Sahana Srinath

The community of Narayanaswamykote in Bagepalli block of Chikballapur district in Karnataka has earnestly been protecting and restoring their 240 plus acres of commons for over a decade now. There are 68 households in the village, and a majority of them depend on agriculture, livestock rearing, wage labour, and non-timber forest produce (NTFP) collection for their livelihoods. 

The Maralappanahalli community has come a long way since the formation of its Grama Parisara Abhivruddi Samiti in 2017. The livelihood basket of the 40 households here largely comprised agriculture and livestock rearing for the longest time, but the Samiti has been instrumental in helping its people learn about MGNREGS and avail it to support their livelihoods.

The picturesque village of Marasanapalli in Bagepalli Block, Karnataka is home to 70 households who primarily practise agriculture, livestock rearing, and daily wage labour. Farmers here grow a variety of vegetables such as beans, ridge gourd, cauliflower, spring onion and beetroot, and some with land in the command area of the village tank grow paddy.