Reportage
Demand for stricter land laws gains force in Uttarakhand; youth launch a campaign and hit the road
The Uttarakhand youth, supported by land rights activists and environmentalists, are demanding reinstating a land ceiling of 250 square metres for purchase by the ‘outsiders’, which was revoked in 2018.
Deepak Rawat
Three years since its inauguration, farmers in Mirzapur await water from Bansagar project to irrigate their farmlands
Widely promoted by the government as a mega-irrigation project aimed at supporting farmers practising rainfed agriculture in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the Bansagar dam is yet to benefit farmers in Mirzapur, complain the local villagers. The state Jal Shakti minister has assured the canal water would be made available within a month.
Brijendra Dubey
Third wave of COVID19 will not be as intense as second wave if no new virus strain emerges: ICMR
Randeep Guleria, director of New Delhi-based All India Institute Of Medical Sciences had earlier clarified that there was no indication of children being more vulnerable to the third wave of COVID19.
Gaon Connection
Our concerns not being addressed in Parliament, say farmers’ leaders as protest reaches Delhi’s Jantar Mantar
The protesters have also launched a ‘farmers’ parliament’ with an aim to stage the demands of the cultivators who believe that the new farm laws will be detrimental to them.
Amit Pandey
Heavy rainfall causes floods in Maharashtra; Chiplun in Ratnagiri, Kolhapur worst affected
District-wise rainfall data shows that except for five districts, the remaining 31 districts in Maharashtra received very heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours. Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri — all on flood alert — recorded 900%, 841%, 336% and 311% above normal rainfall, respectively. IMD has issued severe weather warning till July 26.
Nidhi Jamwal
A perfect date: Chhindwara’s sugar date palms are multipurpose, and friends of the farmers
The fruits of the sugar date palms are delicious, the leaves are turned into brooms and used to make thatched roofs, and its roots are believed to recharge groundwater. It is an integral part of rites and rituals amongst the tribal communities in the area.
Vikas Sharma
Extreme weather events linked to climate change increase vulnerabilities of migrant workers in Indian cities: Study
Lack of jobs back home and a rise in extreme weather events, such as the recent heavy rainfall in Mumbai, is leaving migrant workers vulnerable in metropolises. Researchers of a new study warn that migration is expected to increase in the coming decades thereby increasing climate hazards in megacities.
Shivani Gupta
Uttar Pradesh launches trial run of emission-free AC buses — with no extra fare
Equipped with CCTV cameras, air conditioned system, and free from noise and air pollution, these buses are being touted as a major attempt to make way for electric public transport in the state.
Gaon Connection
Parliament Monsoon Session: 414.6 million Covishield and Covaxin doses supplied between Jan 2021 and July 16, informs health ministry
From January 2021 to July 16 this year, 360.1 million doses of Covishield have been supplied by Serum Institute and 54.5 million doses of Covaxin have been supplied by Bharat Biotech.
Gaon Connection
Uttar Pradesh govt’s ‘Operation Mamta’ makes healthcare accessible to Tharu women on Indo-Nepal border
It is also informed that a proposal has been prepared to launch 48 similar sub-health centres in remote countryside, including at Raninagar and Kiratpur soon.