-The Hindu Swathes of land lie unused; peasants migrate or take their own lives as the crippling water crisis shatters their hopes. BUNDELKHAND: On the night on March 27, Musru Prajapati was up as usual, keeping vigil in his field at Khurhand village in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. Three consecutive droughts, with bouts of hailstorms and unseasonal rains, had dented his morale. He wanted to defend whatever little crop he managed to grow...
More »SEARCH RESULT
A drought of action -Jean Drèze
-The Hindu India has a lasting infrastructure of public support that can, in principle, be expanded in drought years to provide relief. But business as usual seems to be the motto Droughts in India used to be times of frantic relief activity. Large-scale public works were organised, often employing more than 1,00,000 workers in a single district. Food distribution was arranged for destitute persons who were unable to work. Arrangements were also...
More »No water, no weddings in parched Bundelkhand -Omar Rashid
-The Hindu Proximity to the nearest well has become crucial in the selection of grooms. HAMIRPUR: A tumbler tucked under her armpit, Bhuri trudged along the dusty broken path to the “Pahadi wali Ma ka Mandir.” The exhaustion on the 48-year-old Kumhar woman’s face was apparent as she approached the hill in the blazing sun. But the hill hosts more than a goddess — the well at its foot is the only natural...
More »Innovative Project that Runs Sans Electricity
-The New Indian Express BARIPADA: At a time when the entire State is reeling under water scarcity, the Mayurbhanj administration has implemented an innovative water supply project that runs without electricity. Apparently, the irrigation-cum-drinking water project is first of its kind in the State and has been implemented in six hilly villages - Mudrajodi, Digdiga, Askinala, Kumarinala, Keonjhar and Sitakunj - of Shyamakhunta and Jashipur blocks under the Integrated Action Plan. It...
More »Organic farming gaining popularity in Anantapur -Ravi P Benjamin
-TheHansIndia.com * Excessive use of chemical fertilisers on vegetables and fruits is causing cancer to the consumers * 4,500 farmers are cultivatingin 15,000 acres in organic zones of 10 clusters in 8 mandals Raptadu (Anantapur): The district is in for a major organic revolution with the department of Agriculture taking the lead and initiative to wean away farmers from excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides and the disastrous effects of chemical residues on...
More »