Winning hearts with algae-based biodegradable leather

The bio-leather, created in 2020 from a mix of algae and organic waste, is an attempt to reduce “white pollution” — the plastic trash left behind in the water — as well as the impacts of the leather tanning industry. It mimics animal leather only in appearance, but the creator claims it is cruelty-free, waterproof, […]

Trifed: 2017-2021- Spectacular, Revolutionary!

Trifed: 2017-2021 Spectacular, Revolutionary! At a time when the economy globally is reeling under an unprecedented pandemic, a spirited bureaucrat with right political guidance and support gears up and steers Trifed, a little-known Federation, to break new grounds and achieve many times more than what it had achieved in its first three decades! How would […]

“Sombhadra” Social Brand for Rural Self-Help Group (SHG) products

NRLM or Ajeevika Mission is a flagship program of the Government of India aimed at promoting the economic empowerment of rural women through the Self Help Group (SHG) model. At the District level, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) is the nodal agency for handholding and promoting the SHGs. One of the modes of promoting […]

Transformation of the Tribal Heartland – Bastar Unprecedented and Unparalleled

Rajat Bansal (IAS: 2012) will shortly complete two years of his stint as Collector Bastar. In a short span of two years, coupled with the misery of the pandemic, revisiting of developmental projects and progressive initiatives in Bastar reflect an unprecedented and unparalleled transformation of the once infamous Naxal heartland. The Bastar development model is […]

SHG led rural enterprise – A case study of Anandi

SHG- led Rural Enterprise: A case study of Anandi Introduction Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) with its head quarter at Sanctoria near Asansol is one of the 8 subsidiaries of Coal India which is engaged in the mining of Coal in the state of West Bengal with two additional mines in Jharkhand as well. ECL carries […]

Project Sanjeevani

Background: During COVID-19 pandemic, India has witnessed renewed interest in traditional medical practices. India is a gold mine of medicinal plants and a rich repository of traditional medicinal knowledge is archived in Indian systems of medicine (AYUSH), for example, Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa-rigpa, and Homeopathy. This renewed interest has led to increased demand for medicinal […]

This Fisherman Singlehandedly Brought Solar Electricity to a TN Village

“Until I completed my Class 12 examination there was no electricity connection in my village. I have spent all my school life studying with a lantern that would need kerosene to work,” says 30-year-old M Sakthivel, a resident of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. It took the Tsunami for the villagers of the coastal town of […]

Space-tech for India’s agrarian woes : Odisha has a head start

Food, Farmers and Frenzy have for a year been the mainstay of India’s news-cycle as well as public discourse. While there can be longer debates on the implementation of the new farm laws, the case of rising Minimum Support Prices, sustained food grain procurement and middlemen remains a challenge for policymakers across the board. Farm […]