Articles
Mar 16 2005
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News, in proper proportions
It is impossible to record society accurately if the content of our news is not drawn proportionately from the events and issues. And when the news is drawn in the right proportions, the morality of our development goals is preserved better. The India Together editorial.
Mar 16 2005
Mar 15 2005
BRIEFS
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North East: Apex court rules the forests
For eight years, the Supreme Court has been taking a proactive role in forest conservation. But the court's rulings have been most controversial in the north eastern states, where its actions have been misread as reinforcing centralised power over local communities, say Ritwick Dutta and Kanchi Kohli.
Mar 14 2005
Voices of the marginalised
: Voices of the marginalised

In the poorest part of Jharkhand, community radio has become an important instrument for the development of neglected communities, Pratibha Jyoti reports.
Mar 12 2005
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Remembering Dandi
12 March this year marks the 75th anniversary of Gandhi's famous 1930 march from Sabarmati to Dandi to break the exploitative salt tax law. With the ruling Congress party staking a claim to the legacy of the march, Venu Madhav Govindu comments on its true symbolism.
Mar 12 2005
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A self-help success story
In Maharashtra, the Golden Jubilee Urban Employment Scheme can point to many successes for families below the poverty line. Surekha Sule reports on the social, economic, and psychological upliftment created by unusually diligent administration of a government program.
Mar 11 2005
Rain barrels catalyse water harvesting
: Rain barrels catalyse water harvesting
The potential of rainwater harvesting has been much talked about in recent times. But that an ordinary plastic water storage drum connected to the roof through a pipe will turn this potential to reality is surprising many citizens in the Bangalore-Mysore region, reports Shree Padre.
Mar 10 2005
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Where science falters
The percentage of girl students pursuing science in college is quite impressive. Yet, when it comes to careers in science, the numbers suddenly drop. Kalpana Sharma notes the social and institutional reasons that deny women a level playing field.
Mar 09 2005
But don't be a zero
: But don't be a zero
The world moves to the tunes of two kinds of men: the great kind and the evil kind. The rest of us are somewhere in between. But what heroes and Neros both get us zeros to do is ask questions, says Dilip D'Souza.
Mar 08 2005
New paths for the women's movement
: New paths for the women's movement

March 8 remains a valuable vantage point, a time to take stock and look ahead. In fact, significant events over the past year-and-a-half invite fresh thinking on women's issues. We saw "empowered" women, but also saw new victims, notes Mary E John.

Mar 08 2005
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Water canals, or treasury drains?
Large water management projects are often announced with much fanfare, but as an audit of Gujarat's implementation shows, they're more likely to steer money towards other ends, and leave the taxpayers holding the bill for the benefits that have been diverted elsewhere. Himanshu Upadhyaya reports.
Mar 07 2005
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Making utilities accountable
What does it take to make the bureaucracy responsive to the needs and expectations of citizens? A recent workshop in New Delhi on Developing Institutions for Public Accountability in Urban Services explored this question. Darryl D'Monte recounts some key observations made at the workshop.
Mar 05 2005
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No pesticides, no Bt cotton, no pests!
6 years ago, Punukula village in AP was no different from many other cotton farming regions. Pesticide overuse and environmental poisoning were rampant, and so were pests. But by 2004, the village had successfully charted a simple escape route. Devinder Sharma looks at the lessons.
Mar 03 2005
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Citizens' forum to support whistleblowers
When Executive Engineer S K Nagarwal reported corruption in railway track laying in West Bengal, his saga with colluding officials and contractors began. Now, supported by the S K Dubey foundation, a citizens' forum has sprung up to protect Nagarwal and other whistleblowers. Varupi Jain reports.
Mar 02 2005
Media with a message
: Media with a message
Access to and control over media are critical for the survival and sustenance of marginalised rural communities. Yet, this is elusive because media policy-makers rarely concern themselves with this, and focus instead on private and corporate media's expectations, notes Ammu Joseph.
Mar 01 2005
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Can media catalyse India's development?
Possibly, but perhaps not alone. There are plenty of obstacles within our unjust and deeply hierarchical civil society outside of the media. Still, an important connection exists between journalism and the strengthening of civil society: citizenship. The India Together editorial.
Feb 28 2005
Working in the world : Chingrajpara's women
: Working in the world : Chingrajpara's women
Voluble among themselves, these women are less comfortable in speaking up at civic meetings when men are present. Policy interventions can only initiate social change, but change itself takes time to unfold. Ashima Sood continues her diary series on Chingrajpara slum, Chhatisgarh.
Feb 28 2005
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Weddings on hold as prices crash
"It is time for my daughter to get married but where's the money? We ran a teashop for a long time. That folded as people had no more to spend." P Sainath finds that as the agrarian crisis has deepened in Wayanad, many people are now simply unable to afford weddings.
Feb 27 2005
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Still waiting for the green light
The boom in construction has not been accompanied by a higher level of environmental awareness among builders, architects, developers and planners. But green buildings can be profitable and also demand less from the natural world, notes Ramesh Menon.
Feb 26 2005
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The curse of manual scavenging
Despite laws banning dry latrines and the transport of human excreta, thousands of people still make their livelihood this way, sometimes even working in government departments. The social structure has also forced nearly all of this work on to Dalit women and girls. Sachin Kumar reports.