The Right to Information Act (RTI): Legislation that empowers citizens to prevent illegitimate concentrations of power

The basic object of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government, contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense. It goes without saying that an informed citizen is better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the instruments … Read more

eBook | Disseminating environment related information to improve peoples’ livelihoods: Initiative by Kalpavriksh to collectively manage a web based clearing house – Maharashtra

“India’s geographic location at the confluence of three major biogeographic zones – i.e. the Indo-Malayan, the Eurasian and the Afro-Tropical – makes it extremely biodiverse in its genes, species and ecosystems. It is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries (Mittermeier et al. 1997). India can boast of over 8.1% of the world’s biodiversity supported … Read more

Revival of interest in traditional folk medicine: Medicinal plants reported with the help of the Paliyar community (Theni district) – Tamil Nadu

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by Paliyar tribals in Theni district of Tamil Nadu, India.[My paper] S Ignacimuthu, M Ayyanar, K SankarasivaramanEntomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai-600 034, Tamil Nadu, India. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among the Paliyar tribals in various tribal villages of Theni district, Tamil Nadu, India during December 2004 to January … Read more

A declaration on “Forest Foods and Ecology” collectively endorsed by many representatives of adivasi and forest-dwelling/dependent communities – ASHA

An appeal for a new consciousness of empathy and wise governance –to protect our rich natural heritage, culture, and harmonious collective futureWe, from numerous Adivasi and forest-dependent communities in India, along with people from different streams of society, gathered at the “Forest Foods & Ecology” Festival, December 12 to 14, 2014 at Sri Aurobindo Society, … Read more

Reviving tribal culture and creating economic self-reliance through grain banks: Green economic zones and education (Bhasha Trust) – Gujarat

[…] A unique idea that has taken root over the last two years among the tribespeople here—the Rathwas, Dungras, Chaudharis, Bhils and Nayaks, across 1,200 villages in the Narmada, Baroda, Surat and the Panchmahals districts—is that of creating what they call green economic zones (GEZs) as bulwarks against special economic zones (SEZs). Rather than lose … Read more