strides in Punjab

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Veerpal Kaur from Sem Kalan village founded Shagun Ajivika, selling handmade traditional items, and the group now includes over 15 women who make products that celebrate Punjab’s legacy.

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Loving Diljit Dosanjh as Chamkila? Here are 5 other celebs with Punjab roots

As actor Diljit Dosanj’s Amar Singh Chamkila and Crew make waves at the box office, we look at some celebrities from Punjab who are currently ruling the hearts of their fans.

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Her rural oasis of green lends respite to Ludhiana

Agripreneur Ramandeep Kaur Sandhu’s dream project – a plant nursery in Birmi village near Ludhiana – offers over 1,000 varieties of plants and provides employment opportunities to villagers.

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Exciting village festivals you can attend this March

Spring is here! And rural India is getting ready to celebrate the blooming season with festivities that reflect each region’s cultural richness. These are some of the most vibrant festivals you can enjoy this March.

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Empowering Punjab’s rural women

The essence of the rural employment guarantee scheme lay obscured in many villages of Punjab, veiled by the shadows of ignorance. But a women's collective is helping to empower beneficiaries across nearly 3,000 villages.

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A Punjab college for girls where every student is a teacher

Baba Aya Singh Riarki College in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district stands as a beacon of empowerment, challenging stereotypes and showcasing how girls are capable of achieving remarkable feats.

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It takes a village to raise a child

In the rural landscape of Punjab, children from different government schools gather in a village to participate in Bal Mela or children's fair, an initiative of teachers to promote the unseen talent in rural children.

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Punjab school rises like a phoenix from ashes of neglect

A 70-year-old former alumnus, a benevolent family and a dedicated teacher resurrect a dilapidated government primary school in a Punjab village, which now offers services like free transportation and even showers to students.

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Bt cotton, pink bollworm and the debt cycle in Punjab

As cotton harvesting begins in Punjab, this World Cotton Day we look at the impact of introduction of Bt cotton in the state. Almost two decades later, farmers are still grappling with pests and other problems.

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A day at a village square

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As Village Square turns 7 today, we feature a village square from Punjab where elders gather during the day as they return from fields – to take a nap, play cards or just catch up on everyday life.