Giriraj Singh’s unique biogas model has helped farmers in this village earn more
The animal husbandry ministry carried out an experiment at Jakariyapura village in Anand district in Gujarat, now known as the ‘Jakariyapura model’. It provided biogas plants in houses that have milch animals and bought the slurry — liquid residue from the plants – in return. The ministry claims it has increased the farmers’ income by three times
Arvind Shukla
Latest
Gaon Connection wins Ramnath Goenka. It’s a third in a decade
Senior reporter Diti Bajpai wins the ‘Uncovering India Invisible’ category for her series ‘Raktranjit’. The series highlights those rape cases that failed to become headlines or hashtags
Rural Connection
Police show their ugly face in handling anti-CAA protests, need urgent reforms to earn public trust
The incidents of the past month indicate the police have forgotten that their most important task is to inculcate a sense of security amongst the population by maintaining law and order
Sanjiv Krishan Sood
The anti-CAA protests bring Adivasis into focus, the Act threatens their identity
Whether in showing paperwork or proving their identity, the Citizenship Amendment Act is going to hit the Adivasis hard. This Act will make it difficult for them to establish their identity
Deepti Mary Minj
Despite repeated verbal assurances, the anti-Adivasi intent of CAA is quite evident
The combination of NRC and CAA might compel the Adivasis to convert to the mainstream religions in order to protect themselves from becoming ‘stateless’ and sent to concentration camps
Jawar Bheel
Raktranjit … bloodstains
“Women in rural India refrain from filing cases as they don’t have any hope of getting justice”
Sexual harassment and rape are a reality which stalk women and girls in our villages. Yet, the cries of our daughters, sisters, mothers remain unheard within the walls of the home, silenced by patriarchy, a false sense of family pride or social pressure
Diti Bajpai
“Lovingly, I would call him bhaiyya, but he raped me whenever he got an opportunity”
Uma, 11, was raped. At 14, she is now a mother of a kid, 3. At a time when she should be playing with toys herself, Uma became a plaything for a rich, high caste youth. Worst, it was time to get the baby’s birth registered, she had to write her rapist’s name
Diti Bajpai
Post Nirbhaya rape case, the laws have changed, but has the mindset? No, it hasn’t
Nirbhaya. Gudiya. Kathua. These are not just names of girls and places. These signify a blot of the face of humanity. They prove that even the death penalty is not a deterrent. And the finger points directly at a corrupt criminal investigation system
Diti Bajpai
We killed the Gomti
“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 are under the impression 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
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
Funding rural India …
This is the reason why we shouldn’t expect philanthropists to fund activism
Since philanthropists are unlikely to fund anything that destabilises their businesses, building independent institutions can be an effective approach to create lasting impact
Rural Connection
Are traditional livelihoods non-profits losing their relevance?
Over the past two decades, the bulk of civil society’s interventions in rural India have been around food sufficiency. Most of them aren’t providing other opportunities — ones that are sought by the youths
Rural Connection
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
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
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
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
Columns
What happens in Rajasthan’s Sambhar lake can impact the global population of bird species
Birds know better than us where to go, when to leave for their journey and when to stop. Our part in this journey is much more limited: it is about ensuring the bird’s resting places are safe
Neha Sinha
The poultry industry is witnessing radical changes. How would small farmers survive?
The small farmers are getting affected because of the high cost of feed, which is around 70% of the total cost of production. These farmers should start making their feed, which will also help them in increasing their margins
Ibne Ali
Many “city diseases” are spreading across villages. This will have a long-term impact
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is no longer confined to the rich or city-dwellers. It is spreading in rural India, which has fewer doctors, worse health facilities
Patralekha Chatterjee
A day in the life of …
“There was a time when we would hang lanterns on each side of our taangas for the post-sunset rides”
In old Lucknow, India’s historical hub, you will find the fading profession of pulling horse carriages – a nawabi trend that is now finding very few takers. We spent a day with one such taanga wala
Rural Connection
A teacher, a mom, and an ideal. Meet this primary school teacher, who wears multiple hats
This is the story of a primary school teacher but with the responsibility of a school with insufficient space and staff. She not only has to teach students, but also has to visit homes of students skipping school
Shivani Gupta
Back then, no wedding procession could go without the Morbeen. But now, there are no takers
Ever heard of the Morbeen? There was a time when the Indian bagpipe was quite popular. But now, there are almost no artistes playing the instrument. We spent a day with one such fading artist
Rural Connection
The untold stories of weavers and artisans
These weavers of Jammu want to revive the culture of age-old textile art
The villages in Jammu have been home to families engaged in making blankets and shawls for generations. They are now doing other jobs due to the low profitability of the business
Deepak Khajuria
Middlemen robbing Bihar’s Madhubani artisans of recognition and livelihood
Bihar’s Madhubani paintings are famous across the globe. But, this art-form is facing threats from middlemen. And the government has failed to help the artisans from getting exploited
Rural Connection
It’s been months since I paid my children’s school fees: Kashmiri carpet weaver
Kashmir’s carpets are famous worldwide but its trade is going through a crisis. Fewer takers for “expensive” traditional carpets and the availability of cheap machine-made carpets are to be blamed
Swati Subhedar
Positive stories
He helps youngsters living in villages along the Indo-Pak border join the armed forces
He wanted to join the army but was rejected for being short. He now runs a training camp and many trained under him have joined the armed forces
Deepak Khajuria
When a man in khaki turned a messiah for patients needing blood
Social media and good intentions can come together and help save many lives. A UP constable found out that often the simplest of steps lead to big results
Swati Subhedar
The boatsman who has rescued over 50 people plunging into the Gomti river
The story of an unsung hero, who has gifted new lease of life to over 50 people, such are living heroes, who inspire …
Ranvijay Singh
My rural connection
Artists from India, abroad set the stage on fire, promote tribal culture & tradition
Chhattisgarh hosted its first tribal dance festival between December 27 and 29 at Raipur. Around 2,500 artists showcased traditional tribal dances performed on weddings, crop harvesting & festivals
Rural Connection
O Human being! How fair is it to offer biscuits, chips and cold drinks to wild bears?
Few wild bears have become frequent visitors to the temples of deities situated on hilltops, adjoining or in the forests of Chhattisgarh … not to pray but to have food which devotees give to the visiting bears
Nitin Singhvi
There are the dragonflies and then there are damsels! Next time you visit a village, do bond with them
Dragonflies and damselflies play a vital role in ecosystem maintenance. If these beautiful creatures are to survive, we must act wisely to reduce water pollution and safeguard our wetlands
Pankaj Koparde
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
Rural 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
Rural 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
Rural 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
Rural Connection
Sarangi … the instrument of a hundred colours
The Sarangi derives its name from the bow of Lord Vishnu. As per some musicians, the word Sarangi is a combination of two words ‘Seh’ (Persian equivalent of three) and ‘Rangi’ (Persian equivalent of coloured) corrupted as sarangi
Rural 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