Mining firms set up shop in Orissa

Lanjigarh block, Kalahandi, Orissa, May 17: At its summit, the northeastern ridge of the Niyamgiri hill range has a bald patch, typical of …

Kendu leaves: 29 Odisha villages win complete autonomy, but still a long way to go

Most villagers earned more than Rs 15,000 this year, over seven times their past earnings

Dark arena

The people of Kalahandi may have survived droughts and floods. But they see little hope in their battle against exploitation

2 killed, 50 injured in clash at Vedanta’s refinery in Lanjigarh

The deaths occurred after security men severely beat displaced tribals demanding jobs and education from Vedanta

Kalahandi forest dwellers allege FRA violation by state forest department

Activists say that in 3 villages of Kalahand district, the Odisha forest department is imposing on the rights of forest …

New alphabets: How kids in Rayagada, Kalahandi continued learning amid COVID-19

Children in two of India’s poorest districts continue their education as communities convert open spaces into schools, rope in youths as …

Hello Point in Odisha: A tale of digital India or ignorant India?

Odisha has the highest number of inhabited villages without access to mobile networks  

Forest dept in Odisha oversteps FRA rules, complain tribal rights activists

They say that Kalahandi district’s divisional forest officer issued a transit permit to take bamboo out of forest land when he has no right …

Vedanta, have faith; tribal belief is ecological

Tribal religious beliefs are codes to preserve resources critical to their people's survival. The recent Supreme Court order on the Vedanta …

Odisha Mining Corporation's fresh attempt to mine Niyamgiri

In May 2013, 12 gram sabhas surrounding the Niyamgiri hills had voted against mining in the region

Another village, this time in Odisha, gets official permit to sell bamboo

Though Jamguda was conferred community forest right two years ago, it was not allowed to cart bamboo out or sell it in the market

Hope flickers

Solar electricity lights the maximum number of villages in Chhattisgarh—but barely so

Kalahandi MP denied bamboo passage

He is not allowed to cart away bamboo poles purchased from village conferred community rights under Forest Rights Act   

Legal landmine

Government support to Vedanta's alumina project in Orissa creates more uproar; company pays token fine

Batudi rejects settlement of community forest claims in Niyamgiri

Sixth rejection in a row for proposed bauxite mining; tribal affairs ministry team to visit Odisha to assess claims beyond 12 villages

Vedanta's expansion plan hits road block

Environment ministry wants fresh environmental impact assessment for mining giant's Lanjigarh alumina refinery

Non-tribal Tadijhola rejects mining proposal at Niyamgiri

Palli sabha takes a dig at Odisha government for lack of education and health facilities

Forest alert

Saxena panel report on Niyamgiri puts states under watch for forest, tribal rights violations

Niyamgiri still out of reach, Vedanta scouts for other bauxite sources

Biodiverse Gandhamardan where mining attempts were abandoned earlier after massive public protests also on the radar of metal giant

Dongrias decide

Niyamgiri gears up for India’s first environment referendum. Odisha limits number of villages that can have a say

State manipulating records to help Vedanta?

As the date for gram sabha meetings to decide the fate of mining in Niyamgiri hills nears, activists and Dongria Kondhs allege Odisha government …

Gram sabha gets a boost

Supreme Court asks gram sabhas to see if Vedanta’s bauxite mine harms religious rights

Forest dwellers plan palli sabhas in all affected villages in Niyamgiri

Odisha government sticks to its list of 12 villages despite reservations from rights groups and Union ministry of tribal affairs

Poverty@25, India@70

Poverty remains conditional to one's social status

Who to blame for haemorrhagic septicemia in elephants? Odisha suspends a livestock inspector

Environmentalists slam state, flag collapse of system