Society, Culture, Religion and History

Featured Articles
January 13, 2022
Water management in the times of Gonds of Central India
The water structures constructed during the Gond period continue to survive the test of time and provide evidence of the water wisdom of our ancestors.
Kundeshwar lake, Kundam in Jabalpur (Image Source: K G Vyas)
January 2, 2021
The fast disappearing traditional water harvesting structures of Rajasthan
Lack of community ownership and local governance are spelling doom for the once royal and resilient traditional water harvesting structures of Rajasthan.
Toorji Ka Jhalara, Jodhpur (Image Source: Rituja Mitra)
December 7, 2020
Not in the interest of women farmers!
The new farm related bills will spell doom for women workers who form the bulk of small and marginal sections of Indian agriculture, warns Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch (MAKAAM).
Farm women, overworked and underpaid (Image Source: India Water Portal)
December 11, 2019
Scientists intervene to save dry toilets
Dry toilets have long been hailed as a sustainable solution to the sanitation and waste management crisis facing India today, but have been overshadowed by more modern toilet designs.
A traditional dry toilet. Image: India Science Wire
December 4, 2019
In wake of climate change, prioritise and invest in water security and clean drinking water
To adapt well & build resilience, climate change strategies need to factor in efforts towards water security, writes Vanita Suneja, Regional Advocacy Manager (South Asia), WaterAid.
Image credit: WaterAid/Prashanth Vishwanathan
December 2, 2019
Water stewardship approach to minimizing risks for businesses
Water stewardship is an approach predicated on the concept that water is a shared resource and so water risks are also shared risks that everyone in a catchment will face
Picture credit: Romit Sen
Urban areas in Andhra will soon become open defecation free zones
Posted on 02 May, 2016 12:39 PM
Andhra Pradesh’s urban areas to soon be open defecation free spaces
J&K's Anantnag among India's best in construction school toilets
Posted on 26 Apr, 2016 08:49 AM
Anantnag wins Prime Minister's award for large-scale construction of school toilets
Government schemes converge at Sarda Panchayat in Sambalpur, Odisha
Thanks to the successful implementation of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) scheme, villagers began to believe in collective action and community development.
Makarand Purohit
Posted on 24 Apr, 2016 11:41 AM

Since India became independent in 1947, the central and state governments have introduced various rural development schemes, and have been trying to get them to converge. While this effort hasn't been as impactful on a large scale, there are some success stories. Sarda Panchayat in Sambalpur, Odisha is one.   
View of Sarda village, Odisha
Positive correlation between higher levels of education for women and toilet use
A study found that toilet use was higher in households that had a high standard of living, higher educational levels among women and that were located in urban areas.
Anurag Banerjee
Nilanjan Banik
Ashvika Dalmia
Posted on 21 Apr, 2016 10:07 AM

India continues to have the highest number of people defecating out in the open according to recent figures by the World Health Organisation

Toilet use in India (Source: Sourabh Phadke)
India inks pact with Germany for Ganga revival
Policy matters this week
Swati Bansal
Posted on 18 Apr, 2016 09:44 PM

India and Germany join hands to rejuvenate the Ganga
Ganga river at Gadmukteshwar (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Palace named after monsoon in Rajasthan
The Deeg palace, also known as 'Jal Mahal' for its extensive water designs which mimic the clouds and rains, is a must visit.
Manu Moudgil
Posted on 17 Apr, 2016 10:11 PM

Forts and palaces of Rajasthan are well known for their water-based architecture, which sustained life and also kept out the extreme summer heat. Though mostly absent from travel itineraries, Deeg Palace in Bharatpur district scores over the big names when it comes to aquatic ingenunity.
Deeg Palace is known for its fountains which are run twice a year.
Urban Fellowship Programme at IIHS, Bangalore
The Programme is a fully funded, nine-month, full-time, inter-disciplinary fellowship for recent graduates and young professionals from varied educational backgrounds or practice domains.
Posted on 13 Apr, 2016 03:53 PM

India’s urban transition is unprecedented in scale and complexity. Within it lie both the opportunities of increased economic growth and employment as well as the challenges of persistent inequality, extreme deprivation and environmental degradation. To shape our cities we need a new set of urban professionals who can be part of this change. 
Urban Fellowship Programme at IIHS
Maharashtra stuck between IPL and drought
News this week
Swati Bansal
Posted on 12 Apr, 2016 12:01 PM

Maharashtra government to choose between revenue or drought-struck people
Drought in Maharashtra (Source: IWP Flickr Photo)
The Dying Springs of Chirimiri'
Blasting and drilling around Chirimiri's coal mines have taken a toll on the area's water resources and environment. The film presents the community's perspective on this issue.
Makarand Purohit
Posted on 01 Apr, 2016 06:04 PM

Chirimiri Coalfield is a part of Central India Coalfields, located in Koriya district, Chhattisgarh.
Coal mining in Chirimiri
Toilet subsidy is not the answer to sanitation problems
Posted on 31 Mar, 2016 06:30 PM
In recent years, especially after the launch of major programmes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, sanitation has become a hotly debated topic in India. Crores of rupees have gone into building toilets but they remain unused, villages that were declared open defecation free (ODF) are unable to sustain that, and sewage treatment continues to be a big challenge.
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