Padma Shri Awards(1)

(1) Daripalli Ramaiah SRISTI Samman 2015 Padma Shri 2017 Daripalli Ramaiah, a native of Khammam district of Telangana known as Chetla (trees) and Vanajeevi (forest being). Ramaiah, a recipient of SRISTI Samman in 2015 was conferred on Padma Shri award in 2017 for his invaluable contribution towards extending tree cover and for taking social forestry initiatives. Ramaiah proudly … Continue reading →

Searching where is the light is: Focus on hotspots of sufficiency to seek answers for malnutrition

There is an old apocryphal story of an old women. She had lost a needle in a dark place. But she was searching where the light is. She is lampooned for this seemingly irrational act. True, under the lamp post, she would not find her needle but may be, she might find something else, may … Continue reading →

Shrimati Ritaben Vora for outstanding contribution in women empowerment, livelihood generation, education on agricultural value addition and organic farming.

Rita Ben Batuk Bhai Vora  (M) : 9428210652 My father pursued the concept of a new training based on Gandhian philosophy, his study, and later in his life he happened to work in such organizations. He studied in Lokbharati Sanosara which emphasised training based on national education / gramachmukh folk philosophy and there after he … Continue reading →

A kurta without a stitch (39th Shodhyatra)

Imagine wearing a kurta in which there is no stitch, it would be difficult for us to think of it.  But, a weaver Karna Mehr had actually woven a kurta as a cylindrical cloth.  Another weaver  Chukmani Mehr had woven poetry of Shri Gangadhar Mehr in the Barpali saree.   Bhikhari Mehr had woven the Hanuman … Continue reading →

गाँधीवादी देवदूत – समतभाई जाड़ा

गुजरात के चोटिला तालुका में धेरै गाँव के समतभाई सही मायनों में लोगों के व्यक्ति हैं। उन्होंने सिचाईं, वृक्ष और सेहत सहित कई सकारात्मक विषयों पर जागरूकता फ़ैलाने के लिए पड़ोस के 11 गाँवों में कई कार्यक्रम किए हैं। सुरेंद्रनगर और राजकोट जिले की सीमा पर उनका तालुका है। यह क्षेत्र पथरीला और पहाड़ी भूमि … Continue reading →

Are we ready to welcome good monsoon?

Reminders serve little purpose if the victims also resign to a kind of learned-helplessness. With the exception of a few private attempts to dig small tanks, there has been no campaign in the country to store rain water where it falls, that is, in situ conservation. Why has budgetary allocation for such a strategic goal … Continue reading →

The politics of mismanaging drought

Last week, I looked at the problems that country is currently facing due to drought and the challenges, which are ahead of us once it rains.  I was reflecting on the reasons responsible for so much collective neglect.  It doesn’t matter which political party in power, the apathy for long-term drought mitigation persists.  The website … Continue reading →

Drought of 2016: is there any thing different?

More than a dozen states are suffering from drought including Gujarat. What one hears is that since good rains are expected, it is really a short term miserly and after a few weeks everything will be ok. Will it? What will happen to the people whose savings of last five or more years have been … Continue reading →

Birds, bridges and beautiful memoryscapes: Shodhaytra in Tripura-II

For a long stretch, while walking in Gandachar region, Dahloi district of the state, we did not hear the songs of the bird nor did we see them flying. Later we discovered that they used to make clay balls, dry them and by aiming at birds with a sling, kill and eat them. Was it … Continue reading →

In the land of Chakhmas: colours , creativity and conservation

“Will you tell us what medicine you will use for cancer?” when asked, Anant Kumar Chakhma replied, “How can I can your question? Unless I see the symptoms cannot prescribe the medicine, there are different kinds of cancer.” Seldom have we come across traditional healers who are so précis in their pedagogy and have their … Continue reading →