Positive Stories
With third highest inland fish production, Uttar Pradesh coming up as a major fisheries hub
Lucrative schemes from the centre and the state governments have benefited several farmers in Uttar Pradesh who have taken up inland fishing and are reaping profits. In 2019-20, the state produced the third highest inland fishes in the country. Details here.
Divendra Singh
Farmers in Himachal take up hing cultivation; India may no longer have to import it
Every pinch of hing India uses in her kitchen is imported. But not for much longer as agricultural scientists of the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, along with ICAR, have trained 373 farmers in Himachal Pradesh to grow asafoetida indigenously.
Divendra Singh
Primary schools reopen in Uttar Pradesh after 18 months; excited teachers, notebooks and midday meal welcome the children
Been out of school for almost 18 months due to the exigencies arising out of the COVID19 pandemic, primary school children in Uttar Pradesh have returned to their classrooms and repatriated with their friends. Here’s what the students, teachers and parents had to say about the schools reopening.
Gaon Connection
By roping in religious leaders and young influencers, Unnao in UP is addressing vaccine hesitancy
The government health authorities in Unnao, UP, are going all out to woo rural communities to come forward to be vaccinated against COVID-19. By roping in religious leaders and young influencers, the district administration is dispelling fears and debunking myths about the vaccine. And this strategy is working.
Aishwarya Tripathi
‘NeoBolt’: India’s first motorised wheelchair developed by IIT-Madras — top speed, mileage, price
The motorised Neobolt add-on is attachable to a wheelchair which is named as ‘NeoFly’. Together, the two machines are expected to enhance the ease of mobility for people with special needs.
Gaon Connection
Raksha Bandhan special: The eco-friendly bamboo rakhis crafted by Bastar’s tribal women
Tribal women in the naxal-affected Bastar district of Chhattisgarh are making eco-friendly rakhis and handicraft such as jewellery using bamboo. A joint effort by the district administration and a local non-profit is helping empower these adivasi women who otherwise used to work as farm labourers.
Shivani Gupta
IIT Madras enables Tamil Nadu potters to produce microwaveable utensils
A total of 82 persons have been trained in this centre so far in skills pertaining to the production of various types of clay products.
Gaon Connection
Have a flair for writing? Certificate course at The Neelesh Misra School of Creativity kicks off; classes on photography, journalism too
The Neelesh Misra School of Creativity is an institute with multiple certificate courses in creative writing, storytelling, camera handling and journalism. There are customised courses for schools, colleges, creative agencies and corporates as well.
Gaon Connection
Bamboo to boost livelihood of tribal women in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh
By roping in a design consultant from Assam, the Mirzapur forest department in Uttar Pradesh is honing the handicraft skills of tribal women to help increase their income by using locally available bamboo. Some men have also joined the free training and are making jewellery, raakhi, mats, show pieces, flower pots, etc from bamboo.
Brijendra Dubey
Endangered fishing cat finally ‘captured’ on camera at Panna Tiger Reserve
Panna Tiger Reserve, in Madhya Pradesh, famous for its big cats, is celebrating because it now has photographic evidence that the elusive fishing cat is alive and well in the area near the banks of the river Ken.