COVID19 lockdown: In remote villages, people survive on just dry rotis
A 14-year-old girl, in a remote Indian village Gaon Connection spoke to, offered a perspective on how millions of people in Indian villages are suffering the COVID19 lockdown.
Arvind Shukla
Betel leaf farmers of UP’s Bundelkhand have stories of loss during the lockdown to share
The loss of betel farmers incurred during the lockdown did not come to anyone’s attention. Here’s a story of paan farmers of Pali village in Bundelkhand, what they have been going through.
Arvind Shukla
Why do people migrate from Bundelkhand? Are they not getting enough work under MGNREGA?
As labourers and workers were returning home during the lockdown, Gaon Connection tried to find out what makes them leave their homes in the first place. A ground report from Bundelkhand
Arvind Shukla
An eerie silence prevails in Chanderi. The khat-khat sound of handlooms is a rarity now
Chanderi sarees are in great demand in India and abroad. But, the lockdown has affected the weavers and traders badly. More than 10,000 weavers are jobless and dust is gathering on 5,000 handlooms
Arvind Shukla
The inside story of people migrating from Bundelkhand: The closure of stone mines has rendered people jobless
In the Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand, many people, especially close to 75,000 people from the Saharia tribe, were dependent on the stone mines in the region for jobs. They started migrating after the mines shut. They are back because of the lockdown, and now have no jobs
Arvind Shukla
In Bundelkhand, MGNREGA has come to the rescue of people during the lockdown
The lockdown has aggravated the hardships of people living in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region. While locals were already struggling, due to the lockdown, many people have migrated back to villages. However, most of them have managed to find work under the MGNREGA scheme. A ground report
Arvind Shukla
The delay in agricultural scientist selection exams and the requirement of a PhD are quelling the dream of poor students
Most of the students studying agriculture are from poor backgrounds and have many responsibilities. The new changes may discourage many from studying to become agricultural scientists
Arvind Shukla
“I am committing suicide because of poverty and unemployment. The lockdown keeps on extending. I am not getting any job”
This suicide note was found in the pocket of a body that was found on May 29 on the railway tracks in Lakhimpur Khiri district of Uttar Pradesh. The deceased has been identified as Bhanu Prakash Gupta, who had lost his job recently
Arvind Shukla
Labourers, beauticians, plumbers: UP govt is trying to provide jobs to migrants reaching home
The Uttar Pradesh government has formed a migration commission to identify the skills of returning migrants and provide employment to them. The government also plans to provide insurance to these workers
Arvind Shukla
Lalitpur diaries: Migrant labourers, scorching heat, a dead cow and a long wait for buses
A cow shelter has been converted into a shelter home for these migrants. The government is plying buses from here. However, the problems of labourers don’t seem to be ending