Columns
Devolving more powers to elected panchayat representatives can help combat the pandemic effectively
A study across 100 village panchayats in Tamil Nadu shows that districts with elected village representatives performed reasonably better in tackling COVID-19 pandemic than village panchayats without their elected representatives.
M Gurusaravanan
COVID19 in rural India: Shortage of PHC doctors, preference for quacks and high vaccine hesitancy
A recent rural survey of 300 respondents in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, found 38% respondents preferred quacks for treatment, commonly known as nadi babas. Against 14% registering for COVID vaccination, only 4% went ahead for inoculation. These challenges need to be addressed urgently as the virus has spread in rural India.
Sanjana Kaushik
COVID and rural economic distress: Food for all and work for all should be the way forward
In the second wave of the pandemic, as the lockdown makes a comeback, migrant workers and the rural poor are facing great distress. The crisis for food and work is going to intensify further. Both the PDS and MGNREGA need to be strengthened.
Debmalya Nandy
Rural healthcare, stigma and lack of risk communication have compounded the impact of COVID second wave in rural India
To prevent catastrophe in rural India, there is an urgent need to prioritise preventive public health measures by decentralised planning. The approach should be to reach out to the community, engage field-level workers after proper training and involve Panchayati Raj leadership to lead the efforts.
Vikash R Keshri
Can Tamil Nadu’s robust public health system control the second wave?
Tamil Nadu seems to be well prepared with a robust health system that has tackled epidemics and natural disasters before. If it adheres to the COVID protocols, further restrictions and a lockdown, it could be in a position to control the trajectory of the wave.
Sudha Ramalingam
Care for some ‘patapari’ on the traditional patas of Bikaner? Clamber on!
The Bikaneri pata, a square wooden structure, is like a newsroom where information is gathered and disseminated. These public patas foster the spirit of a community space, encourage conversations and enable exchange of views.
Ambika Dhaka
Where do villages figure in India’s oxygen strategy?
The virus is moving into villages where 70% of Indians live. Does rural India have a contingency plan?
Patralekha Chatterjee
Reaching out to the last child in the learning curve in the pandemic
For the tribal communities, the problem is access to technology both for the students and the teachers. They are overwhelmed by this technology-driven model. We need to find a democratic way to reach out to the last child in the learning curve.
Prema Rangachary
Energising rural India with reliable electricity supply
51% of the MSMEs are in rural India and they engage 49.8 million workers. Supplying adequate, affordable and reliable uninterrupted electricity will help increase the efficiency of this crucial micro-enterprise sector.
Biswaranjan Baraj
Where do women farmers see themselves in the 21st century?
Indian women are overcoming barriers to chart out glorious journeys to success. They are also the major driving force behind agriculture. However, in any discourse of women, rural women, especially agricultural labourers — the group that is the most significant contributor to the country’s progress — is left out.