The price of populism

The Punjab government avoided tough decisions and resorted to populist measures. Now, the economy and the environment are both in tatters

Bridging the gap

Pressured by a highly active civil society, the Kerala state government is actually giving power to the people. The decentralisation theory has …

Amendments to century-old laws on tribal rights spark protests in Jharkhand

The proposed amendments would increase land acquisitions for mining and other industrial uses, causing mass displacement of tribals

Support system: This Chhattisgarh SHG began to fight leprosy stigma; it has now made women self-sufficient

Sahara has got a liquor distillery closed down; enabled women to participate in local governance and improved livelihoods

CSR: Is India Inc spending responsibly?

Companies can bring meaningful changes in society through the huge Rs 13,624 crore corporate social responsibility funds

Give industry clearance on time or pay penalty, Telangana tells officers

In a bid to attract investment to the state, Telangana government entitles industry promoters to the ‘Right to Clearance’

Wings to soar high

A counselling initiative in Madhya Pradesh identifies interests of tribal students and facilitates their admission to institutes of higher education

Boss, the real beehive!

Rahul Gandhi’s idea of governance needs fresh focus. How about more autonomy to nearly 240,000 panchayats?

Thumb press

Chhattisgarh’s community news service on mobile phone helps tribal people find voice

Politics menus environment

Environmental concern has never been a political issue in India. Is it appropriate to expect a change in the mindset of leaders in the …

Skin-deep Hinduism

Desperate Hindu extremists are making a mockery of the real problems that the river Ganga faces

Deaths foretold

The loss of life in the super cyclone that hit the Orissa coast last year was not an 'act of God'. Had the emergency plans been in place, the …

THE GREEN CRUSADE

Over a year has passed since Germany's Green party came to power in 1998 by joining hands with their allies, the Social Democrats. Looking back, …

Defining moment

Even as the government goes about sealing industrial units in Delhi, confusion reigns over what's polluting

Puppet power

Gyani Baba (wise saint, literarily), a seven feet-tall puppet with handle moustache, is up for a big task in Rajasthan's Ajmer district. He is …

Threat of mega quake looms large in Bangladesh

With the southeastern parts of Bangladesh experiencing a number of mild-to-moderate tremors since July 27, it is feared that a major earthquake …

"A fragile experiment is under way"

Bertrand de la Chapelle is the Special Envoy for the Information Society, French Foreign and European Affairs Ministry. A recent meeting of the …

Cowering countryside: The effect of cow vigilantism on India's agriculture sector

Down to Earth travels across north India to speak with farmers and animal rearers to find out how cow vigilantism has affected the rural economy

Swachh Bharat Mission: another futile toilet chase?

Swachh Bharat Mission is blindly chasing toilets-a private good and not behavioural change – a public good essential to secure sanitation

In Photos: Tribal women in Odisha battle severe water crisis

The Hill Kharias of Odisha are a particularly vulnerable tribal group living in the Mayurbhanj district. The group lacks access to potable …

Lakshadweep: A plan for the worse

A slew of administrative and land reforms initiated in Lakshadweep pose an existential threat to the islands and have provoked widespread protests&…

West Bengal Assembly Election: Social schemes secured Trinamool victory, data suggests

Three prominent welfare schemes, Duare Sarkar, Kanyashree and Swasthya Saathi, were aggressively promoted ahead of the polls

Untold risks: India needs full-time body to tackle biological threats

The country needs a nodal agency to aggregate experts from various ministries, the private sector, academic and scientists

India's population: 'Curb the number of rich children'

Reducing the population by 10% has the same effect on emissions as reducing the average consumption by 10%

India's population: Boom to bust

Population stabilises at total fertility rate ogf 2.1. In India, 20 states and Union territories are below that