Voluntary Citizen or Civil Society Sector

Featured Articles
October 11, 2022 In an effort to inform the general public, especially citizen activists, policymakers, researchers, and students, about the current status of the Vrishabhavathi river, Paani.Earth has created the necessary maps, data, analysis, and information to drive conservation awareness and action around the river.
Vrishabhavathi river (Image Source: Paani.Earth)
October 1, 2021 Community videos as a tool to influence behaviour change and adoption in rural communities
Community videos are produced by farmers themselves and feature local participants and agents from the rural communities themselves (Image: Digital Green)
September 17, 2021 Benefits of well-managed commons on livelihoods
Collective efforts revived the canal structure of Bichhiya dam bringing water to the village (Image: Foundation for Ecological Security)
September 4, 2021 Committed to use the power of all forms of communication to bring about behavioral change and transformation at scale
Villagers participating in shramdaan for making watershed structures (Image: Paani Foundation)
September 3, 2021 Safe water learning cards being used to train a wide spectrum of stakeholders
Different combinations of safe water learning cards can be customised for a session based on the target audience (Image: INREM)
June 4, 2021 Meet these real-life heroes, who with their consistent and tireless efforts created an impact and turned their local areas into examples to follow.
Meet the water warriors who made a significant change in their own unique way (Image Source: Environment Club)
Prospects and policy challenges in the Twelfth Plan: A special article by Montek Singh Ahluwalia in EPW
This paper by Montek Singh Ahluwalia in Economic and Political Weekly attempts to review the recent performance of the economy and lists the priorities and challenges for the Twelfth Plan. Posted on 14 Jul, 2011 08:55 AM

The year 2011-12 is the last year of the Eleventh Plan and this is therefore an appropriate time to review what has been achieved with a view to identify weaknesses in the strategy that need to be corrected, and also identify new challenges that may require new initiatives. The paper is presented in the hope of spurring a broader discussion on these issues.

Karnataka Jnana Aayoga invites applications for Jnana Fellowship – 2011 at Karnataka – Apply by July 13, 2011
Posted on 12 Jul, 2011 11:51 AM

Karnataka Jnana AayogaKarnataka Jnana Aayoga is a high powered commission constituted in September 2008 by Sri B. S. Yeddyurappa, the Honourable chief minister of Karnataka. The Commission is independent of the Government and works with and for the Government in policy making and implementation.

National voluntary guidelines on social, environmental & economic responsibilities of business released
Union Minister of Corporate Affairs Shri Murli Deora released the “National Voluntary Guidelines on social, environmental and economic responsibilities of business” that will mainstream the subject of business responsibilities” in July 2011. At a function held in Ashoka Hotel, the minister expressed the hope that this guideline will strengthen and enable the Indian corporate sector to evolve into a global leader in responsible business. Posted on 11 Jul, 2011 01:41 PM

He said the beginning of industrialization marked the transition from merchant charity to industrial philanthropy in India which was more secular, more inclusive in terms of caste, creed and community and more oriented to bringing progress to society through western style modern institutions.

Apart from making political donations for the freedom struggle, business fraternity also contributed towards many of the social and cultural causes. Mahatma Gandhi expounded the theory of trusteeship of wealth. Influenced by his teachings, many businessmen contributed for the cause of removal of untouchability, women’s emancipation and rural reconstruction.

Delhi water privatization: FAQ on background and recent developments
This FAQ note deals with the background and recent developments related to Delhi water privatization. Following the adoption of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Act in 1998, ideas for further reforms were progressively mooted. Posted on 10 Jul, 2011 08:09 PM

Earlier efforts at introducing privatization in Delhi can be traced to 2002, when the DJB commissioned the Delhi Water Supply and Sewerage Project Preparation Study with the assistance of the World Bank.

Groundwater governance in India – A case study by World Bank
This case study by the World Bank aims to understand and address the paradox at the heart of the groundwater governance challenge in India in order to elevate the need for investing in and promoting proactive reforms toward its management Posted on 09 Jul, 2011 11:43 AM

It examines the impediments to better governance of groundwater, and explores opportunities for using groundwater to help developing countries adapt to climate change. It attempts to understand the practical issues that arise in establishing robust national governance frameworks for groundwater and in implementing these frameworks at the aquifer level.

The case study focused on the national, state and local levels. At the national and state levels, it analyzed the policy, legal, and institutional arrangements to identify the demand and supply management and incentive structures that have been established for groundwater management. At the local level, it assessed the operations, successes, and constraints facing local institutions in the governance of a number of aquifers within peninsula India, on the coast and on the plain of the Ganges river valley.

Development flows from the barrel of a gun – A documentary by AKHRA
This award winning documentary film directed and produced by Biju Toppo and Meghnath for AKHRA, a Ranchi based activist group documents the illegal displacement of entire villages by the state and highlights the miscarriages of justice brought about by the skewed development policies in India. Posted on 08 Jul, 2011 10:37 AM

 

Directed by Biju Toppo and Meghnath, Hindi with English subtitles, 58 mins

Optimal water resource management in water stress condition : A Newsletter of AFPRO Volume 2, Issue 2 of July 2011
Action for Food Production (AFPRO) newsletter - Volume 2, Issue 2 of July 2011, focuses on water scarcity, drought and salinity, which are among the most important environmental constraints related to food security in rainfed agriculture systems. Posted on 07 Jul, 2011 11:29 AM

AFPROSmall and marginal farmers are most affected from water stress situations, and need simple, sustainable and effective measures for water conservation and management.

Sharing the wealth of minerals – A report by Centre for Science and Environment on profit sharing with local communities
The Center for Science and Environment’s report on profit sharing in mining with local communities comes out in support of government’s recent proposal to share 26 per cent net profits Posted on 03 Jul, 2011 08:57 AM

CoverThe report submits the idea that proposal will go a long way in reducing poverty and deprivation in the mining affected areas. It states that the mining industry’s opposition to the proposal has no basis - statistics prove that sharing profits will not dent the industry’s profitability.

The central government has come out with a draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2010 (MMDR Bill) to replace the 1957 Act. The draft bill which has been vetted by a GoM, includes this provision of sharing benefits. The CSE analysis comes out in strong support of this proposal, and clearly establishes how timely and necessary this provision is.

Mining companies and industry in general have been opposing the government’s recent proposal. Their contention is that this provision, if passed by Parliament, would drastically dent their profitability. 

Measures to mitigate agrarian distress in Alappuzha and Kuttanad wetland ecosystem – A study report by MSSRF
This study report by the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) deals with the measures to mitigate agrarian distress in Alappuzha and Kuttanad wetland ecosystem. Posted on 01 Jul, 2011 06:51 AM

Cover In spite of its natural wealth, the Alappuzha district has a high proportion of population living in poverty. 

Recognizing that the process of preparation of a mitigation plan report is as important as the product, the MSSRF team held wide ranging consultations with all concerned with the economy, ecological security and livelihood security of Kuttanad wetlands. Information on the consultations held and visits made are given in the report. It contains a malady-remedy analysis of the problems and potential solutions.

The greatest challenge in dealing with multidimensional problems in our country is our inability to generate the necessary synergy and convergence among the numerous government, non-government, civil society and other agencies involved in the implementation of the programmes such as those outlined in this report. This is why the team has suggested both high-level policy guidance and monitoring committee as well as a task implementation mechanism.

India Water Portal is looking for Content Publishers - Apply by July 15, 2011
Posted on 30 Jun, 2011 05:31 PM
The India Water Portal is an open, collaborative, web-based platform, anchored by Arghyam, that shares water management knowledge amongst practitioners, experts and concerned citizens.
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