How to stall COVID’s march in rural India

As cases of COVID-19 emerge in India’s rural areas, the time is ripe in strengthening implementation of National Rural Health Mission and …

Not being kept in loop: Odisha’s sarpanches on CM’s power decentralisation move

Several sarpanches who were given powers of district collectors alleged their administrative or financial roles were not spelt out clearly 

संवैधानिक अधिकार के लिए संघर्ष

पांचवी अनुसूची में दिए गए सांवैधानिक अधिकार को हासिल करने के लिए आदिवासियों को संघर्ष करना पड़ रहा है  

An attack on grassroots democracy?

Why the Jharkhand government is promoting illegal, parallel governance

Presidential panchayat

India's third-tier of government has a few lessons for those seeking presidential form of government

Panchayats' working women

Slowly but steadly, women elected to panchayats are asserting themselves and, in the process, giving a new thrust to grassroot governance

Embrace of an unforgettable conservation crusade lingers on

Impacts of Chipko are still visible in the state after four decades.

चिपको की छांव में

उत्तराखंड में बहुत कुछ बदल चुका है, लेकिन चार दशक बाद भी कई इलाकों में चिपको आंदोलन का असर साफ नजर आता है।

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

Fight for Khandadhar

Once rescued from Korean company POSCO, Odisha's ecologically rich Khandadhar hills have now been handed over to the state's mining body. Tribal …

MGNREGS falls short of funds again despite increased allocation in rural sector

Pending liabilities in the scheme means that workers’ wages are unpaid

Left without a vote

Uttar Pradesh government's repeated attempts to bring villages under industrial authorities are against the spirit of the Constitution

Swachh Bharat cess: A few states may not agree on it

Except Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand, no other state has directly agreed to the central proposal

Panchayati bonanza

13th Finance Commission puts money in the hands of local governments

Fresh development plan for naxal-affected districts

Rural schemes to be more flexible; get more funds

Gods must be dazed

Environment ministry recognises religious rights, pushes ecological concerns behind

New sand mining guidelines call for robust monitoring and sustainable development

The guidelines try to create a balance between preserving ecologically sensitive river habitats and the need for infrastructure

Reserved for no one

Many reserved seats remained uncontested in first-ever panchayat elections in Jharkhand

People’s manifesto

Political parties reverse trend, seek people’s suggestions to draft manifesto

Streamlining autonomy

Panchayati raj ministry suggests amendments to local governance in north-eastern states

Where are rural courts?

The Gram Nyayalaya Act was passed in 2008 to make the judicial process participatory, inexpensive and accessible to rural India. But rural courts …

Giant snail invasion

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

Rural development schemes up for overhaul

Ministry of panchayati raj plans to develop model panchayats in different states through integrated development

Include public, fight Naxalites

Planning Commission wants to improve Integrated Action Plan

What it takes to deliver midday meal