June 29, 2020

19 million masks, 100,000 liters of sanitizer: How women entrepreneurs in India’s hinterland stayed afloat in a collapsing economy

About 480 SHGs made over 300,000 masks and about 450 litres of sanitizers were produced in a month. On an average, each woman has been earning Rs 5000 per month, and this is certainly more than whatever amount they were being able to earn to top up their main income
February 23, 2023

52 tendu leaves

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has become an important driver of the rural economy in light of COVID-19 and the lockdown across the country. Yet, in most of the villages of Jaisinghnagar block, Shahdol, the work either did not start, or came to a standstill soon after.
February 22, 2023

Potential of engaging migrants: Not a burden but an opportunity to revive rural economy

The global crisis due to COVID-19 has affected India little later in March 2020, while WHO announced it as world emergency on last phase of January 2020. A complete lockdown after China war has been faced by 135 Crore Indians, from 24th March 2020 and within a span of 4 hours’ time everything came to a standstill.
February 22, 2023

After securing rights over 5,352 hectares forest, this tribal village becomes an ecotourism hub

Last August, the gram sabha of Jabarra village in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh secured rights over 5,352 hectares forest. By focusing on ecotourism, this tribal village has attracted many tourists
February 22, 2023

Farmers need predictable linkages with markets

After their agonizing experience in cities during the lockdown, migrant workers, in very large numbers, are back in their villages. Can the rural economy sustain them? Will they find ways of earning? The rural employment programme, MGNREGA, offers hope. But it remains to be seen whether in the current context it is the solution.
February 22, 2023

Boosting rural livelihoods using agriculture and MGNREGA amidst Covid-19

Strengthening farm and non-farm livelihoods can pave the way for food and nutritional security.
February 22, 2023

Reimagining Agriculture through COVID-19

As the world grapples with the devastating consequences of the spread of the novel coronavirus, nations are faced with multiple questions that go well beyond the direct impact of contracting the disease. We are dealing with a massive loss of livelihoods, unemployment, hunger, and a decline in the overall health status of citizens including the sharp rise in mental health ailments. In India, agricultural distress is stark and ever-increasing.
February 22, 2023

Tendu leaves cushion tribals from economic deprivation during COVID-19

At around 4 am, Shamli Devi leaves her home with a water bottle, torch and a clean cloth, walking nearly 5 km to the nearest forest in eastern Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla district. For the next five or six hours, Shamli toils away in the heat, plucking leaves from
February 22, 2023

COVID-19: Migrant workers turning mining hub West Singbhum into a fruit bowl

Steep mountains alternate with deep valleys and lush green forests in West Singbhum, the iron ore mining hub in Jharkhand. Home mostly to a tribal population, the district has dismal health and social indicators, and poverty is rampant. But this may be is gradually changing. Now, fruit laden trees are visible in the landscape over large parts of West Singhbhum.
February 22, 2023

Conducting feminist research during lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic is now a worldwide social, economic, and political crisis, but not everyone is affected in the same way, Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt, Arnab Chakraborty, and Sourav Bag write.