-The Telegraph There is no respite in sight with the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre in Guwahati predicting rain in the region till May 21 Guwahati: Flood and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in Assam have led to the death of eight people over the past 48 hours and snapped rail link to South Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura because of “unprecedented” damage caused by landslip and waterlogging on the Lumding-Badarpur hill section...

-Hindustan Times  THE BIG STORY: How five Adivasi women and a Gandhian activist scored a huge win for anganwadi workers After 21 years of service when Maniben Maganbhai Bhariya, an Adivasi women working as an anganwadi helper in district Dahod, Gujarat, retired on February 20, 2006 she was drawing a salary of Rs 1,250 a month. Based on this, Maniben was entitled to a one-time gratuity of Rs 14,423. Seven years later when...

-Down to Earth Filippo Osella was about to launch a precise early weather-warning system the fish workers badly need Extreme weather events have made fishing a dangerous occupation along Kerala’s southern coast — at least one local fisherman dies every week, according to the state disaster management authority.  An early weather-warning system would go a long way in saving the lives and livelihoods of the area’s fishing communities. And that’s what English researcher...

-Down to Earth Some househoulds have started reusing grey water and maintaining kitchen gardens Sustainable drinking water connection would have been a distant dream for the 105 households in Lahan Jhadadar village, Dang District, Gujarat, had it not been for the concerted efforts of the residents. The villagers, mostly members from the Bheel, Warli, Kunbi and Konkani communities, worked in unision with the government department to make this possible.  The district receives heavy...

-Down to Earth Bihar needs to strengthen and enhance capacities of Gram Panchayats to realise the gains of a decentralised planning Imagine yourself living for ages in a remote village inside a dense forest in the 21st century. Basic amenities such as proper roads, safe drinking water, healthcare and education facilities are missing.  The nearest primary school and health centre is located at a distance of seven kilometres. You have to trek through...