The Slow Interview spoof: Presenting the life of an alcoholic, host Neelesh Misra ‘invites’ tippler Wohnnie Jalker
The World Health Organization and Gaon Connection have collaborated for a social campaign to highlight the darkness that is usually ignored while romanticising alcohol. As part of the campaign, Gaon Connection founder Neelesh Misra comes up with a spoof of his iconic ‘The Slow Interview’. Watch. Read.
Gaon Connection
The Latest
Ground Report: After arsenic, fluoride and iron, now high levels of radioactive uranium in Bihar’s groundwater
At least ten districts of Bihar have reported high levels of uranium in their groundwater, the primary source of drinking water in rural areas, which far exceeds the tolerable limit prescribed by the World Health Organization. Millions in Bihar are already facing a high disease burden due to elevated levels of arsenic, fluoride and iron in their water. Presence of uranium has multiplied their worries manifold. The state government is still yet to prepare a response plan. A ground report from Siwan, one of the affected districts.
OP Singh
Maharashtra man who returned from South Africa 4th Omicron case of COVID19 in India so far
A 33-year-old man who travelled from Cape Town via Dubai and Delhi to Maharashtra on November 24 has tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID19. According to the public health department, 12 of his high-risk contacts and 23 low-risk contacts have tested negative for COVID-19.
Gaon Connection
Human trafficking survivors highlight loopholes in the pending draft Bill
The Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill 2021 is expected to be passed in the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament. Human trafficking survivors from different parts of India spoke to Gaon Connection about the gaps in the Bill which are yet to be addressed. More details here.
Sarah Khan
Omicron variant: Govt releases FAQs after 2 COVID19 cases attributed to the new strain in Karnataka
As cases of COVID19 infected with Omicron variant continue to spread around the world, the Indian government has released a list of FAQs on the most contagious strain of the coronavirus so far. Check here.
Gaon Connection
Govt teachers, sanitation workers in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh strongly protest the new pension scheme
Thousands of government employees, including teachers, sanitation and anganwadi workers, from across Uttar Pradesh gathered in Lucknow today to protest against the new pension scheme. They want the old pension scheme implemented. What is the new pension scheme and why the protests? Details here.
Shivani Gupta
Dehradun’s smart water ATMs provide clean drinking water at an affordable price
As part of the Smart City Dehradun project, 24 water ATMs have been installed at various locations in the capital of Uttarakhand. Shopkeepers, slum dwellers, migrant workers and travellers find these ATMs convenient. Fifty per cent of the ATM operators are women.
Megha Prakash
Tribal communities in Odisha’s Koraput protest bauxite mining to save their Mali hill
Exactly two months after a public hearing was held on September 22 to grant permission for bauxite mining in the tribal dominated Semiliguda block, and which had led to the arrest of 28 tribal leaders, the district administration organised another hearing on November 22 amidst tight security. Protests continue.
Ashish Senapati
Parliament passes Bill to repeal the three Farm Laws
The Bill to repeal three contentious farm laws has been passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha today. The opposition alleges the laws have been repealed without discussion.
Gaon Connection
Explained: What is known about Omicron — the worst COVID19 variant ever
First discovered in South Africa following a surge in COVID19 infections, isolated cases of people infected with the Omicron variant have so far been traced across five continents — Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and North America. Many countries have imposed travel restrictions. How dangerous is the new Omicron variant of COVID19. Details here.
Gaon Connection
“Arsenic has entered the food chain through irrigation water… it can cause cancer, mental retardation”
Ashok Kumar Ghosh, chairperson, Bihar State Pollution Control Board, and professor and Head of Department, Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Patna, who has worked extensively on the arsenic contamination in groundwater in the state, speaks to Gaon Connection on the shocking levels of arsenic found in the drinking water (groundwater) and its disease burden.
Nidhi Jamwal
News Stories
Of all states, only Punjab reported suspected COVID19 deaths due to oxygen shortage: Health Minister
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that all states were asked for COVID19 deaths due to oxygen shortage, but only 19 states responded. Of these, only Punjab reported four ‘suspected’ deaths due to the shortage. Details here.
Gaon Connection
UP kick-starts a special 6-day screening drive amid Omicron threat
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a special six-day screening drive from December 1-6 to enable early detection of the virus and early treatment. Details here.
Gaon Connection
Centre extends free food grains scheme till March 2022
The scheme was extended as the fourth phase in July and was set to lapse in the ongoing month. Today's announcement marks the launch of the fifth phase of the scheme. Details here.
Gaon Connection
National Epilepsy Day: The neurological disease has the highest prevalence in rural areas. What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a common neurological disease that can affect people of any age. The disease is characterised by recurrent seizures, a behavioural abnormality. Up to 10 per cent of people worldwide have had at least one seizure during their lifetime. In India, epilepsy often is the cause for prohibiting or annulling marriages.
Gaon Connection
Tribal rights ignored; those in power post independence prioritised selfish politics: PM Narendra Modi
Even though they make up about 10 per cent of India’s population, according to Prime Minister Modi, the culture and capabilities of tribal inhabitants have been ignored for decades. Matters pertaining to their education and health have been sidelined post-independence, he said.
Gaon Connection
Bundelkhand’s 300-year-old tradition of Diwari Nritya continues to be performed by milkmen and cattle herders
Hundreds of milkmen and cattle herders gather at temples in Panna, Madhya Pradesh the day after Diwali, and break into dance to show their love for Lord Krishna, who they consider their childhood friend. They are the Diwari dancers.
Arun Singh
Over 90% respondents in Delhi have developed antibodies against COVID19, shows latest sero survey
The latest serological survey shows more than 90 per cent respondents have developed antibodies against COVID19 in the national capital. The last such survey in Delhi was conducted in January and found that 56 per cent of the respondents had these antibodies.
Gaon Connection
Gaon Connection Farm Laws Survey
MSP Mandate: Three in five farmers want the minimum support price to be legally binding
A rapid survey by Gaon Connection found 59% respondent farmers demanding a mandatory MSP law in the country, while 33% feared the new central agri laws would end the MSP system.
Mithilesh Dhar Dubey
Two out of five farmers fear the farm laws will end the MSP system; 59% want MSP as a mandatory law
In the Gaon Connection’s recent rapid survey, 39% fear the minimum support price will be abolished due to the farm laws, whereas another 39% believe the mandi system will be done away with.
Divendra Singh
Highest opposition to the new agri laws among northwest region farmers; greatest support in the west region: Gaon Connection Rural Survey
Gaon Connection’s ‘The Rural Report 2: The Indian Farmer’s Perception of the New Agri Laws’, shows that farmers’ opinion on the new agri laws is divided. On both the sides — 52% opposing or 35% supporting these laws — many are unaware of the details of the acts.
Nidhi Jamwal
Only half the farmers aware of the Centre’s new contract farming law: Gaon Connection Survey
Of the 49 per cent farmers who are aware of the new contract farming law, over 46 per cent said the law was in favour of the farmers, while 40 per cent did not think so.
Kushal Mishra
Every second respondent farmer in the west zone supports the new agri-laws: Gaon Connection Survey
With highest awareness about the new farm laws among the farmers in the west zone (82%) of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, slightly more than half the respondent farmers support the new central agri acts.
Shivani Gupta
By Invitation
India, a pharma super-power, must address the serious threat of antimicrobial resistance
By the year 2050, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is projected to account for over ten million deaths every year across the world, of which two million are estimated to happen in India alone. Over 30% of neonatal sepsis deaths in India are attributed to AMR.
K Madan Gopal
Despite regulations, lead in paint remains a health concern in India
Lead has been recognised to have negative effects on children's neurological development. In 2016, the Indian government enacted rules to limit lead content in paints to a maximum of 90 parts per million. However, implementation challenges remain, especially in the small and medium scale enterprises.
Piyush Mohapatra
Global Hunger Index 2021: Why India's ranking is abysmal despite being world's second largest food producer
India is the world's largest producer of milk and pulses, and it is the second largest producer of rice, wheat, vegetables, fruits and fish. Despite being self-reliant in food production of major crops and running the world’s largest food safety programme, the hunger situation is still serious in India. But there are ways to fight it.
Biswaranjan Baraj
Should the Forest Conservation Act be amended?
Ten days back, on October 2, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change published a ‘consultation note’ on changes it proposed to make in the Forest Conservation Act of 1980. What are the proposed changes? Should they be a cause for concern?
Manoj Misra
Hurdles ahead for One Nation One Ration Card scheme
The One Nation One Ration card scheme was launched in June 2019 to reform the Public Distribution System (PDS). However, close to 100 million people are estimated to be excluded from the PDS. There are several other challenges in the new scheme that need to be addressed.
Sameet Panda
Do sex workers, who often hail from poor rural households, really have a choice?
Nagpur’s iconic red-light area Ganga Jamuna is in the news these days as the law enforcement authorities have decided to pull down the shutters on this 200-year-old red-light district in Maharashtra. While we debate the merits of this decision, it is time we focussed on the plight of sex workers in India and the ‘choices’ they have.
Dipesh Tank
Addressing the climate crisis through deep seabed mining is one step forward and three steps back
International interest in seabed mining has been stoked partly by new advances in robotics, computer mapping and underwater drilling. Mining companies globally are said to be scouring for fresh reserves, having depleted much of the world's easy-to-access veins. But a section of experts warns that deep-sea mining would have “catastrophic impacts”.
Marta Montojo
Food fortification, the new panacea for nutritional deficiency
There are no miracle solutions for nutrition security. Fortification is projected as one miracle to address anaemia and nutritional issues experienced by people. This is a clinical approach and cannot, and should not be, applied at large.
Usha Soolapani
Despite exposure to the virus, why do some people never get COVID19?
In a lucky subpopulation, some people never test positive for COVID-19 and some that test positive never develop any symptoms. Why? Genetic studies are turning up some interesting answers which could point to new vaccine and treatment approaches.
Therese Ann Markow
GC Explained
Explained: What’s leading to heavy rains in Tamil Nadu?
A red alert has been issued across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as heavy rains have caused the deaths of 12 persons so far. A combination of weather conditions have resulted in torrential rains across southern parts of the Indian peninsula. Here’s what they are.
Gaon Connection
Explained: Is coal shortage leading to a 'power crisis' in India?
October is a challenging month for India’s power infrastructure as a series of festivals lead to a higher energy demand which is coupled with a faltering coal supply due to the monsoon rainfall. But with the economy picking up as the COVID19 pandemic stabilises, the situation is worse this year. More details here.
Gaon Connection
Explained: How likely is it to get COVID19 by touching contaminated surfaces?
A new study has confirmed there are low chances of contracting COVID19 by touching surfaces contaminated by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Read on to know more.
Gaon Connection
Explained: AY.4.2 — a new Delta variant of COVID19 has been found in India and here’s what we know so far
So far, 17 samples of AY.4.2 lineage of COVID19’s Delta variant have been identified in India. The identification of a mutated Delta variant has reinvigorated the clamour around the mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Here’s what we know about this new strain. Read on.
Gaon Connection
Explained: Why do COVID19 vaccines cause side effects in some people
Many who have been vaccinated against COVID19 have reported a range of symptoms from fever and nausea to weakness and an upset stomach. Is it okay to have such side effects? What precautions must one follow while getting the jab? Read on to know more.
Gaon Connection
Explained: Delta Plus variant — how risky is it? Are COVID19 vaccines effective?
The Delta Plus or the AY.1 variant of the COVID19 virus has been reported from the Indian states of Kerala, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Union government has issued an advisory to these three states to take measures to contain the outbreak. Here’s what we know so far.
Gaon Connection
Explained: What is the third wave of COVID19? Will it hit India? Are kids at greater risk?
As daily COVID cases fall, India is emerging from a deadly second wave of the pandemic. Speculations are rife about the possibility of a ‘third wave’. What gives rise to these waves in a pandemic? Will the third wave hit India? More details here.
Gaon Connection
Explained: What is cryptocurrency? Why is India bringing a law to regulate it?
The Indian government’s announcement to introduce a Bill to regulate the cryptocurrency market tanked the cryptocurrencies yesterday. What exactly is a cryptocurrency? Why is it trending these days? Details here.
Gaon Connection
Positive Stories
From a debt-ridden tomato farmer to a profit-making cowpea cultivator, Bharathamma Poreddy is an inspiration to many
Tomato farmers in Andhra Pradesh, the largest tomato producing state in the country, are switching to polycropping methods by cultivating a variety of vegetables rather than depending only on a single crop of tomato whose prices are always fluctuating. Forty-three-year-old Bharathamma Poreddy, a traditional tomato farmer, is one such farmer who is inspiring others.
Shivani Gupta
Rural women in Shahjahanpur are turning their lives around, one straw at a time
Working from within their homes, 20 women of an SHG in a small village of Uttar Pradesh, are making products like straws, baskets and slippers from eco-friendly bamboo and khus, and supplementing their family incomes.
Ramji Mishra
Using indigenous seeds to sustain livelihoods, fight climate change and pay off loans
A tribal farmer from Madhya Pradesh has been conserving indigenous seeds for nearly four decades. These seeds require less water, are suitable for local climate and terrain, and are cheaper alternatives to hybrid seeds, she says. The adivasi farmer also plans to use her seed bank as an asset to pay off loans.
Shivani Gupta
Graphic designing classes and virtual learning – a village school is breaking stereotypes of rural education
As part of a novel initiative, Bharatiya Gramin Vidyalaya, about 40 kilometres from Lucknow, has set up a skill centre that imparts training in latest courses, such as graphic designing, to rural students to prepare them for the future job market. The school has been running virtual classes way before the COVID19 pandemic forced the world to switch to online schooling.
Shivani Gupta
Brimato, a two-in-one grafted plant that grows both tomato and brinjal
The agricultural scientists at the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi successfully develop the Brimato – a grafted plant that yields both brinjals and tomatoes. Each plant yields up to 2.3 kilograms of tomato and 2.64 kilos of brinjal. Plans afoot for its large scale cultivation.
Divendra Singh
When life gives you mangoes… savour them
Kesar, alphonso, langda, dussehri, desi, rajapuri, totapuri… how does an urban family get used to living a charmed life in a village besides a mango orchard in Gujarat?
Ravleen Kaur
Cancer survivor’s telemedicine centre links medics with villagers in remote areas
At 12 he was diagnosed with a type of bone cancer and his family struggled to get him treated. Now, at 27, Sandeep Kumar from Uttar Pradesh’s Sant Kabir Nagar runs ‘DigiSwasthya’ telemedicine centre that links up villagers with doctors to provide free medical consultation.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Women in Varanasi set to enter the world of toy making traditionally occupied by the menfolk
A skill upgradation training programme initiated by the Central government in prime minister Narendra Modi’s constituency at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, is preparing 200 women to enter the business of wooden toy making.
Anand Kumar
Rural women’s ‘grain banks’ in Uttar Pradesh support small farmers, aid food security amidst COVID-19
The Grain Bank is an initiative that began in 2016, with the objective of benefitting farmers with small land holdings, but during the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown, it has turned into a movement to battle starvation and empower women in rural areas Uttar Pradesh.
Neetu Singh
When women forest officers run a zoo
Five women Indian Forest Service officers share their experience of running a zoo, the bonds they formed with animals and the unique perspectives they brought to the job.
Subha J Rao
GC Survey: COVID-19 Vaccine and Rural India
The First Shot: Who should get the COVID19 vaccine first? Gaon Connection asked rural Indians in a survey
Over 43% of the rural respondents said the coronavirus vaccine should be administered first to the doctors and nurses. Thirty five per cent said frontline workers like ASHAs should be given first priority.
Neetu Singh
Food for thought: Has the fear of COVID-19 changed people’s diets? A Gaon Connection survey finds out
A Gaon Connection Survey of 6,040 rural respondents across the country revealed that more than half of them had consciously changed their eating habits. Seventy per cent had stopped eating out and 30 per cent said they had increased their intake of fruits and vegetables.
Divendra Singh
Half of rural India thinks the coronavirus pandemic is a ‘conspiracy by China': Gaon Connection Survey
The first survey of its kind on ‘COVID-19 Vaccine and Rural India’ by Gaon Connection Insights finds the various perceptions people in rural India have towards the coronavirus disease. Almost 20% call it ‘an act of God’ whereas another one-fifth think coronavirus is no more.
Arvind Shukla
One-fourth of rural households tested for coronavirus; more than half of those tested found positive: Gaon Connection Survey
Gaon Connection’s ‘COVID-19 Vaccine and Rural India’ survey across 16 states showed that 76% of rural respondent households in the southern states had a member test positive for COVID. In the north zone, it was 12%.
Kushal Mishra
44% rural citizens willing to pay for the corona vaccine; two-third want its price to not exceed Rs 500: Gaon Connection Survey
Two-third of those who are willing to pay for the vaccine want its price not to exceed Rs 500. Another one-fourth would like to pay between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 for two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Whereas, around eight per cent are willing to pay between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000 for two doses of the vaccine.
Mithilesh Dhar Dubey
50% rural Indians trust coronavirus vaccine made by an Indian company over a foreign company; nearly half will vote for any party that offers the vaccine free: Gaon Connection Survey
The first survey of its kind on ‘COVID-19 Vaccine and Rural India’ by Gaon Connection Insights surveyed 6,040 rural citizens across 16 states and one union territory. Read the exclusive findings here.
Nidhi Jamwal
Half of rural Indians spending more money in corona period to buy packaged immunity boosting products: Gaon Connection Survey
Chywanprash, Giloy, Kaadha, Tulsi, turmeric milk… rural Indians have increased their consumption of immunity boosting items to protect themselves from the coronavirus. Many have stopped eating out whereas several rural households have reduced their non-veg food consumption.
Divendra Singh
Gaon Connection COVID-19 Survey
87% villagers in Assam received no medical treatment, 60% women in Tripura struggled for water in the lockdown
Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the lockdown, millions of rural residents in the northeastern states struggled to keep their families afloat. For 82% rural households in Assam, making ends meet was ‘extremely’ or ‘quite’ difficult.
Shivani Gupta
About 40% women in rural households work harder to fetch water in the COVID-19 lockdown
The COVID19 outbreak has added to the water woes of hundreds of rural women. The government and health agencies recommend frequent handwashing to avoid the spread of coronavirus, but where will this water come from?
Shivani Gupta
64% migrant workers were quarantined in villages, 9 in 10 didn’t undergo COVID-19 testing
After travelling hundreds of kilometres, braving heat and hunger, migrant workers reached their villages, majority were quarantined. Many centres lacked power, toilets, and food facilities.
Shivani Gupta
93% rural respondents confirmed reverse migration aggravated the unemployment in their villages
Unprecedented COVID19-led reverse migration has wreaked havoc in the lives of millions of men and women who now face unemployment and despair back in their villages.
Daya Sagar
80% rural respondents said their work was affected due to the lockdown
The recent lockdown created unforeseen havoc affecting millions of Indians. Every class of worker was hit hard – farmers, shopkeepers, weavers, cottage industry workers and the salaried class.
Mithilesh Dhar Dubey
42% farmers could not sow crops in time during the lockdown: Gaon Connection Survey
In a first of its kind survey, Gaon Connection delves into the depths of the agony suffered by rural India, especially its farmers, during the lockdown.
Arvind Shukla
One in five rural households sold or mortgaged land, jewellery or valuables during the lockdown
Gaon Connection’s national rural survey found that nine out of 10 rural citizens faced some sort of financial difficulty during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Neetu Singh
58% pregnant women in villages confirmed checkups, vaccination in the lockdown
Pregnant women’s healthcare suffered in the lockdown. In West Bengal, only 29% households with pregnant women confirmed checkups and vaccination; Rajasthan reported the highest at 87%.
Shivani Gupta
The Slow Interview
I am getting to know my mother, even more so, after her demise: Ali Fazal
Actor Ali Fazal digs into the deepest corners of his heart during The Slow Interview with Neelesh Misra. Meet the artiste behind the art. He speaks about what determines creative choices, the eclectic influences he had, growing up, and the constant urge to understand the world we inhabit.
Subha J Rao
Papa CJ on the currency called celebrity and the joy of laughter
On Neelesh Misra’s The Slow Cafe, the celebrated stand-up comedian on his early years, how grief led to humour and why he wants to gift laughter.
Subha J Rao
From Kasauli to Mumbai via Kabul: Tisca Chopra on a lifeline of learning
In The Slow Cafe with Neelesh Misra, the writer-actor-director-producer on her childhood influences, her lived experiences and why it is important to tell a story...
Subha J Rao
Insider, Outsider: The eternal quest to belong shines in Neelesh Misra's The Slow Cafe with Manoj Bajpayee
During the course of 40 minutes, the ace actor speaks about his quest to return home, the concept of home, and why the COVID-19 lockdown is a life-defining period.
Subha J Rao
The Slow Interview with Suresh Raina: All about the moments that make a cricketer
Neelesh Misra nudges Raina to speak about the little things that got left behind, his inspirations in life, and gets him to sing too, in this two-hour film that comes close to a real-life conversation.
Subha J Rao
“A woman flows along with the situation. When she is a mother, she is fully devoted”
In this 'slow' interview, folk singer Malini Awasthi, a Padma Shri, talks about women, folk music, and the intricacies of marriage, and how her husband motivated her to start singing again
Neelesh Misra
Now, when I visit my village, I spend hours looking at the dewdrops: Pankaj Tripathi
He feels the quality of persistence in him comes from his village upbringing, and many of the characters that he has played are inspired by some of the people he has met in his village
Neelesh Misra
Gaitonde from Sacred Games is brutal, abusive and cocky, but the real Nawaz is quite the opposite
Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been impressing us with his acting abilities, but these days netizens can't stop raving about Ganesh Gaitonde – the character he plays in Netflix series Sacred Games
Neelesh Misra
"I am a simple man. I love buying potatoes and tomatoes," says the real Manoj Bajpayee
Son of a farmer, Manoj says buying vegetables helps him connect with the outside world and that keeps him rooted. He is someone who likes to keep it simple and he loves to laugh at himself
Neelesh Misra
"Girls look down and walk. The moment they look up, they will find someone staring at them"
There are separate rules for girls set by others. Like, they must wear 'proper' clothes, sit cross-legged and look down while walking, said Taapsee and added she has started questioning these rules
Neelesh Misra
Corona Footprint Series
Blood shortage brought on by the lockdown continues; thalassemia patients in extreme distress
Every day 27 children with thalassemia are born in India. This genetic blood disorder requires regular blood transfusion for lifetime. Since the lockdown, blood banks are facing an acute blood shortage
Nidhi Jamwal
COVID19 and Cyclone Amphan batter Hobjapara’s ‘migrant’ families
Over 40 families in Hobjapara village at Kolkata’s outskirts have lost both their homes and livelihoods due to the double whammy of COVID-19 lockdown and Cyclone Amphan.
Debdutta Paul
No income, no ration card, hefty room rent; women in Mumbai's slums struggle to feed their kids
Many urban poor women are the sole bread winners for their families. Due to the lockdown, they have lost their livelihoods. Now they are under acute mental stress to feed their children
Nidhi Jamwal
During the COVID pandemic and the lockdown, we almost forgot about the leprosy patients
Due to the stigma attached to the disease, life is tough for the leprosy patients. But, those living in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, said they haven’t got adequate medical help ever since the lockdown
Shivani Gupta
COVID-19 lockdown, erratic rainfall: Small tea growers of Assam suffer major losses
The tea industry in Assam, reeling under adverse effects of climate change, suffered more this year due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The small tea growers are the worst affected.
Amarjyoti Borah
In the absence of mid-day meals, children in Bihar survive on roti-onion, bhaat-achar
The Supreme Court of India had directed the States and UTs to ensure children get mid-day meals. Despite that, children in Bihar's Gaya were eating only roti-onion, or rice-pickle, or starch rice.
Rohin Kumar
Bajantris, the traditional band party in Himachal, now looking to work as daily wagers
Baaja is the soul of every pahadi wedding. With the COVID-19 lockdown, bajantris have lost their only source of income. Some are looking to work in apple orchards, others as MGNREGA labourers.
Saurabh Chauhan
Hit by the lockdown, apple orchard owners in Himachal now face labour shortage
Himachal's Rs 4,000-crore apple industry is heavily dependent on the Gurkha labourers from Nepal. But the recent tension between India and Nepal is hampering their availability.
Saurabh Chauhan
Education on hold: Amid the COVID lockdown, children in rural India will suffer the most
While teachers and students in urban areas have resorted to distance learning, children in rural areas have missed out on education as they don’t have the luxury of attending online classes
Shivani Gupta
Rajasthan farmers are the world’s second-largest producers of cumin seed. But they are locked out and unable to sell their harvested produce
After facing crop losses due to locust attack and unseasonal rains, jeera farmers in Rajasthan complain they are unable to transport their harvested produce to Unjha mandi in Gujarat. State officials claim no such restrictions. Come monsoon rains and the cumin seed produce may go waste
Nidhi Jamwal
Art, Culture and Tradition
Folk musicians of Rajasthan forced to work as daily wage labourers to make both ends meet in the COVID19 pandemic
Broadly, seven communities in Rajasthan are categorised as traditional folk musicians. Dholi community is associated with nagara, the traditional drums, whereas the Bhand community members sing to entertain. All these musicians have lost their traditional source of income and now looking for other daily wage works.
Sanskriti Talwar
Lakhs of artisans in Bengal, sculpting the Durga idols for generations, are without work and wages
Three natural calamities -- COVID-19 crisis, Cyclone Amphan and now, the heavy rains, have struck traditional artisans who make idols for Durga Puja. At least 2.5 lakh artisans affected in Kolkata alone. Financial losses run into several lakh rupees.
Purnima Sah
The artist behind Gulabo-Sitabo: Story of a puppeteer from Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow
If people aren’t leaving their houses, a puppeteer wouldn’t have audiences. That’s what happened with Raees Ahmed, a puppeteer who has been telling stories of, and through, Gulabo and Sitabo, his two puppets, when lockdown was imposed in the country.
Mohammd Arif
A village that thrived on handloom, Cooch Behar’s Baburhat now has only one handloom mill
Four decades ago, Baburhat had over 4,000 handlooms and all villagers were engaged in weaving traditional costumes. Now its last handloom mill is struggling to keep the weavers engaged, as orders are cancelled and there is no sale due to the COVID19 lockdown.
Purnima Sah
The famous pottery artisans of Pokhran are forced to sell fruits and vegetables these days
The artistic toys and utensils made from red clay here are famous not only in India, but also among the foreign tourists who come to visit Rajasthan. About 200 families here survive on the pottery trade
Chandrabhaan Solanki
The lockdown has exposed the hidden layers of the lives of Madhubani painting artists
Their earnings were never consistent. Once the lockdown ends, they won’t immediately start getting orders as people would prefer to save and not buy expensive Madhubani paintings
Avinash Karna
The heritage village of Odisha where every single resident is a pattachitra artist
For generations, the inhabitants of Raghurajpur village are narrating mythological stories through their world-famous paintings — pattachitra — and palm leaf engravings. Gaon Connection travelled to this heritage village in Puri district of Odisha and caught up with the artisans
Nidhi Jamwal
A veteran artist is using traditional Phad paintings to raise awareness on COVID-19 in Rajasthan
A visual treat to anyone who lays his/her eyes on it, Phad is a form of scroll painting which has, over the centuries, narrated stories to people in village gatherings. Now, Kalyan Joshi, a veteran of the Phad art form, is using his scrolls to narrate stories about the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown
Azera Parveen Rahman
Mud houses are vanishing; Mandana art adorning its walls will too, if not preserved
Mandana art form, passed on from mothers to daughters unlike other art forms, is now practiced only by a few. If we don’t preserve it, Mandana will vanish, much like the mud houses it once adorned.
Azera Parveen Rahman
Adivasi Matters
In Chhattisgarh, tribal community students will soon be studying in the native Gondi language
An initiative to preserve Gondi, the language a large section of tribal communities in India, by teaching it in primary classes using computers has begun in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker.
Tameshwar Sinha
Leading by 'eggsample': Tribal women in Maharashtra earn decent, address malnutrition during COVID-19
Tribal women in a hamlet in Thane are earning a living by selling eggs during COVID-19 crisis. They are also addressing malnutrition among women and children.
Shivani Gupta
With DSLRs in their hands, the new generation of an ancient Indian tribe begins to break its bow-and-arrow stereotype
In the heart of eastern India, teenagers of the Santhal tribe begin to chronicle stories of their ancient cultural heritage using modern tools – DSLR cameras and the Internet.
Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
Excess rainfall, followed by the COVID19 lockdown, has hit Chhattisgarh’s tribal communities dependent on the minor forest produce
Minor forest produce, such as mahua, tendu patta, chironjee, sustains the tribal communities of Chhattisgarh for six months a year. But, this year, due to excess pre-monsoon season rainfall, a large chunk of the forest produce was lost. The lockdown has further aggravated woes of forest-dependent communities
Nidhi Jamwal
“The doctors ask us to wash our hands regularly. But if we don’t have water, how do we do that?”
These tribes living in small hamlets not very far from Pune are at the mercy of the housing society nearby for drinking water. They often buy discarded vegetables – their only meal
Varsha Torgalkar
Tribal districts report more land conflicts compared to other regions in the country
Laws enacted to protect the rights of tribal and forest dwelling communities have failed to deliver. Poor, marginalised tribal communities residing in resource rich districts face maximum land conflicts
Nidhi Jamwal
Adivasis in India are being made to suffer a lot … and are being blamed for it too
Since time immemorial, tribals have resided in forests, thereby conserving it. But they are the ones who have been subjected to social exclusion and are also called ‘destroyers of the environment’
Pragya Uike
Coastal Concerns
The 'hanging village' of Bangladesh: A glaring reminder of climate change refugees
Bangladesh is a country that's bearing the brunt of climate change. With cyclones and monsoon floods, the coastal villages in the country see many climate refugees.
Rafiqul Islam Montu
From birth to death: Bangladesh’s landless Manta community survives on boats
The Manta community of Bangladesh has been living on boats for over 100 years. They spend all their lives – from birth to death – on boats. These people live the most unusual life.
Rafiqul Islam Montu
Hundreds of families await fishers, who went 'missing' in Ockhi cyclone, to return home
Delay in warning and lack of communication lead to hundreds of fishers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala to go missing in Ockhi cyclone. Bodies of some dead fishers were found. Many are still 'missing'.
Nidhi Jamwal
Who moved my village?
The story of how women are facing the impact of climate change in the Sundarbans. Alone.
Nidhi Jamwal
A village in Andhra Pradesh is facing an uncertain future due to coastal erosion
People of Uppada, a village in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, are facing nature's wrath. The village has had to move multiple times due to coastal erosion
Faizi Noor Ahmad
Flora and Fauna
COVID-19 delays India’s captive-reared vulture release programme
India’s captive-reared vulture release programme, a first-of-its-kind initiative to study the massive decline in vulture population, has been delayed. Again.
Vivek Gupta
Auli can never be viewed as an exotic tourist destination or a wedding destination: Uttarakhand High Court
In its final order on the multimillion-dollar wedding extravaganza in eco-fragile Auli meadow last June, the high court has termed the state government’s decision to allow the mega event of Gupta brothers a ‘grave error’.
Nidhi Jamwal
Mere outrage will not save the elephants. Protecting forests and working with locals will help
Between 2014-15 and 2018-19, the human-elephant conflict killed 2,361 people and 510 pachyderms in India. In the last three months of the lockdown, a series of elephant deaths have rocked the country. But the Union environment ministry is clearing projects in the key elephant habitats
Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
The Bishnois have been at the forefront of environmental conservation for centuries
The Bishnois have been around even before the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. For them, the need to save nature arises from an inherent understanding of knowing that we exist because of nature
Aditi Patil
Plants and trees are giving us indications. They are talking to us. We must listen to them
Plants and trees are the accurate indicators of the presence of pollutants. We should study plants to know about the presence of pollutants and use this as an effective tool in pollution monitoring
Deepak Acharya
How often do you hear the buzzzzz now? Why can't you find many beehives around?
Honey collection is a major source of livelihood for many. But changing farm practices, reducing forest cover, increasing use of pesticides and growing cell phone penetration are killing honeybees
Shivani Gupta
House sparrows, which disappeared almost two decades ago, could make a comeback
Conservationists attribute the decline in the population of house sparrows to the unfriendly architecture of our homes, chemical fertilizers in our crops and noise pollution
Jaspreet Luthra
When did you last see a frog? The population of mosquito-eating frogs is on a fast decline
In the past few decades, the aquatic life has been adversely affected due to human intervention. Agricultural use of pesticides is the leading cause of death among amphibians like frogs
Gaon Connection
Will fireflies live only in our memories? Their population has been falling substantially
Many of us have cherished memories of spotting and catching fireflies that twinkled as if stars. But kids of today may not grow up with similar memories. That’s because fireflies are disappearing
Shivani Gupta
Brace yourself for dire consequences. Migratory birds are dumping the deserts
With the change in season, many areas in the country witness the arrival of migratory birds. However, factors like the pastures being robbed off their greenery and destroying of the traditional water resources have made the advent of these migratory birds increasingly difficult
Gaon Connection
Gender Matters
Should India’s health infrastructure embrace traditional midwives?
Home-birth enthusiasts are rooting for the practice to be made mainstream by integrating traditional midwives, and midwifery in general, to the Indian health infrastructure.
Purnima Sah
Masks, sanitisation, and no kissing: Sex workers have new rules for clients
Sex workers in Maharashtra are struggling to make ends meet, but not risking contracting COVID-19. They are certain sex trade will not stop, and have devised new methods to 'stay safe'
Tanvi Deshpande
Gutting stories of tiger widows, women who lost their husbands to Bengal tigers in Bangladesh's Sundarbans
Over 1,000 women in villages along the southwest coast of Bangladesh, adjoining the Sundarbans mangrove forest, are ostracised because their husbands were killed by Bengal tigers.
Rafiqul Islam Montu
Rural women in UP's Gonda employ male migrant workers who returned, emerge changemakers
Women associated with self-help groups in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district provided employment to about 70 male migrant workers who returned from cities and were jobless. The acknowledgement has motivated more women to come forward.
Saurabh Chauhan
Lockdown, followed by two months fishing ban; Koli fisherwomen are on the edge
Koli fisherwomen in Mumbai have not earned a penny in the last almost three months. Fishing ban in June and July, with no monetary compensation, may tip them over the edge
Nidhi Jamwal
Their work is considered illegal which invisibilizes them. Coronavirus and social distancing have further pushed the sex workers into a dungeon
India has an estimated 1.2 million sex workers who have no clear legal standing, thus making these marginalised women ‘criminals'. To break the coronavirus chain, social distancing and isolation are crucial. But, how are women sex workers coping in such a scenario? A Gaon Connection report from Hanuman Tekdi, a red-light area in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra
Nidhi Jamwal
"Every second adolescent girl has anaemia. Every second woman of reproductive age is anaemic"
Women’s empowerment will not have any meaning without tackling anaemia. While the governments are working to deal with this, there is a need for greater awareness to tackle this problem
Sachin Pandey
“In rural areas, women often say they were misbehaved with and don’t use the term rape”
A girl living in Sitapur district in Uttar Pradesh was raped when she was 19. It has been two years since the incidence. Now she feels she will not get justice. The police for long said they can’t do much against the accused for ‘misbehviour’ because the girl did not use the word rape in the FIR
Neetu Singh
Enrollment of girls for higher studies has increased, but there's more to cheer about education
The percentage of those in the 18-24 age group enrolling for higher education has more than doubled since 2005-06. The government has set a target of 50% Gross Enrollment Ratio by 2030
Sachin Pandey
"I wish that instead of treating us as special for just a day, people treat us normally on all days"
Members of the third gender are invited to celebrate a birth or a wedding. They say they would rather prefer a normal existence than the special treatment they get only on some days
Gaon Connection
River Routes
Marooned for a month, villagers in Bihar have no access to sufficient food, healthcare, toilets
Residents of 36 villages in Kusheshwar Asthan Purbi of Darbhanga are displaced due to floods for more than a month now. Over 200 families here are living under tarpaulins on Kosi’s embankment.
Rohin Kumar
Imagining a clean, urban river and lush-green riverbanks where people come together
In this photoblog, Abhay Kanvinde looks at the most polluted and populated stretch of Mutha River in Pune and astounds us with the life that abounds here.
SANDRP
Lack of planned drainage, natural drainage basins encroached. Result: Increased urban flooding in Guwahati
An intricate network of rivers and beels (wetlands) forms the natural drainage system of Guwahati city on the banks of the Brahmaputra river. Last few decades, these water bodies have been encroached upon, thereby contributing towards an increased incidence of urban flooding
Nidhi Jamwal
It’s not right to create a sanitary landfill along the banks of the Yamuna river. This is why
Apart from being illegal, such a facility is an environmental disaster. The Yamuna river floodplain should not be made a sacrificial goat at the altar of short-sighted developmental needs
Manoj Misra
Neither sewerage, nor sewage treatment plant, the Bharalu river is a sewage channel
The Bahini-Bharalu, Guwahati's main river, carries a large chunk of untreated sewage and empties it into the Brahmaputra river. Polluted sewage also flows into a bird sanctuary. The sewage generation is expected to go up ...
Nidhi Jamwal
Science & Technology
As India leaps to emerge a solar superpower, solar waste becomes a matter of concern
With ambitious solar power plant projects, India may be charging towards its 100 GW solar power capacity goal but, tackling solar waste will be key to safeguarding the environment.
Megha Prakash
Despite forecast warnings and mobile apps, 154 dead in 3 weeks due to lightning strikes in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand
In spite of lightning sensors, alerts through mobile apps, over 2,500 people die annually due to lightning strikes in the country. The state governments need to bridge the last-mile communication challenge to reduce these preventable deaths.
Nidhi Jamwal
PM Modi launches an auction process for commercial mining of 41 coal blocks. India’s first climate change assessment report projects a temperature rise of 2.7°C by 2040 and 4.4°C by 2099
Mining and combustion of coal, a fossil fuel, is linked to both environmental pollution and climate change. India’s first climate change assessment report warns of an average temperature increase of 4.4°C by the end of the century, along with an increase in heatwaves, droughts, and intense cyclones
Nidhi Jamwal
The disappearing Puducherry beach comes back to life. An artificial reef came to its rescue
An artificial reef has helped restore a part of the Puducherry beach. But, more interventions are needed to complete this pilot project that can guide beach restoration along India’s coastline
Nidhi Jamwal
The west coast of India braces for Cyclone Nisarga; the east coast is still recovering from Super Cyclone Amphan
Both pre-monsoon and post-monsoon cyclonic activities are on the rise in the Arabian Sea. Climate scientists blame this on the rapid warming of the ocean
Nidhi Jamwal
Super Cyclone Amphan weakens to an extremely severe cyclonic storm. But, still remains strongest cyclone ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal
Cyclone Amphan intensified from a category-1 cyclone to category-5 within 18 hours. Meteorologists attribute this to record high sea-surface temperatures and ocean heat content. As oceans heat up, intense cyclone formations are expected
Nidhi Jamwal
Scientists develop an integrated process to extract biofertilizer from human hair
Every year, about 300,000 tons of human hair is treated as waste. Its accumulation in waste streams poses serious environmental problem. Scientists have fixed this problem
Jyoti Singh
Understanding randomised controlled trials and the criticisms and challenges around them
With Esther Duflo, Abhijit Banerji, and Michael Kremer winning the 2019 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, there is renewed interest and discourse around randomised controlled trials
Gaon Connection
Cold wave, rainfall anomaly, floods, drought, heatwave and cyclones — 2019 sets new records in extreme weather events
The year 2019 will be remembered for breaking several previous records of extreme weather events be it the cold wave, large-scale rainfall anomalies, or the number of cyclones
Nidhi Jamwal
There's a shortage of ventilators in India. This engineer came up with an affordable solution
In the fourth part of our series ‘Corona Heroes’, meet Prashant Gade. He has been making affordable prosthetic arms, but he recently designed a ventilator that costs just Rs 30-35,000
Shivani Gupta
Disasters
Heavy rainfall triggers flash floods, landslides in Uttarakhand, red alert in 9 districts
Experts blame road widening projects and hill cutting works for causing widespread landslides in the state, as villages are cut-off and standing crops destroyed.
Megha Prakash
Assam Baghjan well fire: Expert panel cites major lapses by OIL before NGT
As Oil India Limited struggles to douse the fire at its Baghjan Oilfield in Assam’s Tunsukia district, an expert committee report before National Green Tribunal finds many faults with its operations.
Amarjyoti Borah
Monsoon floods submerge a third of Bangladesh; affect around 5 million people amid COVID-19
Bangladesh is no stranger to monsoon flooding, but the flooding this year has been the longest since the floods of 1988. One-third of the country has been submerged.
Rafiqul Islam Montu
Bihar flood situation worsens as embankments of the Gandak river breach, about a million affected
At least three breaches reported in the embankments of river Gandak in north Bihar leading to inundation of hundreds of villages in Gopalganj and East Champaran districts.
Shivani Gupta
Uprooted by Cyclone Amphan, thousands of families in west coast of Bangladesh still displaced
About two months back, on May 20, Super Cyclone Amphan crossed West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts causing extensive damages. Two months later, poor in coastal Bangladesh continue to suffer the cyclone’s impacts. A Gaon Connection photo feature.
Rafiqul Islam Montu
2.5 million affected by floods; 24 dead in landslides; Baghjan oil well still on fire. Assam battling multiple disasters amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Every year during the monsoon, Assam faces floods. But this year the crisis has magnified, as the state is handling multiple disasters while the COVID-19 cases are also on the rise. The oil well at Tinsukia is on fire since June 9.
Amarjyoti Borah
Heavy rainfall washes away first kharif sowing in Maharashtra
Small and marginal farmers in seven villages of Soegaon taluka in Aurangabad have suffered losses worth Rs 40 lakh as one night’s heavy rainfall has destroyed their cotton and ginger crops. Panchnamas still not done; farmers have no money for second sowing
Sushen Jadhav
At least 93 dead due to lightning in Bihar. Continuous heavy rainfall posing high flood risk; last year’s flood victims still living under tarpaulins
The Met department has issued flood warning in Bihar due to continuous heavy rainfall expected over the region for the next two to three days. Meanwhile, several families displaced due to last year’s flash floods are still living under tarpaulins with no basic facilities
Shivani Gupta
Survey pegs Cyclone Nisarga losses in Maharashtra at Rs 1,000 crore. Plantations uprooted, houses flattened and fishing boats damaged
A joint survey by the National Fishworkers’ Forum and Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti has recorded extensive damages in the coastal districts of Raigad and Ratnagiri due to the Cyclone Nisarga. But, timely warning and evacuation helped save lives
Nidhi Jamwal
Power supply restored, but Cyclone Amphan has wiped off all livelihoods in the Sundarbans
Almost a month after the Cyclone Amphan made a landfall in the Sundarbans, power supply is restored in Sagar Island. But, no source of income as both farmlands and fishing ponds are destroyed
Nidhi Jamwal
Gaon Connection Interviews
‘Farm laws are set to be repealed, but we want resolutions’: Rakesh Tikait
Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union, speaks to Gaon Connection on the long agitation that has led to the farm laws being repealed, but says there is still a long way to go before the agitating farmers go back home to their villages and farms.
Arvind Shukla
Giriraj Singh’s unique biogas model has helped farmers in this village in Gujarat earn more
The animal husbandry ministry provided biogas plants to houses having milch animals and bought the slurry in return. The ministry claims it has increased the farmers’ income by three times
Arvind Shukla
More than climate change, destructive fishing methods impacting small-scale fishers
The small-scale traditional fishers in India are facing many challenges. T Peter, secretary, National Fishworkers' Forum, believes the government should give some subsidy to the fisher folk
Nidhi Jamwal
“The dairy and the livestock are the sectors which may help farmers increase their income"
Amul belongs to 36 lakh farmer families of Gujarat, said its managing director RS Sodhi. The best thing about Amul is that the profit from value addition goes directly to the accounts of farmers
Arvind Shukla
“By 2022, all those in Uttar Pradesh who were found eligible in our survey will get a home”
In an interview with Gaon Connection, Uttar Pradesh Rural Development Minister Rajendra Pratap Singh spoke about gram panchayat elections, the housing scheme, MGNREGA and lot more ...
Arvind Shukla
India's Secret Kitchens
When in Lucknow, let Malai Makkhan melt in your mouth
It’s white, soft, sweet & fluffy … it simply melts in your mouth! Malai Makkhan is a dessert that truly has a nawabi touch. It is believed that the Mughals used to polish this delicacy off in minutes. Head to Old Lucknow to have the best malai makkhan
Gaon Connection
Head to Lalla’s in Old Lucknow for some lip-smacking Biryani
Meticulously measured ingredients and a practiced technique makes the perfect biryani. The evolution of biryani spans many centuries, many cultures, many ingredients and many cooking styles. Head to Lalla’s in Old Lucknow for some yummy biryani
Gaon Connection
They are hot & spicy … fancy some yummy kachoris?
A hole in the wall shop in Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh, just 60 kms from state capital Lucknow, has been selling finger-licking kachoris for years now. Head to the shop — fondly known as Tandon jee kachori wala — for some yummy kachoris
Gaon Connection
Folk Studio
Songs of the battlefield and bravery are pride of Bundelkhand
The pride of Bundelkhand, these are songs of the battlefield, songs of bravery from a bygone era. Sung in Veer rasa, Aalha songs are sung by sword-wielding men and women in very powerful voices
Gaon Connection
Close your eyes … sway to the tunes of Ravanahatta
If you are in Rajasthan, chances are that you will find many folk artists playing this instrument, commonly known as the Ravanhatha. There are not many artists who play the instrument now, but its melodious tune will attract you to the folk artists instantly
Gaon Connection
This is how women in Bihar welcome their husbands home
Jhumar is a folk-dance form from Bihar. It is said women express their joy and happiness through Jhumar when their husbands, who have been away from them, return home after a long time