Double whammy for MGNREGA workers: Outstanding dues and no work
The Centre has announced an over Rs 4,000 crore package for the benefit of workers under the job guarantee scheme, but many say this is not enough to clear outstanding wages. Also, the increase in wages doesn’t help since there is no work due to lockdown
Kushal Mishra
Latest
Lockdown enforced when they were at sea — so more than a lakh of fishers now wait in deep waters
At least a hundred thousand migrant fish workers are stranded in fishing boats off the Maharashtra coast. Meanwhile, the lockdown is a death blow to the livelihood of 16 million fishers and fish workers
Nidhi Jamwal
Lockdown disrupts supplies, essential medicines running out of stock at medical stores
Many pharma companies have stopped operations due to lack of raw material that comes from China. Even though medical stores are open, many are fast running out of stock of essential medicines
Ranvijay Singh
Amid the lockdown gloom, there is some good news — the air quality in India has improved
In the absence of vehicular emissions and shutting of industrial operations due to the 21-day lockdown, the level of nitrogen oxide has reduced in the air considerably
Shivani Gupta
Poultry hubs in Haryana are in tatters, broilers and layer farms are closing by the dozens
With a turnover of Rs 15,000 crore, Haryana is the largest centre of egg-broiler chicken. But, the rumours linking coronavirus to chicken followed by the lockdown has destroyed this business
Divendra Singh
FiasCorona … impacting lives and livelihood
How to deal with children during the Coronavirus lockdown?
They may have many questions. Probably, they are scared but are not able to put their fears into words. So, what should you tell your children about Coronavirus?
Swati Subhedar
For them, Corona shutdown could mean safety from disease, not from hunger
The anganwadi centres and schools are shut. This stretches the nutrition needs of 158 million under-six kids and over 59 million children in primary and upper primary government schools
Nidhi Jamwal
“I didn’t get any passengers today. This has happened for the first time in nine years”
Coronavirus, which emerged from China’s Wuhan city, has directly impacted the lives and livelihoods of millions of common people associated with the tourism industry in India
Kushal Mishra
Soybean and Basmati farmers bear the brunt of Coronavirus, prices increase by about 25%
This year’s Holi has not been very colourful for the Basmati rice and soybean farmers. Due to Coronavirus, these crops are not being exported which has affected the consumption
Mithilesh Dhar Dubey
Coronavirus makes the pharma sector sick; those associated with the industry in a fix
Until the Coronavirus outbreak, 80 per cent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients came from China. Now, the pharmaceutical companies have to buy the API at double the price from elsewhere
Ranvijay Singh
The hotel industry takes a big hit as domestic and international tourists stop checking in
In the eighth part of the Gaon Connection series “FiasCorona”, read how the hotel industry, especially the smaller hotels and their support staff, has been affected as tourists defer plans
Swati Subhedar
We have clapped for them. Now let us get them what they critically need to fight Corona
Doctors, health workers and frontline staff are at the highest risk as they battle the COVID-19 pandemic. We must give them what they need to fight this battle
Nidhi Jamwal
“Social distancing”: A call that ignores ground realities of millions of Indians
Gaon Connection spoke with public health experts and epidemiologists to understand how ‘social distancing’ would work, or not work, in India with a large chunk of poor and marginalized
Nidhi Jamwal
I am buying potatoes for Rs 22/kg, but selling one kg chicken for Rs 10: Poultry farmer
In the ninth part of the Gaon Connection series “FiasCorona”, read how the Coronavirus scare is hitting the poultry farmers hard and they are selling chicken at throwaway prices
Shivani Gupta
Low sales, police harassment: It’s truly a double whammy for food delivery boys
Online delivery of food items falls under ‘essential service’, but there have been reports from many parts of the country that the police is beating these delivery boys up. They are already dealing with low sales as people are not ordering
Shivani Gupta
Corona postcards ...
"I could have taken the first flight back to India, but I chose to stay back in Italy because ..."
Aishwarya Rathore is a service designer based in Milan, Italy. At times she feels she is going insane as because of the lockdown she hasn't interacted with a real human in forever
Swati Subhedar
The shutdown of production could have major adverse effects on the auto industry
The hardest hit will be temporary workmen. An economic slowdown is inevitable; priority must be given to the health of its workforce, which has the power to revive the economy
Swati Subhedar
"We are nowhere even close to what happened in Italy, but take social distancing seriously"
Kavya Sanghvi managed to get out of Italy in the nick of time. He is touched he is getting calls from the state, central government health authorities who are checking on him on a regular basis
Swati Subhedar
“The usual banter was missing at all the airports. There were 30 passengers on our Kochi flight"
When this couple residing in New Zealand decided to come back to India, Coronavirus had started spreading its tentacles. But they were positive as "India was taking preventive measures"
Swati Subhedar
“For two months, we were locked up in a building at Wuhan. The situation was very, very scary"
Gaurav Shukla, 34, from Uttar Pradesh, was working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Wuhan University in China. He flew back to India with 112 others and landed at an isolation camp
Ranvijay Singh
Lockdown: "I feel anxious and unsettled. There's nothing that prepares you for this"
When everyone is asked to stay home, what happens to people who call the rough streets, and spaces under the flyovers their ‘home’? How will they survive ? What will they eat?
Swati Subhedar
"Many borders are sealed, but it’s the shipping industry that is going to deliver your goods"
There are thousands of crew members across the world who are stuck. Even though they are reporting that life is normal, but, trust me, life on board a ship is mother of all quarantines
Swati Subhedar
"Remember Contagion, the sci-fi movie? Coronavirus is now as real as the sun rising in the East"
Just like in most of the Hollywood movies, the doomsday hits the greatest city in the world – the New York City -- this microscopic virus too has done the same. New York is now an epicenter
Swati Subhedar
“Italy should have taken social distancing seriously. Now, dead bodies are just piling up”
As India intensifies its battle against coronavirus, this teacher from Italy talks about why social distancing is important and what should the Indians do “to not end up like Italy"
Gaon Connection
Post lockdown, this family is staring at hunger and illness. And, they are not alone
Ramsurat Verma’s family lives on the footpath in Lucknow and has had a hand-to-mouth sustenance. Now, with no income and not enough ration, this family, and many others, are in a fix
Neetu Singh
Columns
Make sure to keep the virus at bay, but don’t ignore your mental health and emotional well-being
Many people are wondering what would be the outcome of this lockdown. Those who live alone are feeling lonelier than usual. People are losing money. It’s important to keep your emotions in check
Shyam Mithiya
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 a potential environmental disaster. The Yamuna river floodplain should not be made a sacrificial goat at the altar of short-sighted developmental needs
Manoj Misra
The ongoing lockdown is revealing the yawning chasm between the urban and rural India
Even in rapidly urbanising India, 69% of the population lives in villages, according to the 2011 Census. But the distribution of health workers and facilities leaves much of rural India in dire straits
Patralekha Chatterjee
The very purpose of the appeal by the Prime Minister for maintaining social distancing was defeated when hordes of people thronged the streets
Indians believe in miracles. But over the last few years, we have regressed and many unscientific beliefs are taking stronger roots. The perfect example of this is the number of messages that were circulating before and after the ‘thali and tali’ fest on March 22
Sanjiv Krishan Sood
“Pesticide regulation can dramatically reduce the number of non-farm suicides taking place in India”
The Center for Pesticide Suicide Prevention at the University of Edinburgh suggests that there may be a solution — a quick fix of-sorts — that could mitigate the number of suicide-related deaths in India: banning highly hazardous pesticides
Aastha Sethi
This is the reason why many Indian children, especially from low-income households, grapple with reading or comprehending English
Most linguists agree that orality -- a combination of verbal communication and non-verbal communication is the key. If children don’t learn to communicate well in early childhood, odds are they will struggle to read in school
Natasha Joshi
After the rape ...
She was raped ... became a mother at 12. Meet this Nirbhaya who never made headlines
Neha had gone to fetch water when she was dragged to a public toilet by a boy, her neighbour, and raped. She spent the next few months doing the rounds of police stations, courts, hospitals and rehabilitation homes. At 14, she is now a mother and is too scared to step out of her house
Neetu Singh
"No one speaks to me. When my family has neglected me, what can I blame others for?"
In 2015, Kanchan, 14, had gone to the fields to cut some grass. She was kidnapped by three youth who kept her locked in a room and raped her for 24 hours. Somehow escaping the torture, when Kanchan returned home, she faced the neglect of her family members
Neetu Singh
She was just nine when her neighbour, 65, dragged her to a field and raped her
"Our religious faiths were different, but I had never discriminated against him. His daughters called me bhaiyya and tied rakhi to me on every Rakshabandhan. My faith in the goodness of any relationship is gone forever,” said the father of the rape survivor, a poor mason
Neetu Singh
“We have been shunned by society. The accused continue to hurl abuses at us"
She was just 11 when she was gang-raped near a Ramlila venue. While the accused have been put behind bars, the family faces social ostracism and constant threat to life. The survivor’s hopes of completing her education have been dashed. The family says it feels cheated
Neetu Singh
This father was advised to marry his minor daughter off to one of her gang rape accused
His minor daughter was abducted and gang raped for three days. He struggled to get the FIR lodged. Meanwhile, there was immense pressure on him to marry his daughter off to one of the offenders. On top of it, the girl’s family isn’t even aware that they are supposed to get a compensation
Neetu Singh
“Poison her. How will we, poor people, fight her case?” said father of the girl who was raped
The minor, who is hearing and speech impaired, was raped by her relative. She became pregnant and is now a mother. The incident has scarred her for life. She is now kept in confinement and faces social censure for becoming an unwed mother. What’s worse? Her own father wanted her dead
Neetu Singh
“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
Positive stories
This ‘Birdman of Chennai’ spends his earnings on feeding parrots, cooks 60 kgs of rice daily for them
A camera mechanic by profession, Joseph Sekar, who lives in a rented apartment in Chennai, has been feeding birds for the past 28 years. During monsoon, around 6,000 parrots flock to his terrace
Divendra Singh
This startup is spreading the essence of traditional cuisine, also making women self-sufficient
Nativ Chefs, an online platform, offers home-cooked meals to those craving traditional cuisines. Besides, this platform also provides employment to home chefs, mostly women, with good culinary skills
Shivani Gupta
This ‘seed woman’ never went to school, but has valuable lessons for us and the farmers
Rahibai Popere, who lives in a small Adivasi village in Maharashtra, is all set to win the Padma Shri for her contribution in agriculture. She has preserved indigenous seeds that need only water & air to grow
Swati Subhedar
We killed these rivers ... watch how
Do you know the last 120 kms of the Sabarmati river comprise just industrial effluents and sewage?
The farmers in the state have been using this "black and red-coloured" water, laden with chemicals, for irrigation and this is what people living in the state have been eating since decades
Swati Subhedar
India is fighting a critical battle to save the Ganga -- a river that's a lifeline for hundreds of millions
The governments have been promising citizens a clean Ganga since 1986, and thousands of crores of rupees have already been spent. But will the river, that supports 43% of our population ever get clean?
Nidhi Jamwal
“It’s acid, and not water, that is flowing in these rivers. It’s making us very, very sick”
Around 150 villages in six districts of Western Uttar Pradesh are situated by three rivers -- Hindon, Krishna and Kali. The water is so polluted that people are suffering from deadly diseases
Ranvijay Singh
The endangered species ...
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, noise pollution that disturbs acoustic ecology
Jaspreet Luthra
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
The videos that narrate a story
Do you know one quintal of sugarcane yields 11-13 kgs of sugar? Watch the whole process
Sugar production involves two operations -- processing cane into raw sugar and processing the raw sugar into refined sugar. Watch to understand the process of making sugar from cane
Arvind Shukla
Miles and miles of orange and yellow ... this village in Bihar is famous for Marigold farming
In Dumaria village in Purnia district in Bihar, farmers have taken up marigold farming, which fetches them more than maize and paddy. They sell these flowers across India and Nepal
Gaon Connection
These artisans from Benares weave colourful sarees but there's no spark in their lives
These weavers work long hours but don't get paid enough. They want to take up other jobs but most of them don’t have any other skillset. The next generation is already moving out
Manish Mishra
Gaon Connection interviews
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
My rural connection
Busting the myth. There are beautiful villages in Jharkhand, home to culturally-rich Adivasis
Preconceived notions are dangerous. The general tendency is that when we think Jharkhand, we think about poverty-stricken people or the Naxal menace. Here's a photo series to prove you wrong
Abhishek Verma
In this computer era, the traditional skill of Calligraphy is fast slipping to oblivion
Mohammad Ghalib, one of the few remaining calligraphic artists, sits in a corner in an old bookstore in the Urdu Bazaar, Delhi-6. He says he is destined to see his art meet a sad end
Preeti Raghav
From Egypt to Libya and from Central Asia to India, the humble Samosa has come a long way
The first mention of samosas was found in Abolfazl Beyhaqi’s work Tarikh-e Beyhaghi in 10th century, where it is referred to as sambosa. There is proof that the Delhi Sultanate too had relished samosa
Harsh Pathak
The tribal way of life
Adivasi hamlets, around 85 kms from megacity Mumbai, are still waiting for development
Originally forest dwellers, Katkaris tribe in Maharashtra face the risk of increasingly getting marginalised as they grapple with landlessness, lack of connectivity, water and electricity
Nikhil Kanakamedala
The Adivasis in Jharkhand need a Birsa Munda today as their land is being taken over for development
Over 90% of Adivasis have lost their land to ‘development’ in Jharkhand, especially in Ranchi and Jamshedpur. Adivasis continue to be exploited and are facing injustice and discrimination
Ashish Birulee
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
Tales from faraway forests
These village women in Odisha fight timber mafia, reclaim lost forests and streams
The unrelenting fight of a forest committee comprising women and led by 67-year-old Sasi mausi has helped regenerate the forests, providing nearby villages with most of their requirements for sustenance and livelihood
Priyaranjan Sahu
Do you want to experience the life of a villager living near a tiger reserve? Read this
Forest communities are defined as people who rely on forest resources for subsistence, medicine and livelihoods. They possess a plethora of skillsets and knowledge that can help integrate the community into conservation efforts
Bhavna Menon
Caught in a storm, gripped by climate change ... lives of villagers in Sundarbans remain tragic
Away from the cameras of media persons, the poor in the Sundarbans bore the brunt of a cyclonic storm that flattened their mud houses and destroyed the standing crops in a continuing tale of the impact of climate change they have had to endure
Aparna Venkatachalam
Tails
She loves to pose for pics. Meet Durga -- the most adorable baby elephant at Dudhwa
When Durga, who was three-month-old, lost her way after the herd she was moving with was attacked by bees. She was then badly injured and roamed around, in pain, looking for her family
Daya Sagar
Phulmati, once a slave, is well-fed and receives a lot of attention at a protection centre in Mathura
Phulmati is a content elephant. But nearly six years back, she was a slave. Her caretaker was unkind to her. But she was then rescued and got a new lease of life at a protection centre in Mathura
Diti Bajpai
Read how "an idiot jumbo" ruined a forest guard's Sunday. And that day changed his perception
A forest guard shares with us his chance encounter with an elephant that had strayed out of the jungle. It was a harrowing experience for him as this was his first job. But he learnt something important
Shailendra Kumar
Stories from Coastal India
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
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
Women facing livelihood crisis in a fishing belt in Andhra spark a change; set up small businesses
The fisheries sector provides employment to more than 14 million people. However, these fisherfolk are staring at a gloomy future as livelihoods get affected and unemployment looms
Faizi Noor Ahmad
The Slow Interview
"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 Taapee and added she started questioning these rules after she grew up
Neelesh Misra
People run away to become actors; I was thrown out of my house so that I could become an actor!
Ayushman Khurana, who calls himself an old-soul, said he was an extremely laid-back as a person. It was his father who made him ambitious. But what he is today is because of his mother and his wife
Neelesh Misra
“Many people don't know me by my name but by the characters that I have played, and that’s fine”
He is funny and a very fine actor. But Sanjay Mishra has an emotional side. He has regrets. He wishes to go back in time and undo some damage that he has done. Meet the real Sanjay Mishra
Neelesh Misra
Hands of India
The heritage village of Odisha where every single resident is a pattachitra artist
For generations, the inhabitants of Raghurajpur village in Puri district of Odisha have been narrating mythological stories through their world-famous paintings — pattachitra — and palm leaf engravings
Nidhi Jamwal
Did you know that cinnamon is added to the powdered glass while making the kite thread?
The earliest evidence of kite flying can be seen in Mughal paintings. From being a stress-busters for the Mughals in India, to being used in military operations in China, the kite has come a long way
Harsh Pathak
Why discard old and broken things? We can easily upcycle them and give them a new life
Gurpreet Singh, who lives in Punjab, is an engineer by profession. He has this unique habit of collecting old, discarded stuff. He creates something useful out of those things that are considered to be useless
Gaon Connection
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