Survival and democracy within the boundaries of a tiger reserve – Andhra Pradesh

PAVAN DAHAT, AMRAVATI (MAHARASHTRA), January 2, 2013 Three water hand pumps, out of which only one is working, one defunct TV set (used only for show), three telephone connections (out of which only one is working) are all that Madizadap village in the Amravati district has. Of the 65 families in the small village surrounded by … Read more

Successful citizen journalism by tribals using their mobile phones – Chhattisgarh

V. Kumara Swamy, The Telegraph, Calcutta, Sunday, May 30 , 2010Bhan Sahu has a question for Bill Gates. She has heard about the Microsoft co-founder’s philanthropic activities and wants to know if mobile communication, like email, can be free. The question has been forwarded to Gates. Meanwhile, the 38-year-old social activist in Chhattisgarh is busy … Read more

“Let us ensure that development for some is not to the detriment of the human rights of others”: statement on the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People 2011 – United Nations

Statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay for 9 August, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People: “As we celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People this year, many of the estimated 370 million indigenous peoples around the world have lost, or are under imminent threat of losing, their ancestral … Read more

Rural development scheme promises more freedom to “people at the ground level” to make changes

The Centre [Government of India] has decided to modify flagship rural development schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) to suit the needs of naxal-affected districts. While the schemes will be made more flexible, funds allocated to them will also increase. The decision was taken at a day-long consultation held by the … Read more

Video | Mallika Sarabhai on the power of art – storytelling for a cause

A TED-talk on the power of storytelling for a social cause: promoting social justice and counteracting misconceptions on vulnerable groups and communities. Her presentation also demonstrates how to reach “elite” audiences otherwise disinclined to face serious issues – the fact that women are sexually  harassed with impunity, India’s Adivasi communities affected by political violence, just as indigenous populations and coloured … Read more