76% respondents want politicians to address climate change issue in the UP elections: Survey
A survey to understand public awareness about climate change in Uttar Pradesh has come up with interesting findings. Conducted across six cities of the state, 95% of the respondents said that climate change has an impact on the state’s economy. Climate change would become a poll-issue if rural voters are better informed about its adverse effects, say experts.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
WHO’s approval of malaria vaccine brings cheer to malaria saathis and doots in tribal Koraput district of Odisha
Odisha has been successfully using a community-driven programme comprising malaria saathis and doots, who work with the ASHA workers and ANMs, to spread awareness on malaria prevention, conduct rapid testing and quickly distribute medicines. From 2017 to 2020, malaria incidence has come down from 347,860 to 41,739 in the eastern state which plans to eradicate the vector-borne disease by 2030. A ground report from the malaria endemic Koraput district.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Tribal villagers march 300 kms to save their forests; environment ministry approves coal mining in Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo forest
About 350 protesting tribal villagers marched for ten days to reach Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur and met Governor Anusuiya Uikey and the state chief minister Bhupesh Baghel who assured them of a probe into the ‘forged’ approval of gram sabhas for coal mining in the forest areas. However, now the Union environment ministry has approved coal mining in the Parsa block of the Hasdeo-Aranya.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Explained: Why are hundreds of tribal villagers marching 300-km to meet the Chhattisgarh Governor
As many as 350 villagers from the districts of Sarguja and Korba have been marching for the past 10 days to reach Chhattisgarh capital Raipur in order to protest against the ‘illegal’ acquisition of coal mines in the Hasdeo Aranya forest area, and press for the implementation of the PESA Act. They wish to meet the Governor Anusuiya Uikey and apprise her of their plea.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Southwest monsoon season ends with ‘normal’ rainfall; drought-prone Marathwada records highest rainfall departure of 48%
The southwest monsoon season officially ended today, on September 30, with the country witnessing ‘normal’ rainfall as it recorded 99 per cent of the long period average precipitation. However, there are large scale monthly variations in rainfall received in the four months of the monsoon season. Excess rainfall in September has balanced out the rain deficit in the country, but farmers in several states have suffered heavy crop losses.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Known predominantly for droughts, why are districts in south Bihar facing floods?
North Bihar region is India’s most flood-prone zone. However, districts in south Bihar predominantly face drought-like conditions. But this year, a swollen Ganga river has inundated districts in the southern part of the state too. Bihar has been facing floods since the arrival of the monsoon in June this year and there seems no respite yet.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
They lost their land and homes to Sardar Sarovar Dam, and now illegal fishing adds to their woes
Over a decade ago, the traditional fishing community of Barwani in Madhya Pradesh lost their homes and cultivable land to Sardar Sarovar Dam’s submergence and now it is facing fresh challenges from ‘outsiders’ involved in illegal fishing activities in the dam’s reservoir. FIR filed. Details here.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Lahaul-Spiti landslide: Major disaster averted as Chenab river flow unblocked
The villagers in Jasrath and Talang villages in Himachal Pradesh had a narrow escape from disaster as two days back the Chenab’s flow had got blocked due to a massive landslide. The river has managed to flow past the dumped debris and the villagers are relieved. But tension hangs in the air as the Himlayan state has been struck by several landslides.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Residents of Khori Gaon sell bricks salvaged from their demolished homes to make ends meet
The demolition drive at the Khori village in Faridabad has cast a shadow of uncertainty and gloom on the lives of an estimated 50,000 people, many of whom continue to live on the debris of their razed houses. With no water or electricity supply for two months now, it is a daily struggle to live under tarpaulin sheets.
Pratyaksh Srivastava
Coal ash: ‘White prawns turned into ash prawns; fishers pushed into poverty’
In a webinar themed on the adverse effects of fossil fuels on the indigenous communities living around power plants, participants from various regions of India shared how both human health and livelihoods are impacted. They underlined that the communities must be at the focus of planning and decision making.