News and Articles

Illegal river bed mining continues unabated in north India
Need effective sand mining governance and law enforcement to address the plundering of the rich river ecosystem. Posted on 25 Nov, 2020 09:13 PM

In October this year, locals and river activists campaigned against illegal sand mining in Yamunanagar, Haryana. The authorities were compelled to take notice and the errant firms that had deployed heavy machinery to embank the river and divert its natural flow to extract sand were booked for violation.

Law enforcement is missing on the ground causing immense environmental damage to the river ecosystem (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Administrative reforms towards Atmanirbhar Bharat
Accountable and efficient governance should reach the last mile. Posted on 25 Nov, 2020 12:49 PM

Policies are seen as a political investment, and the executive and legislature have electoral pressures and considerations. Civil services and other government jobs have generated interests primarily for their job security, high salaries, and promotions.

Bracing for data reporting challenges
Why is your field team slack about data reporting? How can they be involved in the reporting processes? Posted on 21 Nov, 2020 11:09 AM

In most field programs there is a time lag between data collection and data reporting as only periodic reporting is expected. The field staff compiles it manually at the end of the period and reports up in the hierarchy. There are two types of compilation - aggregation and data filtering.

The data capture happens as a part of the users’ workflow instead of being batched together as a separate activity, to be done later (Image: Geralt, Pixabay license)
Bespoke software vs. platform: Choosing between the two
The essential tradeoff between these two options is of cost, time, risk, and requirement match. Posted on 20 Nov, 2020 07:35 PM

In the last few years, we have suddenly seen a spike in usage of the term software platform. All types of software applications started getting called platform. But the term platform has a specific meaning which differentiates it from technology/software applications.

The term platform has a specific meaning which differentiates it from technology/software applications. (Image: Needpix)
Meghalaya villages join hands to save environment and bolster women empowerment
Villages in Meghalaya have not only successfully dealt with their water problems, but also encouraged women to get involved in the process. And the effects have been for all to see! Posted on 20 Nov, 2020 04:24 AM

Langsymphut village in Meghalaya has ample water now. Gone are the days when the water starved village was barren with its streams dying a slow death. And that too when it is located only 22 kilometres away from Mawsynram village, known to be one of the wettest places on earth!

Water collected at a mega dam in a village in Meghalaya (Image Source: KM-MBDA)
Open source products protect against technology obsolescence
Open-source products offer a technology evolution path and help avoid risks in technology projects. Posted on 19 Nov, 2020 02:30 PM

There are several uncertainties with technology endeavours of non-profit organisations. They pose significant risks to non-profits - wasted resources, inability to evolve with time, and obsolescence in the long term. Open source products offer a sustainable path.

Open source products track the sector and the technology evolution and evolve themselves continuously. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
World Toilet Day 2020: Safe fecal disposal key to sustainable sanitation
News this week Posted on 19 Nov, 2020 11:57 AM

UN emphasises the need for safe faecal disposal this WTD2020

Fecal sludge management key to safe sanitation (Source: CS Sharada Prasad)
Let's talk sanitation! Kakkaman is here, this WTD2020
“If you don’t manage your shit, it will come back to your plate”. Have you ever wondered about this? In the absence of proper sanitation this could very well become the reality!
Posted on 19 Nov, 2020 09:55 AM

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us realise the importance of going beyond cleanliness to achieve total sanitation.

Launch of Kakkaman in Tamil Nadu
India now has 41 Ramsar sites, with two more wetlands added to the list
Policy matters this week Posted on 19 Nov, 2020 06:21 AM

Two more wetlands added to Ramsar sites

Lonar Sarovar lake Maharastra (Source: Wikipedia Commons)
Ahar pynes: Traditional flood harvesting systems of South Bihar
The Ahar pynes of South Bihar are a classic example of a community managed irrigation systems and need urgent revival. Posted on 18 Nov, 2020 02:17 PM


Ahar pynes, the ingenious community managed irrigation systems of South Bihar

Ahar Pyne system in Gaya, South Bihar  (Image courtesy: Hindi Water Portal)
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