How historical methods helped landless farmers earn a living
Farmers revive traditional retention ponds that drain water during floods and retain moisture in droughts
Water-stressed in India: Curious case of 2 neighbouring Telangana districts
The contrast in the districts’ JSA rankings was due to proper implementation of schemes
Irrigation sector gets boost in Union Budget
Apart from generous budgetary allocation, the government will utilise MGNREGS to increase the water harvesting potential of drought-affected …
Political economy of welfare
The BJP-led government's change of heart for big-ticket rural programmes says a lot about its dwindling political fortune
Rivulet resurrected in 45 days
Thousands of people working under NREGS bring a 38 km stream back from the dead in Uttar Pradesh
Protocol to protect RTI activists in the works
If a single panchayat-level activist can expose corruption worth Rs 25 lakh, then each needs protection for effective implementation of …
A million opportunities lost
The ruling alliance’s flagship rural employment programme took unprecedented strides in creating water conservation structures across the …
Mr Prime Minister good news
The finance minister has said that the government is committed to double farmers' income in five years. Here are a few villages across the …
How tribal leadership in Chhattisgarh is helping people access rights
The civil society’s intervention in the tribal regions began in early 1980s on two issues-sustainable livelihood, particularly in forest …
‘My mentor Laurie Baker’
BENNY KURIAKOSE began his architecture career in 1984. He was one of the privileged few who worked under the tutelage of Laurie Baker which …
Sure cure: how to tackle India's undernutrition crisis in 10 steps
The finance ministry and the planning department can play an overarching role by ensuring health programmes get sufficient resources
After a week in office, Modi government sets its agenda
The new government faces its first parliamentary session. Down To Earth puts together the agenda of the government in key sectors
COVID-19: Even skilled workers line up for MGNREGA in Kurukshetra
With economic recovery uncertain, those who would earlier avoid central job schemes are now ready to take up work
Union Budget 2021-22: Time to step up public investment in nutrition
Nutrition interventions, with an already faltering coverage, hit a blockade due to COVID-19 disruptions; the Union Budget is a critical …
Usage of toilets in India is over 95 per cent, reveals new NSSO survey
This finding is, however, from a two-month rapid survey, considered too short by experts
COVID-19 second wave: Rural demand may be hit despite normal monsoon
Out-of-pocket expenses on health in rural areas may push millions into poverty, warn experts
NDA introduces changes in MGNREGA
Rural development ministry to make social audit compulsory; create more durable assets in blocks and districts, instead of villages
Will rural flagship schemes change under Modi?
Officials admit that MGNREGS and rural road development programmes suffered shortcomings in UPA regime
Budget 2020-21: Will MGNREGA become an overarching rural development scheme
The upcoming budget will see many schemes being brought under the rural employment prtogramme; a direct cash transfer may be declared to top this up
'Social protection: a safety net for agricultural households'
In the run up to World Food Day on October 16, a Food and Agriculture Organization report focuses on the role of social protection in …
Water-stressed in India: Lessons from Telangana’s Sangareddy district
From Kakatiya mission in 2016 to Jal Shakti Abhiyan in 2019 — how de-silting of Pedda Cheruvu tank helped fix groundwater levels &…
Centre launches awareness campaign for MGNREGA
'Kaam Mango Abhiyan' aims to popularise the ambitious flagship programme of the UPA government
West Bengal fares poorly in MNREGS
Only 25 days of work provided per family as against the guaranteed 100 days of work; wages paid late in 55 per cent cases
India has approved ratification of Nagoya Protocol
Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan calls for partnership between developed and developing countries to meet the challenges of protecting …
Scheme against jobs
Government is bent upon shrinking jobs for the poor by fundamentally changing the rural employment guarantee scheme against the advice of its …