Sudip depicts long term stories on environment, climate change, conservation, social issues and sustainable development. He has exhibited worldwide as well as won several prestigious awards.

Tribal women stitch a new future in Gujarat’s Dang

08 Jun 2023  |  www.villagesquare.in  |  English  |  Tribal Communities

In Gujarat's Dang district, with a 98 percent tribal population facing economic challenges, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India (AKRSPI) has promoted non-farm enterprises to empower the community, especially women. Over 250 enterprises have been initiated, including tailoring units in Dokpatal and Chinchili villages. These units aim to provide a skilled-based livelihood for women, reduce distress migration, and cater to local apparel needs. The women have been trained in tailoring, business operations, and market negotiations, with future plans to expand their market linkages and construct better facilities for their units.

Tags:

Tribal Communities Economic Empowerment Livelihood

Informative

Factuality Scale

Fahim Mattoo is a journalist based in Srinagar and has done her honours in journalism from cluster university Srinagar

Revelations from rural Jharkhand

18 Jul 2023  |  www.villagesquare.in  |  English  |  Tribal Communities

A Bengaluru student, Kinshuk Ghosh, shares his experiences from fieldwork in rural Jharkhand, where he interviewed tribal women about reproductive health and family planning. With the help of Sita Kisku, a local water management worker under the Swachh Bharat Mission, he gained insights into the lives of the tribal community, their perspectives on family planning, and the challenges of conducting such interviews. His interactions led to a realization of the gap between urban perceptions and tribal realities, and he reflects on his role and the impact of his visit.

Tags:

Tribal Communities Rural Life Family Planning

Informative

Factuality Scale

I am an independent journalist based in New Delhi, India. After working in the desk as a copy editor and page designer in my initial years in top publications like Hindustan Times and Asian Age, I shifted to reporting while working in Down To Earth. 
I mainly cover environment and development, ...

Forest Rights in Chhattisgarh - Individual Vs Community

01 Oct 2023  |  www.thecitizen.in  |  English  |  Tribal Communities

The article explores the impact of the Forest Rights Act in Chhattisgarh, focusing on the benefits and challenges of individual versus community forest rights. It highlights the struggles of single women in a patriarchal society and the importance of individual land titles for their empowerment. The article also discusses the political implications of community forest resource rights in the context of upcoming Assembly elections. Despite the benefits of community rights, the article argues that individual land titles are crucial for the dignity and livelihood of single women. The high rejection rate of claims under the Forest Rights Act is also a significant issue affecting marginalized communities.

Tags:

Tribal Communities Forest Rights Women's Rights

Interpretive

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Center-Left

Political View

Shevlin Sebastian is a feature writer based in Kochi, India. He is also an author of children's books and true crime. He has a story-telling ability. This has helped him in writing engaging articles that are simple and readable.

When the postman comes calling

23 Nov 2024  |  www.newindianexpress.com  |  English  |  Tribal Communities

In the remote village of Chindakki in Kerala's Nilgiris, postal workers Silpa P and Ajith K provide essential mail services to tribal communities despite challenges like lack of roads and mobile connectivity. Ajith undertakes long treks through wildlife-rich areas to deliver mail, while Silpa manages the post office operations, often overcoming language barriers. Their dedication ensures that vital communications, such as bank and interview letters, reach the residents, highlighting the critical role of postal services in remote regions.

Tags:

Tribal Communities Rural Life Postal Services

Informative

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sanavver shafi is a freelance journalist based in Bhopal, India.

In Berasia’s forest villages, the key to development lies with revenue department

01 Oct 2023  |  101reporters.com  |  English  |  Tribal Communities

The 14 forest villages in Berasia tehsil of Bhopal district face numerous challenges due to their status as forest villages, which prevents them from accessing development funds and welfare schemes. Conversion to revenue villages is seen as the key to development, allowing access to panchayat funds and government schemes. The process, however, is mired in bureaucratic hurdles, requiring approvals from the Central government and the Supreme Court. Villagers express frustration over the lack of basic amenities and the restrictions imposed by the forest department. The conversion process has begun, with some villages already receiving the 'revenue village' tag, promising future development and improved living conditions.

Tags:

Tribal Communities Development Forest Rights

Balanced

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I am Ashwini Kumar Shukla. I am looking forward for reporting assignments. I will be happy to cover breaking news, feature stories and interviews from Noida, Delhi NCR.

Jharkhand’s tribal women make natural cups and bowls but find no takers

14 Nov 2022  |  www.villagesquare.in  |  English  |  Tribal Communities

Tribal women in Jharkhand, such as Salchariya Devi and Geeta Khairwar, make and sell eco-friendly sal-leaf cups and bowls called dona, and neem twigs called datoon. Despite their hard work, they earn very little due to low demand and lack of market access. A government ban on single-use plastics briefly boosted sales, but the effect was short-lived. The women continue their efforts, hoping for better market opportunities and government support. Palamu parliamentarian Vishnu Dayal Ram suggests that consumers should be encouraged to use these eco-friendly products more.

Tags:

Tribal Communities Rural Economy Eco-friendly Products

Balanced

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Gurvinder Singh is a journalist and fixer based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. I have worked as a fixer for CNN International, Daily mail and other publications who need my services. 

As a journalist, I am able to help International correspondents and production houses in a better way as I have ...

The perils of microfinance in rural Rajasthan

01 Oct 2023  |  www.villagesquare.in  |  English  |  Tribal Communities

Microfinance in rural Rajasthan, particularly in the Kotra and Jhadol regions, is exacerbating the debt trap among tribal communities like the Garasia and Bhils. Despite its potential for financial improvement, microfinance is often misused, leading to severe socioeconomic vulnerabilities. The historical context of indebtedness and marginalization of these tribes, coupled with low financial literacy, makes them susceptible to exploitation by microfinance agents. The situation mirrors the 2010 microfinance crisis in Andhra Pradesh, indicating that Rajasthan's microfinance sector is at risk of a similar crisis.

Tags:

Tribal Communities Microfinance Rural Poverty

Interpretive

Factuality Scale

Left

Political View

Varsha Torgalkar is a journalist based in Mumbai, India. I have covered agrarian crisis, communal violence and human rights. I also write on travel.

Less than 200 km from India's glitzy financial capital, it's another world

10 May 2021  |  www.theindiansun.com.au  |  English  |  Tribal Communities

Varsha Torgalkar reports on the severe lack of essential health services in the tribal villages of the western Indian state of Maharashtra, highlighting the gaps in India’s health policies. In areas less than 200 km from Mumbai, tribal communities like those in Chinchale Khair gram panchayat lack access to electricity and basic healthcare facilities, with the nearest primary health center 10 km away. The tribal population suffers from decades of neglect, with poor access to medical help leading to preventable deaths. Pregnant women face daunting challenges to reach hospitals, and few villagers have access to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. The article suggests that if infrastructure cannot be developed in these remote villages, the government should make them self-dependent by training local youth and women to provide healthcare.

Tags:

Tribal Communities Healthcare Access Rural India

Informative

Factuality Scale