ENTERPRISING WOMEN
Weaving harmonious threads of change

Women of a small village in Uttar Pradesh are weaving not just colorful yarn but also communal harmony in their region. Swapna Majumdar reports.

#Poverty #Women
THE AFTERMATH OF RAPE
For rape survivors and families, the nightmare continues

Radha. Zahira. Neha. Names and tales that serve to remind us that despite the reams written, laws passed and discourses held on sexual violence in the country, the road to justice for rape survivors remains as arduous as ever. Manjari Singh reports.

#Gender Violence #Women
MUZAFFARNAGAR RIOTS
Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai : Unique example of solidarity

Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts in western Uttar Pradesh had their long standing communal harmony destroyed by the riots that took place there in September 2013. Shoma Chatterji reviews the powerful documentary Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai which looks closely into the how, why and the aftermath of these riots.

#Reviews
SCHOOL EDUCATION
When schools and parents clash
SCHOOL EDUCATION : When schools and parents clash

Lack of open communication between parents and school authorities is diminishing trust and respect between them. This in turn has caused many unfortunate incidents that could have been avoided, reports Puja Awasthi.

#Children #Education
AIR POLLUTION IMPACT
A jaundiced view of the Taj
AIR POLLUTION IMPACT : A jaundiced view of the Taj

The pernicious threat of pollution looms large over India’s most celebrated heritage structure and one of its most prominent emblems, the Taj Mahal, for decades now. Darryl D’Monte shares the findings of a recent study indicating that the ravages of pollution continue unabated.

#Environmental Hazards #Environment
NOTES FROM VARANASI
Voices Modi and Kejriwal must listen to, beyond the noise

Days before the much-hyped showdown between Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi, Prabhu Mallikarjunan pays a visit to the holy city to know more about the loyalties and concerns of people on the ground.

#Cities #Elections #Government #Society
MUZAFFARNAGAR AFTERMATH
Mass marriages to prevent abuse: 550 and counting!

Much has been written on the inhuman atrocities inflicted on women during the 2013 riots in Muzaffarnagar and the deplorable conditions in the relief camps. Saumya Uma draws attention beyond these to how the violence has robbed women of their basic rights and voices in myriad ways.

#Gender Violence #Justice System #Women
CAG AUDIT
UP NREGS: Whither guidelines?
The flouting of scheme guidelines in the NREGS implementation in Uttar Pradesh shows how the programme is still locked in top-down planning. Himanshu Upadhyaya reports on the various findings of the performance audit of the scheme.
#Public Funds #Government
NREGS IN U.P.
Nothing to audit
NREGS IN U.P. : Nothing to audit
Inadequate training, shortfall in personnel, weak monitoring systems and unconvincing responses from the government to the CAG.s objections regarding the same reveal the flaws in implementation of the NREGS scheme in Uttar Pradesh. Himanshu Upadhyaya reports.
#Public Funds #Government
WAR ON TERROR
Can we have the truth, please?
Circumstances surrounding the death of alleged terrorist Khalid Mujahid in UP underline how sloppy investigations and a bias for emotion instead of facts have dented the credibility of the fight against terror. Puja Awasthi fears that such half truths will only feed the evil of terrorism further.
#Justice System #Peace #Human Rights
IN SEARCH OF POTABLE WATER
Why women in this village can't cook dal
IN SEARCH OF POTABLE WATER : Why women in this village can't cook dal
If you keep water standing in a glass for a while here, it causes a stain around the rim. Pamela Philipose describes the tribulations and ordeal of women in Mamana village of Uttar Pradesh, as they fight to collect potable water everyday.
#Water #Environment #Women
THE OTHER INDIA
Ballia: Chasing elusive dreams
THE OTHER INDIA : Ballia: Chasing elusive dreams

Lack of development and unmet aspirations in India's villages and small towns not only raise the pressures arising from rural-urban migration, but also trigger an overall sociological malaise that is so difficult to dispel. Puja Awasthi reports from Ballia in eastern Uttar Pradesh, a stark example.

#Livelihoods #Economy #Education #Society
FARM MARKETS
Uttar Pradesh to set up 2000+ mandis
The Mayawati government proposes to reduce the distance that farmers must travel to take their produce to market to an average of seven kms. This should help farming families boost their incomes, writes Devinder Sharma.
#Agriculture Policy #Devinder Sharma #OP-ED #Ground Reality
ENDING MANUAL SCAVENGING
Badaun cleans up its act
ENDING MANUAL SCAVENGING : Badaun cleans up its act
The Badaun district administration in UP is on a war-footing to convert all dry toilets and rehabilitate manual scavengers before the end of the year. Over the last few months 1600 scavengers have been rehabilitated. Sumita Thapar reports.
#Caste #Health
MATERNAL DEATHS
Mis-counting mortality
MATERNAL DEATHS : Mis-counting mortality
A recent report by Human Rights Watch, No Tally of the Anguish provides a much-needed exposure of the real story behind averages and official data about maternal mortality, writes Kalpana Sharma.
#Kalpana Sharma #Women's Health #OP-ED #Kalpana's Commentary
  • Population : 237 m (2019 est)
  • Area : 240,928 sq.km.
  • Density : 987/sq. km.
  • Sex Ratio : 912 (2011)
  • Child Sex Ratio : 902 (2011)
  • Literacy : 73.00% (2020)
  • Forest Cover : 6.15% (2019)
  • Lok Sabha MPs : 80
  • Rajya Sabha MPs : 3