Society, Culture, Religion and History

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October 8, 2023 While the current push for legal personhood for rivers is facing obstacles and is stalled, it holds potential as a viable long-term strategy for the preservation of India's rivers
River quality deteriorates as demand for hydropower to support economic growth continues to expand. (Image: Yogendra Singh Negi, Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)
June 16, 2023 Majuli serves as a symbol of both the delicate balance between human activity and the environment and the tenacity of its residents
Addressing various aspects of women's lives to enhance their social, economic, and political status (Image: Rebuild India Fund)
January 13, 2022 The water structures constructed during the Gond period continue to survive the test of time and provide evidence of the water wisdom of our ancestors.
Kundeshwar lake, Kundam in Jabalpur (Image Source: K G Vyas)
January 2, 2021 Lack of community ownership and local governance are spelling doom for the once royal and resilient traditional water harvesting structures of Rajasthan.
Toorji Ka Jhalara, Jodhpur (Image Source: Rituja Mitra)
December 7, 2020 The new farm related bills will spell doom for women workers who form the bulk of small and marginal sections of Indian agriculture, warns Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch (MAKAAM).
Farm women, overworked and underpaid (Image Source: India Water Portal)
December 11, 2019 Dry toilets have long been hailed as a sustainable solution to the sanitation and waste management crisis facing India today, but have been overshadowed by more modern toilet designs.
A traditional dry toilet. Image: India Science Wire
Two states, a canal and a river
A solution to the problem of sharing Yamuna waters continues to elude Delhi and Haryana even as the river dries up and caste issues flare up. Posted on 17 May, 2016 11:21 AM

‘Jat’ reservation and the rampage on a canal

Munak canal to check seepage losses along the Western Yamuna Canal and to augment its supply
A lac cooperative’s success story
A lac cooperative in Jharkhand strengthens and streamlines the lac-production system Posted on 17 May, 2016 11:04 AM

The farmers of Jharkhand have long been depending on lac farming for their livelihood. Lac, a resin extensively used in preparation of a range of products - from cosmetics to ammunition - is cultivated on a variety of trees, mostly fruit-bearing and shady trees like Ber, Kusum, Palash and Sal.

TRCSC promoting lac based products like bangles through training of over 200 women members of SHGs
Water management for climate resilient agriculture
Water management should be given number one priority in agricultural policy to prevent droughts, minimise risks due to droughts and build a climate-resilient agriculture. Posted on 12 May, 2016 11:04 AM

Although agriculture is the largest source of livelihood for people in India, its share in the gross domestic product (GDP) has been declining over time with

Agriculture and climate change (Source: India Water Portal)
River dispute: Haryana manages water better than Punjab
Data shows Haryana has done better than its parent state, but the positives are getting lost as both states clamour for more. Posted on 03 May, 2016 02:30 PM

Rapid growth in population, agriculture production, industrialisation and urbanisation have put an extreme burden on India's dwindling water resources. Water-guzzling paddy covers maximum gross area under cultivation at 44 million hectares.

A bridge over Satluj river in Punjab. Source: Harpreet Riat/Wikimedia Commons
J&K's Anantnag among India's best in construction school toilets
Posted on 26 Apr, 2016 08:49 AM
Anantnag wins Prime Minister's award for large-scale construction of school toilets
Government schemes converge at Sarda Panchayat in Sambalpur, Odisha
Thanks to the successful implementation of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) scheme, villagers began to believe in collective action and community development. Posted on 24 Apr, 2016 11:41 AM

Since India became independent in 1947, the central and state governments have introduced various rural development schemes, and have been trying to get them to converge. While this effort hasn't been as impactful on a large scale, there are some success stories. Sarda Panchayat in Sambalpur, Odisha is one.   

View of Sarda village, Odisha
Positive correlation between higher levels of education for women and toilet use
A study found that toilet use was higher in households that had a high standard of living, higher educational levels among women and that were located in urban areas. Posted on 21 Apr, 2016 10:07 AM

India continues to have the highest number of people defecating out in the open according to recent figures by the World Health Organisation

Toilet use in India (Source: Sourabh Phadke)
India inks pact with Germany for Ganga revival
Policy matters this week Posted on 18 Apr, 2016 09:44 PM

India and Germany join hands to rejuvenate the Ganga

Ganga river at Gadmukteshwar (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Palace named after monsoon in Rajasthan
The Deeg palace, also known as 'Jal Mahal' for its extensive water designs which mimic the clouds and rains, is a must visit. Posted on 17 Apr, 2016 10:11 PM

Forts and palaces of Rajasthan are well known for their water-based architecture, which sustained life and also kept out the extreme summer heat. Though mostly absent from travel itineraries, Deeg Palace in Bharatpur district scores over the big names when it comes to aquatic ingenunity.

Deeg Palace is known for its fountains which are run twice a year.
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