Aarti Kelkar-Khambete

Aarti Kelkar-Khambete
Two teachers from S.N. High School, Perla, Kasargod successfully create a forest on sixteen acres of land
This article by Aarti Kelkar - Khambete tells the story of two teachers from Kasargod district who have successfully converted sixteen acres of barren land into a forest
Posted on 07 Dec, 2012 07:56 PM

This successful effort made by teachers from Kasargod district to convert sixteen acres of barren land on a hill behind the school into a lush, green forest with thick patches of vegetation demonstrates how persistence and a deep commitment to bring about positive improvements in the environment through community effort can

The traditional fisherfolk of Kerala - Part II - An article describing the economy of fishing and the role of women in the activity of fishing
Kerala fisherfolk are known to be highly skilled, but live in dire poverty. This article describes the economy of fishing and the role of women in fishing activities
Posted on 16 Oct, 2012 04:02 PM

The economy of fishing among the traditional fisherfolk of Kerala is based on three operations such as harvesting or catching of the fish, the processing of fish and the marketing of fish.

Fisherfolk of Kerala (Image Source: India Water Portal)
Kerala and Karnataka's lesser known rainwater harvesting structures
Madakas are being replaced more and more by borewells. Efforts need to be made to restore these structures, create awareness, and preserve local knowledge.
Posted on 16 Oct, 2012 03:09 PM

Madakas are one of the fast disappearing traditional rainwater harvesting structures found in the laterite belts of Karnataka and Kerala. They are naturally occuring depressions with high terrain on the three sides where water from the surrounding laterite slopes, mainly runoff from the rains, is accumulated.

Madakas: Water harvesting structures in Kerala and Karnataka
Surangas, the disappearing lifeline of the farmers of Kasargod, Kerala
In this article, Aarti Kelkar-Khambete narrates her experience of her visit to Kasargod, Kerala to meet Sree Padreji and to see the fast disappearing Surangas
Posted on 10 Oct, 2012 09:22 AM

Surangas continue to be one of the relatively less known and gradually disappearing traditional water harvesting systems of Kasargod district, Kerala and are being gradually replaced by borewells to meet the water needs of the community. 

The Bagtree - A zero waste campaign against use of plastic organised by Thanal and Zero Waste Centre in Trivandrum, Kerala - 25th September 2012
This article by Aarti Kelkar - Khambete describes the details of the zero waste campaign organised by Thanal, an NGO in Trivandrum city, Kerala
Posted on 29 Sep, 2012 10:37 AM

Thanal, an NGO in Trivandrum city, Kerala that continues to work on a range of environmental issues in the state had organised 'Bag Tree', a zero waste campaign in collaboration with the Zero Waste Centre in Kovalam, Trivandrum with the aim of creating awareness among the people to stop using plastic bags and replace them by paper bags.

Traditional fisherfolk of Kerala - An article about their socio-economic organisation and the special relationship they share with the sea and the environment
This article by Aarti Kelkar-Khambete informs of the socioeconomic organisation of the fisherfolk in Kerala and their special relationship with the sea
Posted on 13 Aug, 2012 04:04 PM

Fisherfolk form an important community in Kerala, but remain neglected and marginalised inspite of the higher socio-economic progress the state has made as a whole.

The sanitation crisis in India - An urgent need to look beyond toilet provision
Recent evidence indicates that India is heading towards a major sanitation crisis in the coming years. Efforts made at meeting the sanitation challenges have been found to have very limited results, with as high as 65% of the population not having toilet facilities coupled with very low use of existing toilets in urban and rural areas.
It is perhaps the right time to critically evaluate and move beyond the excessive focus we have on 'provision' and pay attention to the underlying complexities of the mechanisms involved, that influence sanitation behaviour among people. If we dont do so, we stand the risk of "missing all the trees for the forest", i.e. missing the social and economic dimensions of the sanitation needs of the people, in the hurry to count the number of toilets provided ! Aarti Kelkar-Khambete writes about the issue.
Posted on 18 Apr, 2012 12:14 PM

Guest post byAarti Kelkar-Khambete

Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

The sanitation crisis and the recent evidence on lack of toilet facilities 

The Mullaperiyar dam debate - An issue of safety versus rights?
Aarti Kelkar-Khambete writes about the Mullaperiyar dam debate.
Posted on 12 Dec, 2011 10:40 AM

The issue that has been making headlines in the last few days has been that of the continuing debate between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar dam. This debate has opened  up a number of issues related to the ownership and use of water between the two states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the context of the current changes and the loss of relevance of the laws and decisions made during the colonial rule; the water sharing, irrigation and power generation needs of both the states; and the recent concerns on the safety of the dam in Kerala versus the urgent irrigation needs of the agricultural sector in Tamil Nadu.

Mullaperiyar dam

A view of the Mullaiperiyar dam on Kerala-Tamil Nadu border at Kumili.Photo: Vibhu

Image Source: The Hindu

This article sheds light on the history of the Mullaperiyar dam and the background for the current deadlock between the two states over the dam. The current deadlock between the two states over the dam is essentially not a dispute for water, but has its roots in the colonial times, and has to do with the need to come to terms with the agreements and decisions made in those times with changing economic, political and environmental contexts and concerns about the safety of the dam in Kerala versus the irrigation needs of the farmers in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Encephalitis deaths in India - The same story of poverty, neglect, disaster and disease, how long will this continue ?
Providing temporary fixes to deal with situations such as this epidemic in Gorakhpur cannot help in finding long term solutions.
Posted on 02 Dec, 2011 10:15 AM

Guest post by : Aarti Kelkar-Khambete

Advancing development - Towards sustainable livelihoods - Madurai Symposium - DHAN Foundation - September 14-18 ( 2011)
The symposium highlights the importance of rainwater harvesting in the context of climate change.
Posted on 04 Nov, 2011 08:47 AM

The Madurai Symposium organised by the

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