How to fight water scarcity this monsoon

Though the monsoon is behaving erratically, drought-prone districts are still water rich

It is not a drought

As they say, drought is a disaster one can see coming. Deficit monsoon creates situations for a drought. But it is not deficit monsoon, rather …

Budget 2017 Analysis with Sunita Narain

Centre for Science and Environment and Down to Earth analysed the 2017 Budget by Arun Jaitley. The major takeaway is that there is very little …

Great farm pond chase

According to Union Budget 2017-18, Centre expects to see one million farm ponds being built by March 2017. If the government continues to chase …

Prosperity and Beyond

A quarter of a century ago, a jeep driver decided it was time to make a change. Ralegan Siddhi, made into a model village by Anna Hazare, faces …

On shaky ground

450,000 people in and around Jharia town of Jharkhand are threatened by the fire raging underground, but there is no political will to implement …

RTI activists’ murders: Jairam Ramesh demands prompt action, compensation to families

Rural development minister’s letter to Nitish Kumar includes four suggestions for better implementation of social welfare schemes

Just transition: Digital literacy can help youth dependant on coal sector move into other fields, finds IIT study

Digital media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube can also be used to educate the youth on just transition

Why Union Budget 2022-23 falls short in addressing gaps to build disaster resilience

The budgetary allocations under relief on account of natural calamities and MGNREGA have been decreased; this will affect the country in building …

Security ring: How MGNREGA rejuvenated tanks of a Tikamgarh village

A network of 55 tanks that get filled up one after the other when it rains, has cured this village of droughts

Nutrition in backyard gardens: Odisha’s tribal women show the way

The vegetable women grow not only help them eat healthy, but also sell surplus produce and make a living of their own  

MSP on crops has major impact on inflation: RBI

After government said that it will provide 1.5 times the MSP on cost of production of crops in the 2018-19 Union budget, RBI re-assessed the …

Manual scavengers: Existing in the shade

Several government departments continue to maintain silence on plight of manual scavengers, despite an array of schemes for them 

Rural options for Odisha’s returnee migrants

The state’s track record in engaging people under MGNREGA has been mixed so far. Hence, this huge returnee workforce must be gainfully …

Formulate, implement national urban employment guarantee, workers tell Centre

The pandemic and subsequent national lockdown have exposed the long-existing vulnerabilities faced by India’s urban poor

Pro-poor schemes in plenty, but no end to tribal community struggles

Governance has virtually collapsed in tribal regions; most welfare and development schemes hardly reach even 10% of the targets

Congress promises Rs 72,000 per year minimum income for poor

Calling it the Nyaya scheme, Rahul Gandhi said it will be an extension of UPA government’s flagship MGNREGS

Drought but why: Jharkhand staring at food insecurity

Primarily a rain dependant state, Jharkhand is witnessing deficient rainfall for the past few years now and even its relatively well-off farmers …

Budget 2017-18 expectations: ensure food security, minimise rural distress

This year’s budget must focus on preventing farmer suicides, strengthening crop insurance scheme and guaranteeing rural employment

It is not a drought but a cumulative outcome of decades of policy sins

It is not deficit monsoon, rather the lack of policies and mechanisms to drought-proof susceptible areas that turn the situation into a crisis

Bihar cancels 7.25 million unused job cards under MGNREGS

The move is aimed at stopping various malpractices related to seeking jobs under the scheme

Peace isn't elusive

After the Pulwama terror strike, the Kashmir debate has reopened. We bring to you an older article from brighter times, which underscores the …

Graft claims in MGNREGA squeezing poor workers, millions unpaid for months

Zero funds to Bengal, Lakshadweep this year, Centre admits in Parliament; activists ask to use pre-existing mechanisms to handle graft

Making migrants count: The role of Indian judiciary amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Supreme Court’s recent order has shifted the focus from protecting workers’ legal rights to government largesse 

How MGNREGA is promoting climate-smart villages

The works include constructing percolation tanks, households living in the catchment area for construction of check dams, afforestation, contour&…