makarandpurohit

Right information and collective strength of people triumph!

The film titled 'A Hand Pump' tells the story of the villagers of Padapadar, Odisha and their struggle to finally get their right to safe drinking water. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 4 months ago

A hand-pump installed at Padapadar village

Ultratech Cement mines limestone (and villagers) in Chhattisgarh

The people of Parswani were promised jobs, healthcare and water. Now, after signing an MOU, they just about get polluted water for irrigation purposes. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 4 months ago

A view of the Ulratech Cement factory from Paraswani

Water vending machines: How equitable are they?

Water ATMs have been in use in India for a decade but who are they helping and are they fulfilling their objective, which is to provide safe and clean drinking water to the poor at a low cost? makarandpurohit posted 8 years 5 months ago

Water vending machines at work (Source:Sarvajal)

Rooftop rainwater harvesting at Chhattisgarh school reduces absenteeism

The film “Rainwater Harvesting: From books to fields”, showcases how rooftop rainwater harvesting can also bring about social and economic change. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 6 months ago

Rainwater harvesting tank at Madiya Kachar village school

Quarter million school children in Chhattisgarh lack drinking water

A report by the National University Education & Planning breaks down the situation of schools in Chhattisgarh. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 6 months ago

These 'River View' apartments could get you in neck deep!

The increase in construction activity in and around the Kaliasot river in Bhopal is not only causing social unrest but also poses a danger to residents in the river's vicinity. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 7 months ago

Construction work in progress within the Kaliasot river basin area (Source: Shirish Khare)

Piped water scheme changes the lives of Odisha villagers

Bandhabhuin village went from having 1 handpump for 400 people to 7, toilet facilities in 55% of the houses and had an overall improvement in its social and economic fabric. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 7 months ago

Anup Munda showing his functional toilet at Bandha Bhuin

Water problems with quality and access plague Sambalpur, Odisha

Groundwater in Talabeda village in Sambalpur, Odisha has high concentrations of iron but more urgently, its water supply system is dysfunctional for the last 2 weeks due to electricity issues. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 8 months ago

The colour of the tiles around the public stand-post at Talabeda, Odisha have changed from white to red due to iron contamination.

Nagpur Municipal Corporation in troubled waters

Nagpur's woes due to water privatisation aren't unique. More than 54 private sector participation projects across the globe are in the same boat. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 9 months ago

90% of malarial deaths happen in rural India

The economic burden of malaria in India is $1940 million -- lost earnings make up 75 percent while treatment costs make up the rest -- despite the GoI spending $51.33 million towards it in 2013. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 9 months ago

An Anopheles stephensi mosquito feasting (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Why use a refrigerator to store water when you can use a clay pot?

Decreasing demand in India for earthen pots to store drinking water has affected thousands of potters' livelihoods. The film 'Vanishing Potters' provides a closer look. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 10 months ago

A potter making a clay pot in Jevra Sirsa village in Durg district

How has water privatisation affected Chattisgarh?

The Mahanadi's longest tributary, the Shivnath, has borne the brunt of urbanisation and industrialisation but the impact has been felt the most by residents. We capture their story in pictures. makarandpurohit posted 8 years 11 months ago

Shivnath river near Mahamara Barrage, Durg

Water and facilities flow better into cities

An analysis of Census 2011 data confirms many known facts--the urban beats the rural when it comes to treated tap water supply, access to water testing labs and much more. makarandpurohit posted 9 years ago

Rural-Urban Drinking Water Supply Gap, Census 2011

Are there solutions to epidemics from water-borne diseases?

The recent jaundice outbreak in Sambalpur, Odisha has again unfolded several questions related to rise of water-borne diseases in urban areas in India. This film explores these problems. makarandpurohit posted 9 years 2 months ago

A way to minimise agricultural problems in India

The concepts of System of Rice Intensification help farmers adopt practices based on their local conditions. Farmers, and an SRI expert in Chhattisgarh, show how it has worked for them. makarandpurohit posted 9 years 2 months ago

Water Untouched: A film on Dalits' lack of access

Forming 17% of India's popultion, Dalits still have to depend on the goodwill of dominant castes for many things including access to basics. Why? makarandpurohit posted 9 years 2 months ago

The dark life of the Kelo

Senior journalist Shiv Rajpoot, who has traveled across the Kelo river in Chhattisgarh twice by foot, shares the story of its transformation. makarandpurohit posted 9 years 3 months ago

Shiv Rajpoot during his Kelo Yatra, 2008

Poisonous encounters in Maharashtra

The water in Jamwadi village, Yavatmal has been severely contaminated by the Raymond Company but quality tests only confirm this when the villagers changed the name of the village on the test sample. makarandpurohit posted 9 years 5 months ago

Contaminated water from the Raymond factory

Poachers turned protectors fight for their survival

Locals who protect the migratory birds that come to Chilka lake in Odisha struggle to make a living as the lake has shrunk, thereby shrinking their revenues from fishing. makarandpurohit posted 9 years 5 months ago

The slow death of a river

See the impact of pollution on the Kshipra in Madhya Pradesh through the eyes of the residents, many of whom depend on the river for their livelihoods. makarandpurohit posted 9 years 6 months ago