/topics/voluntary-citizen-or-civil-society-sector
Voluntary Citizen or Civil Society Sector
Mainstreaming India’s water and climate concerns: Reflections before COP-21
Posted on 28 Nov, 2015 12:07 PM“Climate Change has taken on political dimensions, that’s odd because I don’t see people choosing sides over E=mc2 or other fundamental facts of science!” - Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist
![INDCs will take centre stage at COP 21-UN Climate Change conference in Paris (Source: France Bleu)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/x948x533_870x489_cop-paris-perspective-cropped.png.pagespeed.ic_.qw1uhfqt2w.png?itok=2XhSqYzC)
Tackling water salinity in Mewat, Haryana
Posted on 24 Nov, 2015 11:16 AMWhat is the exact problem as regards groundwater salinity, fluoride and water scarcity in Mewat, Haryana? Is the area underlain with saline groundwater aquifers? What is the status of surface water in the area? Can it not reduce dependence on groundwater?
![Tackling salinity in Mewat (Source: Lalit Mohan Sharma)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/chart1.jpg?itok=zZnHHDrh)
India needs to radically overhaul its water institutions
Posted on 23 Nov, 2015 09:53 PMThere was a recent report in the Times of India on how Singapore, listed among the 20 smallest countries in the world, made water management and conservation efforts over the years. What lessons can India, a mammoth country draw from this small but densely populated country?
![India's water sector: Endemic corruption and public apathy (Source: K N Balraj, IWP Flickr Photos)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/damscorruption.jpg?itok=36Bl2i_M)
Right to water and sanitation: Looking beyond legal and policy frameworks to sites of entitlement
Posted on 16 Nov, 2015 03:09 PMIncreasing concerns over the consequences of inadequate urban sanitation and water with regard to poverty, health, livelihoods, and education have spurred global declarations on the human right to sanitation and water. However, the social and spatial heterogeneity of urban poverty is often missing in global policy debates.
![An illegal settlement (Source: Wikimedia Commons)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/slum_1.jpg?itok=alLNln4W)
Ponds--once a lifeline of India's agriculture--are being revived by some Punjab farmers
Posted on 16 Nov, 2015 10:45 AMThe northern region of India is facing drought for the second consecutive year.
![Harmesh Singh has taken to rainwater harvesting on his farm since the groundwater has gone down.](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/1._harmesh_chand_has_taken_to_rainwater_harvesting_on_his_farm_since_the_groundwater_has_gone_down.jpg?itok=OpXLT75g)
Let's not only blame Punjab's farmers for lighting up!
Posted on 13 Nov, 2015 11:35 PMA few days ago, there were news items galore with NASA's images of the burning of rice straw in Punjab. The red dots were presumed to be the fields
![Short period between rice harvesting and sowing of wheat forces farmers to burn straw. (Source: Neil Palmer Wikimedia Commons)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/pic_by_neil_palmer.jpg?itok=Rpf3-L_x)
Why seeds sprout 'hope'
Posted on 31 Oct, 2015 05:09 PMBeej Bachao Andolan (Save the Seed Movement) is not an organisation nor is it a registered entity. It does not take on projects nor does it crave funding.
![Forests, water & seeds are all interconnected (Source: India Water Portal)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/dsc_0027.jpg?itok=YIAvMohp)
Adapting to floods and improving lifestyles could give us some clues to finding an alternative to embankments
Posted on 29 Oct, 2015 01:46 PMDr Molden, you have visited Dihiri in Dhemaji district and Borsala in Lakhimpur districts. Both these villages are the worst flood affected villages of the region. You also interacted with the communities in these two villages. What was the purpose of this visit? Please share your experiences.
![In conversation with Dr Molden (Source: Monoj Gogoi)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/dr_molden1.jpg?itok=TeSeZel0)
Environment Ministry to review Critically Polluted Areas
Posted on 26 Oct, 2015 09:57 PMEnvironment Ministry gets strict towards the compliance of green norms
![CSEB power plant in Korba (Source: IWP Flickr Photo)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/national_thermal_power_corporation_ltd._plant_in_korba_0.jpg?itok=kBlnqNZL)
Community conservation of forests is successful when women participate
Posted on 24 Oct, 2015 04:34 PMWhen I first spoke with Bhagoti Devi, I attempted to break the ice by telling her how warmly our mutual acquaintances spoke of her. She was nonchalant. "Of course they will recommend you speak to me”, she said. “After all, it took a lot of hard work to have such a thick forest standing here.”
![These two neighbouring oak trees, one untouched and the other over-lopped, are both managed by the women of one family and illustrate the impact that women have on forests](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/impact_on_forest_1.jpg?itok=cj9uMbpR)