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Respect tribal goverments; conserve forests
Tribal governments can manage village natural resources better than elected Panchayats. Jarjum Ete, President of the All India Union of Forest Working People, explains why. Posted on 24 Oct, 2015 04:31 PM

The Galo tribe has lived in the Eastern Himalayan forests for centuries. Like their neighbours, this tribe had a well-defined territory, the boundaries of which were marked by various topographical features such as rock formations or mountain ridges.

Arunachal's tribes have a tradition of managing their natural resources (Source:Wikimedia Commons)
Can the ‘Pad Piper’ lure away social taboos related to menstruation?
He wore pads, he figured out how to make them, and he's given rise to social enterprises around making biodegradable pads. Meet the 'Pad Piper' in this film by the same name. Posted on 24 Oct, 2015 02:38 PM

A friend, who often tips me off on stories, sent me a message asking why I don't write about menstrual hygiene among rural women. I told her that it’s difficult for a male journalist to write about women issues in India. 

A Muruganantham shows the working of a sanitary pad to women. (Source: The Pad Piper)
Household water filter use in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad's rural areas have better access to expensive RO filters than more affordable gravity non-electric filters. What are the factors and implications affecting this choice of water filters? Posted on 21 Oct, 2015 12:09 PM

76 million people lack access to safe drinking water in India thus increasing their risk to mortality from water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid, and cholera. The poor are much more likely to be affected by unsafe drinking water than those who are financially better off.

Safe drinking water, a scarce resource (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Environment Ministry allowed to clear hydel projects in Uttarakhand, except in Alaknanda-Bhagirathi basins
Policy matters this week Posted on 20 Oct, 2015 07:10 PM

MoEFCC can approve hydel projects in Uttarakhand, except in Alaknanda-Bhagirathi river basins: SC

Bhagirathi river at its source, Gaumukh (Source: IWP Flickr Photo)
China operationalises one of the biggest dams on the Brahmaputra
News this week Posted on 20 Oct, 2015 07:01 PM

China's Zangmu Hydropower Project, one of the biggest dams on Brahmaputra, is operational

Brahmaputra river in Tibet (Source: Luca Galuzzi via Wikipedia)
Water warriors – Stories on people and their relationship with water
The stories in this yearbook highlight efforts by rural and urban communities across India to take back ownership of their water resources. Posted on 20 Oct, 2015 06:49 PM

Water sustains lives and livelihoods. It is a precious and finite resource that, in future years, is likely to become the main bone of contention between peoples, states and nations. Water – like every other finite resource – needs sustainable and equitable management, with equal focus on reducing demand, recycling and finding alternatives, as well as the usual emphasis on supply solutions.

Prayers on the bank of the Kshipra
Implementing watershed development projects in Andhra Pradesh: Lessons learnt
Since 1994, govt. supported watershed development projects have undergone significant change resulting in innovative protocols and developments. What else is in store for them? Posted on 16 Oct, 2015 06:25 PM

Government supported watershed development projects in India underwent a paradigm shift in 1994 with the advent of guidelines for the Watershed Development Programme as well as a number of pathbreaking guidelines that introduced innovative protocols that placed a strong emphasis on community participation. Development fun

Watershed development, the need of the hour (Source: India Water Portal)
Kerala's waters polluted by perchlorate
A study found high concentration of perchlorate in groundwater samples as compared to surface water samples in Kerala with Ernakulum district showing the highest contamination. Posted on 14 Oct, 2015 09:59 PM

Perchlorate is a chemical that is extensively used in the arms and ammunition industry.

Water contamination and health
After Cyclone Aila, farming nurtures food, faith in Sunderbans
In 2009, Cyclone Aila caused significant damage to livelihoods in the Sunderbans. While saline soil is subversive to agriculture in the area, integrated farming gives many the courage to start afresh. Posted on 14 Oct, 2015 09:53 PM

“Another flood like Aila should never happen again, but if it does, we have the knowledge to start working on our soil again”, remarks Binota Munda of Nebukhali village in Hingalganj block, North

Seed-banks are an effective instrument to preserve local varieties and keep people together
Half of Amritsar's drinking water samples contaminated
An alarmingly high level of contamination of the 1,317 drinking water samples in places visited regularly by residents calls for public awareness, immediate attention, and action by the authorities. Posted on 14 Oct, 2015 03:49 PM

According to a United Nations Children’s Fund Resource report, 70% of India’s water supply is polluted with sewage effluents. It also ranks very low at 120 among the 122 nations in terms of quality of water available to its citizens.

Safe drinking water, a scarce resource (Source: India Water Portal)
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