Political economy of welfare

The BJP-led government's change of heart for big-ticket rural programmes says a lot about its dwindling political fortune

Deforestation rampant in Malawi as residents chop forests to produce charcoal for fuel

Charcoal trade has emerged as a viable means of livelihood for the power-starved villagers

Rivulet resurrected in 45 days

Thousands of people working under NREGS bring a 38 km stream back from the dead in Uttar Pradesh

Giant snail invasion

People in Kerala village spend nights battling large snails that devour plants and nibble at walls  

Twice Unlucky

In 1962, it was the Indo-Chinese war. Now it is the creation of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. Once again, the Bhotiyas, who inhabit the …

Barring the muck

The Tihar jail exemplifies how efficient waste management not only makes our surroundings clean, but also endows us with economic benefits. What …

Protocol to protect RTI activists in the works

If a single panchayat-level activist can expose corruption worth Rs 25 lakh, then each needs protection for effective implementation of …

A million opportunities lost

The ruling alliance’s flagship rural employment programme took unprecedented strides in creating water conservation structures across the …

Big hikes in rural spending

Funds for MGNREGA maintained at Rs.33,000 crore, same as in 2012-13

Victim of its success

MGNREGA blamed for causing labour shortage; cut in budgetary support likely

Jobs and the environment

Bihar elections 2020: Who is talking about safai karmacharis?

The Bihar govt refuses to identify manual scavengers; the latter continue to face abuse and death threats 

Mr Prime Minister good news

The finance minister has said that the government is committed to double farmers' income in five years. Here are a few villages across the …

How tribal leadership in Chhattisgarh is helping people access rights

The civil society’s intervention in the tribal regions began in early 1980s on two issues-sustainable livelihood, particularly in forest …

DRDA faces axe

District Rural Development Agency in conflict with Constitution; committee suggests its abolition

Water turns the tide

A barren district of Rajasthan is seeing development, thanks to rains last year and flood in 2006

Profiting from disaster

Zoramthanga , the chief minister of Mizoram, has many reasons to reminisce the birth of his party, the Mizo National Front, an insurgent group …

No toilet at home? Can’t contest local body polls in Bihar, says Nitish

State government to make amendments to the existing Bihar Panchayati Raj Act

Foodgrains risk rot

No place to store seven million tonnes of procured foodgrains

Sweet beris of Thar

Residents dig shallow wells to tap sweet water reserves

Sure cure: how to tackle India's undernutrition crisis in 10 steps

The finance ministry and the planning department can play an overarching role by ensuring health programmes get sufficient resources

After a week in office, Modi government sets its agenda

The new government faces its first parliamentary session. Down To Earth puts together the agenda of the government in key sectors

Tapping the skills of the gun makers of Munger

Traditional gun makers in Bihar's Munger district are exceptionally skilled; with a little help they could find jobs in legal arms factories

The poverty quibble

Government claims a huge drop in poverty numbers but critical indicators—health, malnutrition and wages—continue to be grim. So how …

The desperation of farmers