-Down to Earth Ministry believes that the Chhattisgarh government cannot transfer these lands for any purpose without the prior permission of the Government of India A news report published in the Indian Express daily August 25, 2022 spurred a debate on the definition of ‘forest land’, its contentious history and many of the associated facts related to such lands. Ignored completely by the colonial administration and largely unresolved even after independence, many of...

-India.Mongabay.com * Millets are being revived in the state of Odisha, on a large scale under its flagship Odisha Millets Mission. Millets grow well in dry zones as rain-fed crops and are considered low-duty crops. * The revival is helping women farmers in the tribal districts of the state to enhance their livelihood opportunities and become financially independent. * In Mayurbhanj, the third most populous district in Odisha, the number of women farmers...

-Newsclick.in Following the floods in June, Assam has seen periods of rain deficiency in the last two weeks, disrupting the paddy cultivation for farmers in the state. “Bohag Matho Eti Ritu Nohoi Nohoi Bohag Eti Maah Axomiya Jatir Ee Aayush Rekha Gono Jibonor Ee Xaah.” These lines by Bhupen Hazarika indicate that ‘Bohag’ (the starting month of the year), for the people of Assam, especially the farmers, is not merely a month or a season; it...

-Newsclick.in The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha has called for a protest from August 2 to 4 against insufficient fund allocation, delay in wage disbursal, and other issues in implementing the employment scheme. Kolkata: Uncertainty looms over the Centre's decision on additional fund allocation to the MGNREGA programme before undertaking the Traditional mid-term review at the end of August or early September. Contrary to official expectations, the dependence of rural households on jobs under...

-CounterCurrent.org According to a NITI Aayog recent report titled ‘India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy’ India’s gig workforce, estimated to be at 77 lakh in 2020-21. It is expected to go up to 2.35 crore by 2029-30. Gig worker are defined by Niti Aayog as those engaged in livelihoods outside the Traditional employer-employee arrangement. Gig workers can be broadly classified into platform and non-platform-based workers. Platform workers are those whose work...