Sikkim

Forests, the fast disappearing treasure troves of forest dwellers
Rapidly disappearing forests are not only a threat to the biodiversity, but spell death knell for the livelihoods of forest dwellers who depend on them for food and survival. Posted on 08 Oct, 2020 08:08 AM

Forests are disappearing at a fast rate in India.

Dried mahua flowers (Image Source: Pankaj Oudhia via Wikimedia Commons)
Mountain women bear the brunt of climate change
There is a need to enable a conducive action oriented environment to address entrenched gendered vulnerabilities. Posted on 01 Feb, 2020 09:02 AM

Climate change impacts are disproportionate and influence lives and livelihoods variedly. One crucial determinant of these disproportionate impacts is gender. Existing social norms determine roles and responsibilities, entitlements and capabilities, thereby influencing the individual perceptions of shocks and susceptibility which vary across gender groups.

Women stand to be highly vulnerable in most cases to the changes in the climate and its extremes. (Image: Bo Nielson, Flickr Commons, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
River as a cultural mosaic
A dialogue that highlights the cultural essence of rivers Posted on 02 Oct, 2019 10:41 AM

"River conversations are critical to re-evaluate histories, reconnect civilisations, cultures and peoples, ideas and regions and open streams of thought for a future with exciting possibilities," says Kishalay Bhattacharjee, Associate Professor and Vice Dean, Jindal School of Journalism and Communication who has conceptualized a new series of quarterly river conv

Yamuna near Taj Mahal (Image: Flickr Commons, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
ACT one: Anti-dam, pro-people
Along with protesting against dams, the ACT leaders are leading by example and showing people of Sikkim more constructive ways to live. Posted on 23 Apr, 2018 02:22 PM

Tenzing Lepcha, the lead activist of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), is proud of his work in the last year. “All this was overgrown,” he says pointing at the orderly farm.

Tenzing Lepcha sits at the hearth of his farmstay. (Pic courtesy: Chicu)
Village heads come together to save Dzongu
In a rare show of solidarity, the panchayat leaders of Dzongu have formed a group, Save Dzongu, that cuts across political differences to save their river. Posted on 15 Mar, 2018 06:12 PM

As we sit sipping tea with him, Ugen Lepcha calmly spells out his stand. “Even if it means having to leave my (political) party, I will continue to be against dams,” he says. Ugen Lepcha, the president of Passingang gram panchayat in the Dzongu area of Sikkim, clearly has courage when it comes to his political convictions.

River Rongyoung which is sacred to the Lepchas is not yet dammed.
Maharashtra mandates reuse of wastewater
Policy matters this week Posted on 07 Nov, 2017 07:15 PM

Reuse of wastewater becomes mandatory in Maharashtra

Wastewater gets discharged into a drain. (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Bihar canal collapses before inauguration
News this week Posted on 27 Sep, 2017 11:47 AM

Bhagalpur canal in Bihar collapses during trial run

Bhagalpur canal after collapse. (Source: Press Trust of India)
Maharashtra mandates drip irrigation for sugarcane
Policy matters this week Posted on 25 Jul, 2017 04:32 PM

Maharashtra cabinet decides on drip irrigation for sugarcane cultivation 

A sugarcane farm (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Opposition to Teesta Stage IV hydel project
News this week Posted on 30 Jan, 2017 04:20 PM

People of Sikkim stand against Teesta hydel project

The people of the northeast India protest against dams. (Source: SANDRP)
Voices that go unheard
A documentary film throws light on the travails of people living on the banks of a changing Teesta. Posted on 08 Oct, 2016 09:45 AM

Minket Lepcha always felt close to nature and the environment since her childhood, thanks to her upbringing in the picturesque Darjeeling. Though she had spent many years in Delhi, studying and working in corporate firms, her interest in community development, environment and culture brought her back to her home town. 

Minket Lepcha receives Young Green Filmmaker award at WIFF 2016
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