Almost every fourth migrant worker returned home on foot during the lockdown; 33% want to go back to cities to work
As part of a national rural survey, the first of its kind in India, Gaon Connection found 23 per cent migrant workers walked to their village homes during the lockdown. About 12 per cent were beaten by the police, while 40 per cent faced food scarcity during the journey home.
Shivani Gupta
Latest
India’s new National Education Policy: Welcomed, but not without apprehensions
India’s New Education Policy, coming after a gap of 34 years, has been widely welcomed by experts and academicians but, not without certain apprehensions.
Daya Sagar
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
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
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
Adivasis Matter
In a first, Chhattisgarh’s women self-help groups facilitate record collection of sal seeds
This year in Chhattisgarh, a three-tier purchase model was activated to buy minor forest produce from tribal gatherers after the lockdown was announced in March.
Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
Bundelkhand’s tribal families turn to tendu leaves to earn a living
Tribal families of Bundelkhand used to earn a living by selling firewood from the jungles. The lockdown shattered this source of income. They now depend on sale of tendu leaves.
Arvind Singh Parmar
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
A dish prepared using rotten fish is becoming popular among foodies. What makes it unique?
Muimasing Mosideng (pigeon pea bharta/bhurta) is one of the favourite dishes of tribal people in Tripura. Many people from across the country visit Tripura to try this spicy dish out.
Joyeal Debbarma
This Olchiki script expert is paving the path for preserving Adivasi languages in Jharkhand
Durga Prasad Murmu is an expert on the Olchiki script written by the Santhal Adivasi community. He is also a Santhali singer, a poet, a language expert, a school teacher and a music teacher
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
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
Why Maharashtra doesn’t measure up when it comes to Vaccination of Adivasi Children
Most parents aren’t aware of the need for vaccination and health officials don’t reach most of the tribal hamlets located in forested areas that can be reached only by a long walk or a trek uphill
Varsha Torgalkar
Are remote hamlets and tribal villages in Maharashtra ready to deal with the corona pandemic?
These Adivasis (tribals) living in hamlets in Maharashtra’s Panshet struggle to avail even the basic healthcare. After the lockdown, many labourers came to these villages from Pune and Mumbai. Villagers are worried as the nearest facility that can treat coronavirus is 40 kms away — in Pune
Varsha Torgalkar
Columns
Smart Cities must address the issues of privacy and security of its residents
A Smart City cannot be called 'smart' only by the integration of modern technology to create facilities. It must cater to the security of both people and the installations.
Sanjiv Krishan Sood
Chai pe charcha: A journey across Indian cultures, having tea and conversations
From being offered thick fresh buffalo milk in Rajasthan, to salt and fat for tea in Ladakh, the warmth of the conversations over a shared cup of tea, and the new friendships born.
Neha Sinha
It is time we stop demonising riverine floods during monsoon as a calamity. Here is why
Human beings are conditioned to consider riverine floods a threat to their existence rather than as a geomorphological process necessary for agrarian wellness. Here is why this should change.
Manoj Misra
Too early to say the tribal population of India, our most vulnerable, ducked COVID-19?
As India’s COVID-19 tally crosses the million mark, it may be tempting to conclude that tribal communities have ducked the blow so far. That is a partial truth that hides more than it reveals.
Patralekha Chatterjee
This summer, I discovered wasps possess swarm intelligence, and bonder with them over water
One morning, when I was thinking what water means to all of us, I saw a swarm of wasps rushing, not at me, but at the water. This is the story of how I bonded with a wasp over water.
Neha Sinha
'A river is as healthy as its sickest tributary'
A journey along the river Hindon, the first of the large tributaries of the Yamuna, lead to a unique mound and a small town Barnawa with history written all over it.
Manoj Misra
Sikkim is synonymous with homestays. But the lockdown has brought this sector to its knees
Sikkim relies heavily on tourism and has over 600 homestays spread across its villages and towns. Can these community-run homestays survive the wide-ranging impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Satyadeep Chhetri
The coronavirus pandemic has further marginalised people with disabilities, mental illness
Despite governments having taken drastic steps, people with disabilities have been excluded as the advocacy hasn't factored in the inability of people who are immobile or living with mental illnesses
Srilakshmi Bellamkonda
School dropouts in rural areas are already high. Post-lockdown, they may go up further
The condition of schools operating in rural areas is deplorable. Rural schools stand nowhere in comparison to the urban schools in terms of facilities, technology, and quality of teachers
Gaurav Girija Shukla
Once the lockdown ends, what’s in store for the agriculture sector in India? An analysis
Agricultural sector is projected to see a significant reduction in supply, demand, and value. This will lower farmer household incomes. Here’s how we can safeguard our farmers through this
Amy Yang
Corona Footprint
This Youth from Bihar moved back from Dubai to help migrant labourers reach their villages
Asif Kamal has helped about 1,000 migrant labourers from his home state of Bihar reach their homes, and has provided ration to more than 10,000 needy families. His efforts continue
Daya Sagar
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
In a first, the BRO organises a special train for Jharkhand's road construction ‘soldiers’
They were recently airlifted from Leh by the Jharkhand government, which brought to light the plight of migrant workers building roads in the country’s border areas
Nidhi Jamwal
Jharkhand CM, Football Federation come forward to help the U-17 World Cup contenders
The plight of the eight football players not getting meals during the lockdown was highlighted by Gaon Connection on June 6. Now, these girls are getting cash and proper meals
Anand Dutta
Parle-G biscuits record the highest ever sale during the lockdown. Here's why ...
It was convenient for volunteers to distribute Parle-G among labourers travelling back home. It was a cheap and accessible option. In April and May, the company has registered record growth
Daya Sagar
The Banarasi saree industry is losing about Rs 24 crore/day, nearly six lakh weavers badly hit
The weavers and traders have incurred huge losses. They feel if effective steps are not taken soon by the government, the business of Banarasi sarees would be pushed to extinction
Mithilesh Dhar Dubey
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
Hari walked for 121 kms from Bengaluru to Andhra. But he died as soon as he reached his village
Though he walked for three days to reach home, his family had to wait for one-and-a-half days to bring his dead body back home. Villagers stopped them as they suspected he had died due to corona
Mithilesh Dhar Dubey
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
Environment Special
Watch these birds and animals in their happy space ... their natural habitat. A photo series
Nature Photography Day is celebrated to motivate people to pick up the camera and shoot mother nature in its purest form. Here are some nature and wildlife shots by Amit Mishra
Amit Mishra
Forget the chaos and hardships of life, come fall in love with nature ... once again
Abhishek Verma is a travel photographer. Occasionally, he cuts himself off from the rest of the world, packs his bag, and leaves for the mountains. Let's see nature through his lens
Abhishek Verma
Promoting the use of menstrual cups will be a huge step towards protecting the environment
Sanitary pads are 90% plastic. Their decomposition takes 500-800 years. On the other hand, a woman can use one menstrual cup for 10 years. They are made of silicon, and hence are safe for disposal
Neetu Singh
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
“Humans and elephants used to co-exist peacefully. Not anymore. They have been killing people"
For villagers living in many districts in Chhattisgarh the human-elephant conflict is a ‘jumbo’ problem. These conflicts result in the loss of property, crops and even loss of human lives
Swati Subhedar
The Morning Glory flower and my new friend, a cat … my takeaways from the lockdown
For someone who is always fascinated by the unknown, the lockdown gave me an opportunity to explore nature and biodiversity. As I came closer to nature, nature came closer to me
Niharika Awasthi
“Just one tiny virus is enough to bring the whole human world down to its knees!"
It’s time we respected nature before it is too late to pull back from the catastrophic results of our greed and parasitic behaviour. It shocks and saddens me to no end to see people chop down trees
Swagata Shrivastava
This Environment Day, I want to come clean. I committed a crime when I was a child
Over the years, I have learnt to respect animals, birds and plants. But I feel angry when I see adults not respecting nature and when they don’t teach their children to do the same
Shivani Gupta
An elephant kills a girl. Later, a few men thrash an elephant to death. Is this poetic justice?
This forest guard had to deal with an unusual situation. But it made him reflect. The elephants are not trespassers, we, humans, are encroachers. And yet, we keep blaming the elephants
Trideep Mahato
Corona Heroes
Meet these tribal women who have donned the role of Corona Warriors in this pandemic
From making masks and PPE kits to being frontline health workers, Bank Sakhis, Aanganwadi workers, police officers, women have taken charge on many fronts in Chhattisgarh
Neeraja Kudrimoti
These women in Bundelkhand are doing their bit in this fight against COVID by making masks
Many women belonging to various self-help groups have been given the task of making masks. They are happy that they are earning during the lockdown and also doing their bit for the society
Arvind Singh Parmar
“Many tribal women are getting ration, but they also need milk as they can’t feed grains to infants”
Meet Amar Singh, who along with other volunteers, has, so far, distributed over 4,500 biscuits and 1,800 milk packets to women and children in tribal areas of Jharkhand
Shivani Gupta
These women in Uttar Pradesh are making PPE kits on a war footing, also earning money
Around 150 women belonging to a self-help group who were unemployed are now earning Rs 450-600 daily by making low-cost PPEs. The Army has ordered a consignment of 2,000 PPE kits to them
Mohit Shukla
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
This innovative "phone booth" might help us save crores in this fight against coronavirus
Aditya Ranjan, IAS, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand, has developed a model in which health workers will not need to wear personal protective equipment kits during sample testing of COVID-19
Neetu Singh
“It’s great to provide meals to the needy, but it would be even better if we give them dry ration”
Over the years, Mittal Patel has been helping nomadic tribes in Gujarat. But, after the lockdown, she has not just helped them with the paperwork, she has also been distributing dry ration to them
Shivani Gupta
The Indian women’s hockey team comes forward to help the poor amid the lockdown crisis
The players are giving a fitness challenge to the people through social media, especially Twitter. These people are requested to complete the challenge and donate Rs 100 or more
Daya Sagar
"Along with vegetables and pulses; pencils, erasers and notebooks should also be given"
Meet Abhishek Shukla, who has been teaching kids living in slums in Prayagraj. He believes ‘education can’t wait’, and has found a way to teach his students even during the lockdown
Shivani Gupta
Corona and Farmers
How to bail the farmers out from the damage caused by the coronavirus crises?
In the first part of the series ‘Corona and Farmers’, read about the 20 suggestions given by Chaudhary Pushpendra Singh, the president of the Kisan Shakti Sangh
Pushpendra Singh
“The lockdown has given us a chance to fix the many problems ailing our agriculture sector"
Gaon Connection has sought the views of agri-experts to understand what could be done to help our farmers amid lockdown. Read what agriculture scientist Dr Daya Srivastava has to say
Daya Srivastava
"The government should provide a Rs 1.5 lakh-crore economic package to the farmers"
Gaon Connection has sought the views of agricultural experts to understand what should be done to help our farmers during this lockdown. Read what the Bhartiya Kisan Union has to say
Gaon Connection
"The agriculture sector should be seen as a crucial link to revitalise our economy in the future"
What should be done to help our farmers during the COVID crisis? In the fourth part of our series ‘Corona and Farmers’ read what Vikrant Singh from the Banaras Hindu University has to say
Gaon Connection
The COVID-19 crisis has given us time to fix problems related to agriculture and food security
Should we ask our farmers to produce more oil and energy crops so that we don’t have to import edible, crude oil? Is this the right time to address the problem of rampant use of chemical fertiliser?
MJ Saxena
“The real Corona Warriors are our invisible farmers”
Dharmendra Malik, the Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson, feels the country is, at present, going through demand, and not supply, crisis. Read his view in the sixth part of Gaon Connection series ‘Corona and Farmers’
Dharmendra Malik
Small processing units can help the agriculture sector tide over the current economic crisis
The immediate efforts to deal with the way challenges have emerged in the agriculture sector are fine, but it is crucial to formulate medium and long-term strategies for far-reaching results
AK Shah
Despite suffering major losses, vegetable farmers in Jharkhand continue to be hopeful
Whenever I came across news of farmers committing suicides, I could never understand the gravity of the problem. But, since the lockdown, I have finally understood the reason
Rajendra Tiwari
Positive Stories
After securing rights over 5,352 hectares forest, this tribal village becomes an ecotourism hub
Last August, the gram sabha of Jabarra village in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh secured rights over 5,352 hectares forest. By focusing on ecotourism, this tribal village has attracted many tourists
Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
A small village in Uttarakhand is setting a big example by reviving traditional water sources
Many migrants have returned to the state due to the lockdown. Now, they have taken up the responsibility of reviving the traditional freshwater sources and springs in the region
Bhim Singh Rawat
This is how a solar-powered hospital in Jharkhand is dealing with the COVID pandemic
To serve two of the most under-developed districts of the state – Palamu and Latehar – this hospital has, over the years, taken many proactive steps to add services to cater to the needs of the villagers
Lanvin Concessao
Aajibaichi Shala -- a school for grandmothers -- is letting these elderly women live their dream
The school was founded in 2016 in Fangane village in Maharashtra by Yogendra Bangar. These 'students' wear their bright pink saree-uniforms and come to school
Varsha Ramachandran
Meet the man who made the Bijapur District Hospital in Chhattisgarh one of the best
In 2016, when Ayyaj Tamboli, a doctor, joined as the Bijapur district collector, he was disappointed to see the plight of the district hospital. This is what happened next ...
Swati Subhedar
This startup aims to bring traditional cuisine back while making women self-sufficient
Nativ Chefs, an online platform, offers home-cooked meals to those who like traditional food. Besides, it 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. She has been preserving indigenous seeds that need only water and air to grow
Swati Subhedar
Bhima: A young boy from Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, recounts his brush with Naxalism
Bhima had briefly worked for the Naxals. When better sense prevailed, he switched sides and joined hands with the security personnel. Now, he wants to do something good for the Adivasis
Swati Subhedar
Art, culture and tradition
During the lockdown, this school teacher decorated the walls of his house with Warli paintings
Tulsi Patel, a drawing teacher working in a school in Surat, moved to his village in the neighbouring district during the lockdown. This is how the couple decorated their village home
Swati Subhedar
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
Bundelkhand and the lockdown: Stories of struggle and heartbreak. A photo essay
People living in Bundelkhand have been dealing with many issues like water scarcity, no job opportunities and migration for years. But, It will take them a while to recover from the lockdown
Yash Sachdev
Step by step: This is how your favourite seviyan are made! A photo story
Eid and seviyan are almost synonymous. While the final product is delicious, making these seviyan is a lot of hard work and it's an elaborate procedure. Here's how it's done
Abhishek Verma
Remember the sarauta, the dibri, the silbatta? These forgotten words came to life recently!
Storyteller Neelesh Misra tweeted a picture of sarauta recently. This single Tweet opened up a spectacular cascade of memories and Twitter users recalled many forgotten words
Jamshed Qamar Siddiqui
“The colourful Dhokra artifacts that narrate mythological tales are very fascinating”
I was at the Raipur airport recently. This particular art piece attracted me as it was very vibrant and colourful. When I looked closely, I realised it was narrating a tale from the Ramayana!
Harsh Pathak
The history of fragrance: How attar or ittar has evolved from one era to the other
The earliest record of perfume-making in India can be found in the ‘Brihat Samhita’, an encyclopaedia authored by a 6th century astronomer, mathematician and astrologer who lived in Ujjain
Harsh Pathak
Lockdown, or no lockdown, these glass workers of Firozabad have been suffering for decades
While the end product of these industries are beautiful, the conditions in which people work are abject and far from safe. They often suffer from respiratory problems, silicosis and other diseases
Swagata Shrivastava
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 Sultanate too had relished samosa
Harsh Pathak
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
My rural connection
Due to the extensive beach sand mining, villages in Kollam are vanishing from the map of Kerala
Extensive sand mining has been happening between the Chavara and Alappad coastline in Kollam since the 1960s. Because of this, more than 6,000 fisherfolk have vacated over the years
Bhim Singh Rawat
Women undertake most of the laborious work in the fields, yet they are not called farmers
Despite the amendment in the Hindu Succession Act in 2005, whereby equal rights were awarded to daughters in their fathers’ ancestral property, women are not allowed to own agricultural land
Dilip Singh Bidawat
As Cyclone Amphan batters parts of West Bengal, villagers in Bhadrak in Odisha have a déjà vu
Last year, Odisha's Bhadrak was the worst-hit when Cyclone Fani hit the state. Six months later, Cyclone Bulbul left its damaging imprint. With Cyclone Amphan, it’s the same cycle of destruction
Azera Parveen Rahman
At least 72 dead as Cyclone Amphan tears into Sundarbans and West Bengal
Early reports by Gaon Connection show flooding and strong winds of the cyclone have destroyed fishing ponds, lakes, poultry farms, thousands of acres of paddy ready for harvest in the state
Aritra Bhattacharya
The vulnerable fishermen and the ‘tiger widows’ of Sundarbans
The land is shrinking due to the rise in the sea level because of climate change. This is leading to the tiger reserve area to shrink making fishermen vulnerable. The ‘tiger widows’ are still waiting for the compensation from the government
Umesh Kumar Ray
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 Sasi mausi, 67, has helped regenerate the forests, providing villages with most of their requirements for sustenance
Priyaranjan Sahu
Gripped by climate change ... lives of villagers in Sundarbans remain tragic
The poor in the Sundarbans bore the brunt of a cyclonic storm that flattened their mud houses and destroyed the standing crops. They have been dealing with climate change for long now
Aparna Venkatachalam
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 river stories ...
Ever eaten veggies grown in "black and red" chemical water? People in Gujarat are eating
A joint investigation by Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti & Gujarat Pollution Control Board revealed that the last 120 kms of the Sabarmati river comprises just industrial effluents and sewage
Swati Subhedar
"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 UP are situated by the rivers Hindon, Krishna and Kali. The water is so polluted that people are suffering from cancer and limb deformities
Ranvijay Singh
“People living here are facing a big problem. They are unable to produce children”
The Hindon, Krishna and Kali rivers in Meerut, Baghpat, Shamli and Muzaffarnagar districts of Uttar Pradesh are extremely polluted, which is affecting the reproductive ability of people
Ranvijay Singh
Murder of a river: This is how illegal 'mining' of groundwater killed the Gomti river
The Gomti river, which flows through eight districts in Uttar Pradesh, is dying a slow but certain death. We are killing it at its every twist and turn for our petty gains
Ranvijay Singh
Pilibhit is the birthplace of the Gomti river. Ironically, this is where it's counting its last breath
The Gomti river originates from Gomat Taal, situated at Madhavtanda, Pilibhit. Ironically, this is where it's counting its last breath. Excessive digging near its banks has led to this
Ranvijay Singh
"The Gomti river is like my mother … she is a friend to me. I could never abandon her."
There are thousands who worship the river, yet it's full of filth and is dying a slow death. We spoke to many people, who got nostalgic talking about the Gomti – a river that once was
Daya Sagar
"Many farmers believe that there is an unending supply of groundwater"
Satha dhaan – a variety of rice which farmers sow for their petty gains overlooking the fact that it consumes 10 times more water – is a proof that we are to be blamed for the demise of the Gomti
Ranvijay Singh
Lucknow now has a swanky Riverfront. Is it the final nail in the coffin for the Gomti river?
It was meant to beautify the river, but the Riverfront project has throttled the river and has had a detrimental effect on its natural flow. It has also destroyed the ecosystem
Ranvijay Singh
Tails and tweets
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
Barring a few metropolitan cities, the house sparrow is doing well in rural areas in India
If sparrows enter our homes, it’s because we want them there. I can’t think of any other wild animal which is so missed by people. There was global outrage when the house sparrow started declining
Neha Sinha
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
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
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" changed a forest guard's Sunday ... and 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
Nearly killed for killing a man, Renu, a tigress, gets a new life – and a lover – at Lucknow zoo
After Renu killed a man last year, she was mauled by furious villagers. She nearly died. But now she is safe at a zoo in Lucknow and spends quality time with Kishan – her boyfriend
Diti Bajpai
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
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
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
“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
The slow interview
“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
People run away to become actors; I was thrown out so that I could become an actor!
Ayushman Khurana, who calls himself an old-soul, said he was an extremely laid-back. It was his father who made him ambitious. But what he is today is because of his mother and his wife
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
Many people don't know me by my name but by the characters that I have played: Sanjay Mishra
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
"I tell people that I am what I am today is because of two things -- my family and Allahabad"
Did you know when he directed his first film, he didn't have a producer? In a 'Slow Interview' with Neelesh Misra, Tigmanshu Dhulia talks about his journey from Allahabad to Mumbai via Delhi
Neelesh Misra
People say love traps you. In fact, it’s the opposite. Love makes you free, says poet Kumar Vishwas
Kumar Vishwas was a rebellious child, who fought with his father as he wanted to become a poet, not an engineer. But there is a soft side to him. He fell in love, and that, according to him, changed his life
Neelesh Misra
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