Panchayat Raj Half a cheer for democracy

There is a great push to make panchayats the fulcrum of rural development in India. But 16 years after the third tier of government was created, …

Impotent plan?

In August 2005, the Indian Parliament passed the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (nrega). The latest avatar of state-financed employment …

Pindar’s last gush

Dam proposed on the last unrestricted tributary of Alaknanda stirs valley residents

Split approach

Like neighbours

Maharashtra muddies bamboo rights

Activists say forest department trying to dilute Forest Rights Act

Under threat

A proposed dam is set to change the landscape in the Pindar ghati--host to the last free flowing tributary of the Alaknanda. Bharat Lal Seth …

Fresh development plan for naxal-affected districts

Rural schemes to be more flexible; get more funds

View from the top

Planners must stop looking down at hill-stations

Protests against unfair land allotment in Rajasthan

Model in a fix

Chhattisgarh's much appreciated public distribution scheme is falling apart due to corruption and mismanagement

High risk

Problem: Tall buildings risky in high seismic zones; Status: Hill-stations are getting concretised and growing vertically; Challenge: Use local …

What goes down

Problem: Lack of space for garbage disposal; inadequate sewerage; Status: Garbage disposed on hill slopes ends in streams/rivers; Challenge: …

Defying gravity

Problem: Terrain forbids water supply systems that work in plains; Status: Water crisis in peak season every year; Challenge: Develop …

Local travails

Problem: Tourist influx too large; earnings flow downhill; Status: Residents forced to share meagre facilities with tourists; Challenge: Regulate …

Only plans, no integration

Bay in distress

A proposed shipyard threatens the rich biodiversity of a south Goa bay, but government is unmoved

A watershed plan

Recurrent droughts and floods coupled with mass poverty, chronic unemployment and pervasive malnutrition are the major challenges before India. …

Beijing's Green Olympics

A black countdown in West Bengal, India

Centre fund for rural development mismanaged

The god of ecological things

Walk the village talk

After raising the political profile of village councils, government wants to downsize them

Blatant lies for laterite

Andhra pollution control board holds public hearing for a project in Schedule Five area  

Making money through herbs in Himachal

Medicinal plants can improve the fortunes of state's rural poor

Job half done

25 per cent funds allocated to national rural employment scheme remain unspent