Society, Culture, Religion and History

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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
Traditional fishing technologies: Will they survive the onslaught of development and mechanisation?
Age-old skills and techniques used by fisherfolk are under threat, and at the risk of being replaced by modern unsustainable technologies.
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Ram Krishna Das et al
Posted on 16 Dec, 2014 11:37 PM

Fisheries are an important sector providing employment to millions of people in India and contributing to the food security of the country. Marine, inland fisheries and aquaculture are the main components of the fisheries sector.
Fishing technologies used by the fisherfolk
Budget 2015-16 likely to have huge cuts in social sector
Policy matters this fortnight
Aarti Kelkar - Khambete
Posted on 16 Dec, 2014 12:27 PM

Social sector likely to get less funds in Union Budget 2015-16
MNREGA workers building check dam in Gujarat
What is a river?
Is it the water that flows in it or is it the fauna it sustains? What about the people on its banks? As the discussions at the India Rivers Week found out, it isn't that simple to define a river.
Sabita Kaushal
Posted on 15 Dec, 2014 01:56 PM

The magic that is a river, brings out a huge canvas of emotions even amongst the most hardened of us.
Oshiwara river in Mumbai
Food hub deserts water legacy
Only a few of Bikaner's over 100 ponds are well-maintained today, some thanks to the efforts of citizens, and another due to rooftop rainwater being channeled. Could the remaining get as lucky?
Manu Moudgil
Posted on 10 Dec, 2014 10:23 AM

Water connects food and religion. Religious ceremonies often involve taking a dip in a water body, and any food or meal is incomplete without water. The same two things - food and religion - stand out in Bikaner. While hot kachoris and samosas line street stalls, Mata Karni Devi and Baba Ramdev (not the yoga guru) shower their blessings from billboards and wall paintings.
Harsholaav pond in Bikaner
Behaviour change communication for sanitation
Posted on 09 Dec, 2014 11:18 AM

Arghyam, a charitable trust working in water and sanitation in India, piloted a behaviour change communication campaign in 25 Gram Panchayats of Davangere district of Karnataka.
Sathupalli and Dammapeta mandals' inspiring clean up effort
Posted on 07 Dec, 2014 12:51 PM
Khammam district, well known for its collieries and scenic spots, has something interesting to offer on the sanitation front as well. Two mandals, Sathupalli and Dammapeta, were declared as 100% open defecation free within a short span after the launch of the Total Sanitation Campaign in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. 
 
Dammapeta was the first to achieve the feat.
Sarola’s quest for sanitation
Posted on 07 Dec, 2014 12:18 PM
Sanitation has been a national concern for over three decades now.
Ramanathapuram's tryst with total sanitation
Posted on 04 Dec, 2014 12:07 PM
2002 marked the beginning of a journey that managed to inspire several panchayat leaders and workers in Ramanathapuram. The Total Sanitation Campaign was launched in June that year and within a year's time, over 15,000 individual toilets were up and functional.
Nightsoil to biogas: Mapuskar's Malaprabha
Posted on 04 Dec, 2014 11:46 AM
When Dr. Mapuskar landed in Dehu village to practice medicine, there were no toilets. With no other option at hand, Mapuskar joined the hundreds of others in the village and went out in the open.
500 year old water structure in Rameshwaram rediscovered!
After 30 days of digging and removing 6000 tractor loads of sand, the evasive Dharmar Theertham was found intact with fresh water being replenished in a pit in the middle of the structure.
Divya N
Posted on 03 Dec, 2014 10:12 PM

The word 'Theertham' literally means ‘water’ but in Hindu mythology, it is usually the physical holy water body associated with a temple or deity.
The 80 X 35 feet structure of Dharmar Theertham
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