Paan loses flavour
Iconic paan no more appeals to farmers, traders and common people. They say the contagious spread of chewing tobacco, especially gutkha, is fast …
A belief in tradition
It was a unique ceremony for a unique award given to a unique rural community of India. In what is perhaps the first ceremony of its kind, …
Pursuing a nationalist IPR policy
India has enough laws to protect its intellectual property rights. It is the implementation that is wanting
Drought is in the mind
GOOD NEWS: There is more evidence to show that water harvesting can go a long way in dealing with drought and solving the water crisis, and even …
Political harvest
Report card: A scheme that can help solve the water crisis has become a tool to promote political interests of the ruling party Success level: Poor
Learning the mantra
Report card: The government realised its failures and learned from the civil society. Despite cases of corruption and some errors in planning, …
MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION
Knowledge without power, and power bereft of knowledge. This, in sum, is the story of mismanagement of wildlife and protected forests in India. …
Can permaculture make agriculture sustainable?
How Indigenous cultural practices can improve waste management in communities
Applying cultural practices is not common among community members because of the impacts of colonisation
Is permaculture a real solution to agricultural distress?
Permaculture farming, which spread across the West as part of the hippie movement, is fast gaining ground in India among subsistence farmers and …
What drives innovation?
The new Intellectual Property Rights policy is based on a tenuous premise that having more IPRs will result in more innovation
Plant a bone
Plant-based treatment of osteoporosis is gaining ground. The Central Drug Research Institute is adding new dimensions to ancient remedies
After India, China rejects patent claim for hepatitis C drug Sovaldi
Activists claim that the drug was developed using previously published information and an existing compound
Mandla Brimful of thirst
Average rainfall: 1,300 mm Irrigation: 2% of gross cropped area
A natural secret
Policymakers don't need to go too far to eradicate poverty. The solution is as close as is a village well to a villager
Sarguja Losing battle
First district for tribal development Rampant deforestation Malnutrition and starvation deaths
Dungarpur A 'common' death
Once rich in forest and grazing land Now known as 20th century desert 68% population 'marginal and unemployed'
Phulbani Access to poverty
Sal forest worth: Rs 30,000 crore 85% population dependent on forest 65% people below poverty line
The weather mart
Met department is not the only one predicting weather in India. Forecasts are now sold by businesses to businesses
Fruitful deliberations
Two global meetings chart a course for weeding out biopiracy
A Sunrise industry
Natural dye business survives on exporters and the local carpet industry
No business drive
Research efforts on natural colours are not helping the traditional industry
Searching for Roots
India's wealth of flora and fauna provide a rainbow of natural dyes
REVIVING WISDOM
Rainwater is abundant in India. So is its mismanagement. This has led to a human-made water scarcity. The only way to solve modern India's water …
Highs and lows
The government's vanaspati van scheme is good news, but for it to succeed small-scale farmers and local communities have to be brought in its fold