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Thank your toilets on World Toilet Day!
The theme of World Toilet Day this year is 'Equality, dignity and the link between gender-based violence and sanitation', all things that should hit us hard in India. Posted on 17 Nov, 2014 12:44 PM

Have you ever complained about a toilet anywhere? Not so clean, not so dry, not so nice-smelling, not so something else? On November 19th 2014 and possibly every other day this year and forever after, thank your stars that you have one because 2.5 billion people in the world don't!

World Toilet Day, 19 Nov 2014
Narmada: Sounds of silence along its banks
The Narmada river is being transformed from a free to a 'dammed' one, thanks to the new development projects. The book featured is a compilation of essays on this ancient river. Posted on 12 Nov, 2014 10:11 AM

Narmada, a name that translates into ‘One that bestows happiness’ will, in the next 20 years, pass through turbulent times. The question is not of the distance or the journey that this river covers, but the various points at which this ancient river is intercepted by new, modern dams.

River Narmada (Source: Wikipedia)
White, Green and now a ‘Blue Revolution’!
Policy matters this week Posted on 10 Nov, 2014 10:35 PM

India plans to launch the 'Blue Revolution' to boost fish production

Traditional fisheries in India
Kerala's Ashtamudi lake certified by Marine Stewardship Council
News this week Posted on 10 Nov, 2014 10:09 PM

Kerala's Ashtamudi lake recognised for sustainable clam fishing

Mussel farm in Ashtamudi lake (Source: Fotokannan)
Toilets and social networks: Is there a connection?
Studies have shown links between social dynamics and behaviour change, especially with regard to toilet use. Intervention efforts should focus on communities, and not individuals. Posted on 06 Nov, 2014 10:54 PM

Of late, there have been plenty of discussions around the topic of sanitation, which have focussed on building toilets on a massive scale. These are in the aftermath of the new and recently released Millennium Development Goals Report 2014 by the United Nations that shows that India has the world's largest population that defecates out in the open, with it being as high as 66% in rural India [1

Toilet use (Source: Sourabh Phadke)
It's not just about rape!
Women need toilets, not only to protect themselves from rape but to also preserve their dignity and health. Sanitation is a fundamental human right and not just temporary media hype. Posted on 05 Nov, 2014 11:17 AM

Nandatai and her 16 year old daughter Phula creep out of their houses quietly in the wee hours of the morning into the dark fields to relieve themselves before everyone wakes up. It is an everyday story as this is the only time in the day that they have privacy. “It is so shameful to go out in the fields during the day”, says Nandatai. “We have to hold our urine till it gets dark.

Women in rural areas (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Gender inclusive development in mountains
Perspectives that aren't the norm must be examined while talking about gender-related development in the mountain regions. Posted on 04 Nov, 2014 03:00 PM

This introduction to the special issue on "Gender and sustainable development in the mountains- Transformative innovations, tenacious resistances" by Ritu Verma et al published in the journal Mountain Research and Development, highlights the poor situation of women as well as gender discrim

Mountain women in Uttarakhand
SC rebukes Central and State Pollution Control Boards over Ganga pollution
Policy matters this week Posted on 04 Nov, 2014 11:40 AM

Pollution Control Board is a story of complete failure, frustration and disaster: SC

River Ganges at Sangam in Allahabad
Odisha becomes Centre's focus state for small hydel projects
News this week Posted on 04 Nov, 2014 11:26 AM

Centre chooses Odisha as a focus state for small hydel projects

Small hydel project in Bilgaon
Assam Government issued notice over dumping of waste in Deepor Beel
Policy matters this week Posted on 28 Oct, 2014 03:09 PM

NGT takes notice of waste dumping in Assam's Deepor Beel

Dumping ground on the banks of Deepor Beel
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