Research Papers

Banni grasslands in the Bhuj taluka of Kachchh district in Gujarat are spread over an area of 2600 km² and are the largest natural tropical grasslands in the Indian subcontinent that thrive in arid conditions with an average annual rainfall of a mere 317 millimetres. Droughts are a common occurance in Banni. 

Maldharis, migratory pastoralists of Banni

Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, is a hub of power loom industry and one of the oldest districts in the state. When Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2019, only 36.54% rural households in the district had access to potable drinking water through tap connections.

Urban and periurban water landscapes of Bengaluru

Heavy metals can harm aquatic life in freshwater bodies

The Himalayan region, also known as the ‘Water Tower of Asia’, is a lifeline for two billion people in the region. Most of the Himalayan cities in India are tourist destinations and host large populations during peak tourist season, creating challenges for water and sanitation. 

Access to improved water and sanitation continues to be a challenge with 26 percent of the world’s population (2 billion) not having access to safe drinking water services, and an estimated 46 percent (3.6 billion) lacking access to safely managed sanitation (UN-Water, 2023).

Common lands make up one-fifth of India’s landmass and play an important role in meeting the subsistence and livelihood needs of more than 350 million rural population, and are of great social and cultural significance to rural communities. However, they are still officially designated as ‘wastelands’ since colonial times informs this paper titled '

Research shows that social factors, in addition to medical care, significantly influence health outcomes. These social determinants include clean air, healthcare, food, education, decent working conditions, adequate housing, clean water, and standard of living. Access to safe drinking water is a key factor in improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities.

Launched in 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide every rural household with adequate and safe drinking water by 2024.

India has a large expanse of common lands that meet the livelihood needs of over 350 million people.