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
If you don't clean our shit, then who will?
Manual scavenging continues to exist in India even 67 years after Independence. Is it due to the lack of laws, lack of alternatives or lack of will?
Prarthana Vishal
Posted on 16 Feb, 2014 10:53 PM

"Swaraj is a meaningless term, if we desire to keep a fifth of India under perpetual subjection, and deliberately deny to them the fruits of national culture". - Mahatma Gandhi
A manual scavenger at work (Source:Flickr Commons)
Invitation to the training on 'Inclusive, Gender and Justice Approaches to Water-Based Livelihoods', Utthan, Bhavnagar, Gujarat
The training will impart an analytical framework and practical strategies for integrating broad-based gender, religious, and socio-economic equity through decentralized and democratic mechanisms.
Posted on 13 Feb, 2014 02:26 PM

Get more information about the training on Inclusive, Gender and Justice Approaches to Water-Based Livelihoods and apply.
When natural forests prevailed in Himachal
Veteran activist Kulbhushan Upmanyu talks about how the people of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh campaigned to protect the region's natural forests as well as their own rights.
Kulbhushan Upmanyu
Manu Moudgil
Posted on 09 Feb, 2014 07:51 PM

The mountain states are at a loss when it comes to a defined livelihood option for its inhabitants. Himachal Pradesh is no different. While the upper reaches of the state have excelled in growing niche products like apple and chilgoza (a variety of pine nut), areas like Chamba that are below 4000 metres, have to depend on farming.
Himachal's forests help conserve springs
The primary caretakers of water?
Women have always had an important role in water management. A study in South Sikkim aims to find out if topography, in addition to gender, influences access to water.
Jwala Thapa
Posted on 09 Feb, 2014 07:48 PM

Gender influences access to water to a high degree throughout the world, a fact recognised in the Dublin Principles but how does topography influence this access? This study detailed in this post aims to find the answer to this question.
The women of Sikkim manage their water resources
Engineering witchcraft in Bihar
The Bhutahi Balan, a tributary of the Kosi may be a small river but it has caused immense devastation. Dinesh Mishra says that embankments aren't the answer to this problem.
Dinesh Mishra
Posted on 09 Feb, 2014 07:46 PM

It's been years since Bhutahi Balan, a small tributary of the Kosi river in Madhubani, North Bihar, has been causing devastation on both its banks. Dinesh Mishra in his book 'Story of a ghost river and engineering witchcraft' objectively analyses the failure of embankments, which are raised banks to contain the river's flooding.

Devastation due to floods
Invitation to 'Gaon Chaley Hum', Alexis Society, Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh
30 selected delegates from around the country will embark on a life changing journey to Singrauli, the Energy Capital of India for exploring rural life and livelihood.
Posted on 06 Feb, 2014 08:40 AM

Get more information on 'Gaon Chaley Hum'.

Know more about Alexis Society.

Fill up the application form to get registered for the event.
Gaon Chaley Hum
Rurals move away from agriculture: Assocham
News this week: Rural employment in agriculture reduces significantly; Activists demand 'Sarus Safari' in UP; 285 people in Karnataka died drinking contaminated water between 2010-13.
Swati Bansal
Posted on 02 Feb, 2014 10:08 PM

'Rural job profile observes a significant change'
Decline in agriculture (Source: Neil Palmer, CIAT)
Authority bans sale of packaged drinking water without BIS mark
Policy matters this week: FSSAI declares no selling of packaged drinking water without BIS mark; President gives nod to Maharashtra groundwater bill; Govt opposes tribals way of cultivation.
Swati Bansal
Posted on 02 Feb, 2014 10:07 PM

No sale of packaged drinking water without BIS mark: FSSAI
Packaged drinking water (Source: Ricardo Bernando)
Invite to 'Aimbootham Vizha – a Celebration of Five Elements of Nature', Poovulagin Nanbargal, Chennai
The celebration will document all that must be known in the relationship between nature and the Tamil society, centering on the five Tamil land formations.
Posted on 30 Jan, 2014 01:25 PM

Aimbootham Vizha – a celebration of Five elements of Nature.
Bird sanctuary Chilika designated 'Destination Flyways'
News this week: UN to develop strategies to protect migratory birds in Chilika, Odisha; Cochin estuary has highest in toxicity in the world; Jaipur farmers in conflict with bottling plant.
Swati Bansal
Posted on 29 Jan, 2014 12:29 PM

Chilika lagoon named as 'Destination Flyways' by UN
Chilika bird sanctuary, Odisha (Source:Aditi Pany)
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