Coimbatore: The Forest Department is embarking on a mission to ensure education for tribal communities. It has joined hands with organisations to impart skills to adults and women for economic upliftment while students are being encouraged to opt for school and college education, by ensuring funds availability for the same. Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, R. Kannan and District Forest Officer, I. Anwardeen mooted these schemes and they are yielding rich dividends...

Conceding there is a “development deficit” in some areas, particularly those inhabited by tribals, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that a “holistic development program” is needed in bridging the alienation of people from these areas who are exploited by Maoists. Singh admitted government-sponsored schemes have not worked. “The problems of marginalised sections, many of whom live in areas affected by Left-wing extremism, call out for special attention,” Singh said,...

Tripura Forest Minister Jitendra Chowdhury has expressed deep concern over degradation of forest land due to shifting cultivation (Jhum) over the years and revealed that Manipur has emerged as the worst-affected State, followed by Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura. Addressing a National Seminar on the Great Depression of 1930s and Present Global Economic Melt Down and its Impact on Tribal Society at Shillong last week, Chowdhury said about 45 per cent of...

That hospital births curb mother and child deaths is probably a no brainer. Convincing expectant mothers to get admitted to a hospital is only part of the problem in India’s rural healthcare system. The other challenge is abysmal infrastructure: There is just one hospital bed for every 10,000 Indians living in villages and one in 10 primary health centres in rural areas stumble along without doctors. The result is a human tragedy....

Kinnauri rajmash, chilgoza (pinus gerardiana), walnut and dried apricots have always been in high demand and commanded a competitive price in the market, but connecting them with the concept of organic food has yielded high premiums for farmers in the state. Himalayan Organisation for Organic Agri Products (HIMOARD), based at Rampur in Shimla, has brought international recognition for these farm products of the tribal district of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh....