One of them is Adi, a major tribe in Arunachal whose name literally translates to "hill or mountain top."
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A typical Adi village - clusters of thatch-roofed houses set deep inside the thick jungles of Arunachal[/caption]
True to their name, the Adi people reside in the dense tropical jungles of West Siang district with their thatch-roofed houses tightly clustered along the slopes or on hilltops. Most of them still follow the animistic religion of Donyi-Polo - worshipping the sun and moon. The Adi people are subsistence farmers, which makes them largely self-sufficient with all their rice fields, orange orchards and hunting.
So, when the men of the Adi Tribe go on hunting expeditions in the dense forests of the Himalayan foothills in eastern India, they have to travel quick and light. Carrying heavy vessels or plenty of food supplies for the hunting party obviously wouldn’t make much sense when the goal is to move stealthily through the thick jungle. All they would take with them instead, is a bagful of rice, a pocketful of dried bamboo shoot powder for seasoning and a handful of salt. But, you would be grossly mistaken if you’d think the meal would be barely palatable. In fact, it is supremely delicious and therein lies the genius of Adi people.
Everything for the meals is sourced from the forest - bamboo hollows are used as containers to cook, fishes are caught from the abundant streams and leaves are used to wrap the food and to serve it as well.
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Rice and meat wrapped in a protective leaf is cooked inside the hollows of the bamboo stems, which is then slowly burnt over fire[/caption]
In the age of tin cans and packaged food, an elaborate meal made entirely out of organic produce and equipment seemed infinitely fascinating.
A few months ago, I had a similar lunch with the Adi Minyong Tribe in their field, surrounded by a ring of mountains. Three men - Takar Jannom, his brother and his uncle, had together prepared a delicious fare for a bunch of us.
Our lunch was cooked over fire in five hollow Bamboo stems stuffed with rice, hilsa fish and chicken wrapped in Ekkum (Phyrnium - a banana like plant) leaves and water.
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Rice and Fish, just removed from the bamboo stems after cooking over fire(L); Dried bamboo shoot powder that has a tangy flavor, used extensively as seasoning by the Adi people(R)[/caption]
Ekkum leaves are strong enough not to deconstruct in the heat, providing a good cover for the food while it cooks. The only condiments added were salt, garlic and dried bamboo shoot powder that give a tangy flavour to the fish and meat. Rice and fish taken out of the hollow stems was served with bamboo spoons on fresh banana leaves along with a serving of delightfully spicy red chili and ginger chutney.
At first, it felt a bit weird to eat from the leaves sprawled in the dirt from our planet earth. But after one bite into the piquant fish, I was stuffing myself silly with the fish and rice mixed with the spicy chutney that came with it.
On the other hand, locally brewed rice wine, Apong, was flowing freely. It was served in bamboo stems with a single leaf stuffed at the top to constrict the flow of alcohol.
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Apong, local rice wine made by the Adi Tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, served in hollow bamboo canes with a leaf stuffed to constrict the flow[/caption]
True enough, when I removed the leaf, I had apong all over me when I went for a small sip.
This form of outdoor cooking is not only meant for hunting but also for all those days when men guard the harvest. The fields are far away from the villages and the progressive northeast community wouldn’t burden the womenfolk to provide them with food. Instead, the menfolk set up camp in the machans in their fields, brew apong, cook their lunches and dinners gathered over the warm fire, and have a blast while watching over their fields.
With the apong slowly getting to our heads, conviviality around the bonfire went from pleasant chatter to shrill laughter about things I have no recollection of today. The setting sun smeared the sky in red over the horizon and the fresh mountain air suddenly dropped a degree or two. Darkness engulfed us by 4.30pm, as it often happens in the northeast, and we gulped down more apong - raising a toast to the wonderful feast.
When it was time to leave the field and walk to the road after dark, we weren't allowed torches. Instead our guide beat a bamboo stem until it split to small strips and burned it to make a wooden torch. As we left, the dogs swiftly cleaned up the leftovers. Nothing probably went to waste. On our way back through the Adi village, I giggled like a child looking at a pig pen right under the wooden toilet. The pigs that feed on human waste are supposed to be a delicacy here; I surely didn’t want to try that but I couldn’t help but wonder if anything goes to waste in these tribal settlements!
This was the most natural, sustainable, organic and zero-waste lunch I ever had. Except for the salt, everything else came from their fields and forest including the woven bamboo furniture we sat on.
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Siyom River and the lush hills of West Siang district as seen near Along town[/caption]
And in due time, everything would go back to become the dirt it came from. Hearteningly, the precarious balance of the natural order continues to stay on course in this remote corner.
To read more by the same author, click here.
Written by Neelima Vallangi for The Wandering Soul's Wander Tales and republished here with permission from the author.
Roshni Rai[/caption]
Roshni with some of the runners she has helped train[/caption]
Runners of all ages[/caption]
India was built on this outlandish idea that different cultures could not only co-exist peacefully alongside one another but also prosper. Each state boasts its own set of mores, languages, traditional costumes, dances and even come with their own unique rules that have to be followed when it comes to bargaining with auto uncles. For the most part, the reason we have not yet crumbled is because we have learned to thrive off our differences. We have embraced them. We have imbibed them. We have been enriched by them. That’s why you will find an Udipi restaurant in the middle of rural Punjab and you will attend a Bharatnatyam concert in Kolkata. We are different yet similar and our acceptance of our differences makes us stronger, diverse and colourful. India was designed to be a nation defined by its freedom and democracy that afforded everyone equal opportunities and dignity in existence.
And that’s why Fawad Khan should not be sent packing.
I became aware of Fawad Khan when a friend recommended some Pakistani television series to me. I remember being impressed with the poise and grace he brought to the screen. He looked like he had walked out of a Raymond commercial (“The complete man”), and I thought that if he lived in India, he would become a Bollywood sensation. As fate would have it, Fawad Khan did come to India and quickly became a star to be reckoned with due to his undeniable screen presence. And now the very people who celebrated him (especially those very brave souls who exist on Twitter) want him and other Pakistani actors and actresses to leave.
And that’s heartbreaking for India.
For centuries, nations across the world have forged bonds with one another through music and the arts. And this is especially important for those living in India and Pakistan. When Pakistanis watch our movies, they are for the most part introduced to incredibly entertaining stories (not to mention Katrina Kaif’s abs) that seem different yet familiar. When we download their Coke Studio sessions, we are for the most part introduced to incredible music (not to mention a surprisingly sonorous Ali Zafar) that feels different yet familiar. We find a common ground to understand one another not through battlefields but as normal human beings whose lives revolve around our loved ones, our jobs and our passions.
And when we cut off an important platform for cultural exchange, we end up setting a dangerous precedent. We show those in Pakistan that we Indians are really are not as tolerant as we constantly claim to be. And show the world that we are ready to push away the very people who come to us to hoping to chase their dreams. And we create more bad blood between two nations that simply cannot afford to go to war.
I want Fawad Khan to stay not because I think he is handsome (in Bollywood, “handsome” is a dime a dozen). I want him and others like him to stay because as an Indian I want to show the world that we are welcoming of talent from across the globe. I want to show the world that we are always looking to establish peace and not escalate to war. I want to show the world that we are compassionate and do not discriminate.
So, now you tell me, why wouldn’t I want Fawad Khan to stay?
- Aishwariya Subramanian
Dusk at Mudh, Pin Valley National Park, Spiti[/caption]
With a reasonably well-to-do agrarian community, Spiti hasn't yet fully woken up to its so-called "tourism" potential and that has become its biggest hallmark. It's amazing that a small strip of a valley could give such fierce competition to the vastness of Ladakh, but that's probably a true testament to the allure of pristine mountain cultures and landscapes.
While both Ladakh and Spiti share a similar culture and landscape, the resemblance is only skin-deep. Beyond the prejudices and preferences of eager travellers, both Spiti and Ladakh have plenty to offer to the discerning and it's hard to pick one over the other. However, based on personal proclivities and travel styles, you could have an easier time of choosing one because, unfortunately in the real world, we can't have it all. If by any chance you can, go to Spiti and Ladakh both!
If not, this table might help you decide.
P.S - In case you're wondering why you should listen to me, I have been to Ladakh six times and Spiti thrice so far.
Despite reading all the differences and still unsure which one to choose out of the two, here's my advice:
If you're only going to visit Leh, Pangong, Tso Moriri and Khardung La in Ladakh, I'd recommend Spiti as you'll have a much more immersive experience there when compared to the now done-to-death Ladakh trip.
In case you'll be going beyond these well known places, I'd recommend Ladakh all the way!
To read more by the same author, click 
Each school had a slightly different design configuration and yet a similar look and feel. Some of them had four classrooms, others five. The goal was to create something on the walls that would appeal to the young students as well as local villagers and visitors. Finally, on September 10, after many days of creative brainstorming and planning, the Delhi Street Art team left for this exciting art adventure equipped with paints, brushes, rollers, and other supplies.
Day 1: Late on the first night, after a brief stop in Rishikesh, the first stop was on the outskirts of the town of Rudraprayag. The first village school was still a few hours’ drive away but it had been a long and tiring 12-hour journey and driving at night could have been risky.
Day 2: The valley of Rudraprayag was stunning. Pilgrims walked barefoot towards their religious destinations while trucks and mini-buses struggled up and down the steep roads. A two-hour drive brought the team to the small town of Ukhimath. The hills, as far as the eye could see, were lush green. In the distance, however, large chunks of soil and rock had caved in at several places and led to massive erosion, damaging the roads below. The village of Karokhi is another half hour drive from Ukhimath on the road to Chopta – the famed town in Uttarakhand that is also referred to as the Switzerland of the hills by some locals.
It looked a fairly long and steep hike to get to the top. It was! After a slow and somewhat breathless climb through a narrow, picturesque village path, the Karokhi School was clearly visible. It was a newly built structure and some of the landscaping work was still underway. After walking around the hillside and observing local flora and fauna, the team spent most of the afternoon and evening sketching out the designs on the walls. Being a Sunday, there were no children at school. But a few of them stopped by to admire and even bring some hot tea.
Day 3: The Delhi Street Art team got down to business early! There were five bare classrooms walls and a long front facing wall. As the day started warming up, the shapes on the walls started to take definite form and a more finished look. This was a school day and two of the rooms were occupied by students attending classes. As soon as the children took a break from their class, they eagerly joined the team in painting the walls. A mid-day meal prepared for the children was also enjoyed by the art team along with locally grown fresh pahadi cucumber.
Day 4: Huddu village is further down the same road from Karokhi, but the road is broken in many places with landslides and often accompanied by cascading waterfalls. The school is a 200 meter downhill hike from the road and the buildings are visible clearly from all the surrounding parts of the valley. This being a Sunday, none of school children had come. The walk down the path offered stunning panoramic view of the valley. A special task undertaken at this location was to painting a giant “smiley” on the roof of the school building, because it is visible from where the kids and teachers approach the school.
Day 5: The target location for the day was a small village hamlet of Phali Pasalat. In order to get there, the team had to traverse for a couple of hours back through Ukhimath, and past the town of Guptkashi. The long meandering path leading to the school passed through terraced fields, lush countryside, and a picturesque village with stone walled homes. This was a smaller school – small classrooms and small walls. Right next to the school was an ancient Shiva temple – claimed by locals to be more than 5,000 years old. By now the art team was working like clockwork and everyone knew what they had to do and get done. For the first time, distant snow-capped mountains could be seen at the horizon now that the clouds had given way to bright sunshine. The day certainly had warmed up significantly. Dal, chawal and vegetable of raddish leaves was served as the midday meal for all.
Day 6: The school at Sitapur is located slightly above the main road and is split between two sets of buildings – one with two classrooms and another with three. Right next to it is the old school building showing massive cracks created during the earthquake. While some classes are still being held there, the plan is to move children to the newer, safer buildings as soon as they are ready. Several kids jumped in to participate in wall art.
By 5 pm, all walls had been painted, selfies clicked and all the supplies packed and loaded into the car. They were now ready for the long journey to Tilwara – back on the road towards Srinagar and Rishikesh – the final destination of the trip.
Day 7: The village of Dangi Gunau is a steep one hour drive up from the town of Tilwara. The school is another short but steep walk up from the main road.
Many young people of the village appear to have moved to nearby towns or distant cities in search of jobs and faster life. It seemed a shame that while city dwellers craved to be out in the hills in search of clean air, water, peaceful surroundings, and healthy food – so many in these pristine mountains had settled for polluted, crowded city environment.
The Delhi Street Art team shared their time and creative efforts and left some colour and imagery on the walls, but most importantly, they experienced the joy of being a part of an initiative of hope and happiness!
(Written by Yogesh Saini)
Know more about Delhi Street Art 
But by making it personal, she has let the world know that no matter who the woman is and what profession or strata of the society she belongs to, she can be a victim to such crimes.
Mary reveals how despite being a boxer and being trained in martial arts, she was herself a victim of sexual molestation at the age of 17 that left her feeling grossly violated. In the light of discussions following the success of the movie Pink, this letter reminds its readers once again that it is not the time of the day or the clothes that the woman wears, sexual misconduct of any nature is a crime that “deserves the strictest punishment”.
She further promises to take full advantage of her position as a Rajya Sabha MP and raise this issue in the house to “create awareness about sexual crimes against women” and to “ask questions about the way some of our politicians speak, about the attitude of the police whose sole duty it is to apply the law.”
Mary has reminded us why she is a hero of the nation. We hope that every mother, in fact every parent, learns from this example and talks to their son/sons openly about this issue. After all, a change in the mind-sets of people will begin with the education that parents provide to their sons at home.
I fell in love with diversity of cultures within cultures and the gentle, yet feisty, Indian spirit – a group of HIV positive women finding joy and laughter despite the hardships they have to face; little dusty hands and feet of dancing children; the high pitched cries of chai wallahs early in the morning; the smell of roasting corn with lemon and masala on the streets; the spirit to take risks and do more; a drive to work hard and excel at life in spite of adversity, be it working as a fruit seller or orthopaedic surgeon; and more.
I fell in love with the bouquet of fragrance accompanying every meal, layered with depth of flavour that demands the attention of all your senses; the beauty and elegance of an Indian woman captured in the folds and layers of a saree; the extravagance of a Bollywood movie; the fast paced, yet tranquil, somewhat chaotic rhythm of everyday life; markets exhibiting the finest fruits, vegetables and spices; the organised chaos of traffic – I fell in love with the beauty of south and the mysteries of north.
I experienced unfiltered beauty and a love that caught me so off-guard at times that I was reduced to tears in public spaces. We covered over 8,500 km and visited 12 cities in 29 days by trains, buses, auto-rickshaws, camels and on foot – fervently eating mangoes and drinking chai along the way.
The outskirts of the city has a fort built around a water body; played off against the illumination of pink sunsets, it looked like a scene out of a perfect fairy tale. We formed a beautiful bond of friendship with a group of young camel drivers during a camel safari in Pushkar and we were literally led into the wilderness in Chikmagalur, Attigundi and Mudigere, the coffee plantations of India. We saw mist hovering over thousands of acres of rain forests with coffee growing between the trees. And it was like the mysteries of heaven unlocked on earth.
Every city has story. Be it on a train or in the middle of the desert, the stories were revealed when we spoke to villagers about their dreams, aspirations and spirituality. We also visited Hyderabad, Mangalore, Vellore, Udupi, and Goa.
A few months ago, my friend and I came up with the idea of importing Harem pants from India. The simple business idea turned into an empowering project when we came to know about a medical livelihood project running under the umbrella of Emmanuel Hospital Association that trains HIV positive women and gives them the required skills to earn a living.
Travelling to India gave us the opportunity to meet the ladies at the livelihood centre for the first time, spend time with them, work on new designs, discuss future vision and most importantly, just have good time with them.
I experienced so much beauty in a country that is often judged by the rest of the world. The beauty of breath taking landscapes and people stole a piece of my heart that I will never be able to reclaim.
Next, Sarath Babu approached the elders of Gollapallem village in North Amulur Panchayat, Allur Mandal of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh, requesting them to spare a piece of land for the experiment that he was keen to conduct to rehabilitate children from the platforms. The villagers gave the land and their consent on a temporary basis so he could go ahead with this challenging task. A hut, measuring 30 x 15 feet, was constructed with some material available in the village.
Sarath does not like to call the CHILD ashram an orphanage. These children, who were off to a terrible start in life are now being slowly transformed again into responsible and contributing members of society. Sarath is a staunch devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba and has dedicated himself to the service of these needy children. When asked if the children who leave contribute to the ashram, his reply is that he wants them to carry on the good work by themselves somewhere else so that society benefits more. Sarath's dream is to see each child become another Sarath!
The system that Sarath has developed is so effective that if he is to leave the organization today, the children would be able to manage the show on their own! Each child is assigned to a group, each group has a function within the ashram. One group takes care of cleaning, and other groups are responsible for cooking, going to the market, teaching the other children, washing utensils, etc. The girls’ quarters are strictly cordoned off to any men and are maintained very well with ample sanitation and privacy. The ashram children also grow their own vegetables and lovingly take care of a cow.
One of the children’s father was an employee at Trirumala Tirupati Devastanam. Due to conflicts within the family, the father committed suicide, the boy left his home and lived on railway platforms, and was involved in petty thefts. This child, under Sarath’s care, went on to pass Class 10 in the 1st division and completed M.Sc. in organic chemistry with distinction. He is now working as a Jr. Scientist at the National Institute of Technology, Suratkal, Mangalore.
A second child was hit hard by his father’s sudden death and mother’s subsequent depression. He fell into bad company and took to living on platforms. After being rescued by Sarath Babu, he has today completed a polytechnic course in civil engineering and is serving as a Work Inspector in the Panchayat Raj Department.
The fourth child’s story is even more heartbreaking, yet amazing. His father lost his arm in a saw-mill and later died. His mother used to sell tea and the child, left uncared for, began to live on railway platforms. He travelled the length and breadth of India and spent three spells in government observation homes in Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. He started his basic schooling when he was 11 years old, under Sarath Babu’s care. Within a year and a half, he completed Class 7, passing with 1st division. He passed with distinction in Class 10 and 12 too. He went on to complete BTech and higher studies and is now a physics lecturer in a private college.
Boobie and Ballsy are the local celebrities of Viman Nagar and they sure act like it! With their very own wooden cottage, the two cats are treated exceptionally well and are adored by waiters and customers alike.
Having always been fond of animals, it wasn’t much of a stretch for the foursome to conceptualize a place that not only welcomed pets, but had a specially designed menu for them as well! You can pop into Where Else anytime you like and witness dogs, cats, rabbits and myriad other pets chilling over a bowl of broth, or some choostix. You would think having so many pets together in a place would be a recipe for disasters and pet-brawls, but you’d be wrong.
Human-brawling, however, is a different matter altogether and Where Else has been in for their share of ugliness -- what with animal activists being after them and customers objecting to the cats roaming about (The latter, however, has only happened once till date).
The staff loves being around Booby and Ballsy. Shout out to Prashant who seems to have a special bond with the cats; they even do what he tells them to. Adorable furballs aren’t the only nice things about Where Else.
Where Else has come up with a novel concept of feeding the hungry in Pune too. The Goodie Bag, one of their pet projects, is an initiative where you can add Rs. 20 to your bill and Where Else will donate an essential goodie bag to someone who needs it. The bag contains a boiled egg, a banana and a bottle of water.
If you wish to contribute to the initiative, you can get in touch here - 
Heavy metals enter the water via different sources like atmospheric deposition, mining, agriculture, etc. These metals can lead to bioaccumulation. Scientists have been developing purification and extraction methods using a variety of techniques. Some of these techniques have been successful but are expensive or have detrimental effects on the environment. After about eight months of intensive research we learned that there are 143 plants that can remove heavy metals from water. It was then that we started thinking about water pollution. If we look at the issue, we recognise that the major problem is the increasing amount of heavy metal content in water bodies, which is leading to pollution.
We narrowed our research in terms of cost effectiveness and efficiency and tested with tomato, banana, apple, etc. Finally, we zeroed down to the pumpkin that showed an efficiency of nearly 74%. But somehow, due to the lack of knowledge about patents, we lost our rights on the pumpkin purifier. It was a really hard time because our work of nearly 1.5 years was wasted.
But we never gave up, continued our research, and came up with the best alternative in the form of Bajra (pearl millet). Its efficiency came out to be 98% and it also turned out to be a cost effective and efficient purifier. We prepared a complete paper and prototype and filed a patent. The lawyers’ demand for the patent fee was very high and impossible for us to afford. But this was before we learned how to file a patent independently and did that.
The purifier works in a simple way. We have to take contaminated water in a tank and just add Bajra powder (not fine) to it. Sedimentation starts taking place in some time and Bajra, beings lignocellulosic and carboxylic, adheres to the heavy metals on the surface of the water. It then settles down and the purified water is removed. The biomass at the bottom is treated with GCMS (Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) to differentiate heavy metals according to their molecular weight. This way, we can also sell the heavy metals and the Bajra can be reused.
Till now, we have together worked on 22 research projects and filed for seven patents. We have also started an organization named Zenith Vipers to help young researchers in getting their ideas patented, codes of conduct, etc. There are two reasons why we started this organization -
1. We faced many problems during our research. Our teachers used to make us stand outside the class if we asked anything that was not in the curriculum, etc.
2. We have seen the concept of being a freelance writer, freelance photographer, etc. but what if we could have freelance researchers in our country!
(Written by Yasjraj Bhardwaj)
Know more about Zenith Vipers 
Storm clouds in Araku Valley[/caption]
I distinctly remember elatedly counting the number of cascades that would trickle down the slopes after a torrential downpour.
Back in Vishakhapatnam, I remember watching streams form out of nowhere after every squall or downpour. I have known this all along yet these memories were tightly wrapped up in some obscure corner of my brain, refusing to surface every single time I marvelled at the Western Ghats. They are certainly not the same, but older than the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats are unique and have their own charm. We do not crave for duplicates anyway.
Of late, I've been taking the time out to explore Andhra Pradesh and I'm happy to report that I'm pleasantly getting surprised at how much awesomeness is hiding in plain sight. To be fair, there is very little tourist infrastructure, but I'm having fun anyway. When a recent assignment required me to produce images on short notice, I decided to chase monsoons in the wonderful vicinities of the city of destiny, Vishakhapatnam.
Here's a glimpse of the amazing landscapes that welcomed me around Araku Valley and Tatipudi Reservoir.
To read more by the same author, click 
The Ford Pavilion at the World Fair[/caption]
Dr Anil Rajvanshi[/caption]
My younger daughter, Madhura, who passed her Class 10 exams from this school in 2001, did her Masters in Education from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and now teaches in KNB and runs its '
He is also a cycling enthusiast and has undertaken cross country cycling trips in his spare time. Which is one of the reasons why he came up with a unique idea after retirement.
His latest mission is a personal homage he wishes to pay to all our fallen heroes and martyrs; numbering over 20,600 since Independence. This homage will be rendered by cycling two minutes for every fallen hero. The journey will see him travel over 12,000 km on his bicycle, touching every state in the country over a period of seven months or so.
The journey will commence on October 19, 2016, from Ambala Cantonment, Haryana, which was his last posting before retirement. He will then head eastwards through the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. After travelling the North-Eastern states, he will continue down the east coast and then up the west coast, all the way to Jammu and Kashmir. And then he will head southwards to conclude his homage journey at the Amar Jawan Jyoti (War Memorial) in New Delhi.
Abandoned auto rickshaws identified in Besant Nagar, Chennai[/caption]
When a concerned resident of Besant Nagar, a locality in Chennai, approached the Citizen consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG) to understand what she could do about the abandoned vehicles close to her home, we decided to first see if abandoned vehicles were as ubiquitous and unauthorised on-street parkings in Chennai, as she claimed. My colleague, Poornima Chandran, did a quick survey of four streets in Besant Nagar. She used an open source survey tool called 
Figure 2: Map of abandoned vehicles identified in Besant Nagar, Chennai[/caption]
A few days ago, there was a media 
Figure 3: Process map of how the police deal with abandoned vehicles[/caption]
She found that the police were triggered into action when a written complaint regarding an abandoned vehicle was received from residents, restaurants, offices or shop owners/keepers. After inspecting the reported vehicle, the police request the Transport Commissioner in Ezhilagam for information of the owners; if the list of vehicles is small the police send this request to the nearest RTO. When they receive this information, they intimate the owners, who are requested to come to the police station with ownership documents, to pay penalties for obstruction and any towing charges within 90 days from the date the vehicle was seized or detained by the police. If they do not make the payment then the police are authorised to detain the vehicles till the payments are received. If they do not have adequate documents or do not want the vehicles, the police register a case in the Sessions Court, which in turn should give the clearance to the police to auction the vehicles. The details of all vehicles for which the court gives approval are published in newspapers and then auctioned. This follows the process laid down in the 
Vanita and her husband are farmers. Her husband Balbhim Manshetty generates off-farm income through civil contracts such as laying roads, constructing water harvesting structures, land levelling, etc. Around 50% of annual household income comes from this work and the rest comes from farming and dairy activities.
Vanita came to know about the one-acre farming model when she participated in a training programme organized by Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) for women farmers and agricultural labourers. SSP is an organization that promotes sustainable community development through empowerment of women in entrepreneurship and leadership roles. The participants went for an exposure visit to an organic farm in a place called Siddhagiri. There they witnessed a typical one-acre resilient agricultural model wherein more than hundred crops are grown on a single acre of land. Almost all the crops that were required to ensure the nutritional security of a household were grown there. Looking at the biodiversity on this little farm, Vanita felt that she should also grow as many crops as possible in this way to ensure that her household is self-sufficient.
She says, "Normally in one acre we get only one quintal. But through organic inputs we got four quintals of crop.”
• Vanita’s husband suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes. Concerned about her family, she took up organic farming to provide healthy food for them and not for selling in the market.
• She felt that toxins like chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the agricultural produce purchased from the market are the prime reasons for various diseases. Theoretically, since she had land, she could grow healthy food crops for her family.
In early 2014 the family took two more acres of land on lease. Vanita took an undertaking from her husband that she would cultivate an acre of land on her own. And there she cultivated cereals, pulses and vegetables besides helping her husband in the other two acres to cultivate soybean and grapes to be sold. This continued in 2015 as well, which happened to be a drought year.
In 2015, the couple grew a total of 15 crops under the one-acre model. All the three food crop categories – cereals and millets, pulses and vegetables (including leafy vegetables) were taken up. In more than 68% of the land, she raised crops in the rainy season (Kharif) as well as in winter season (Rabi).
Farming is done either for family consumption or to earn an income from selling the produce, or for both the purposes. Vanita cultivates mainly for domestic consumption and sells only onions and brinjals; that too after retaining some for domestic use. This helps her ensure food security for her family.
Vanita reaped more than 3900 kg of produce during the year 2015. Around 25% of the total production was used for household consumption. In terms of value, the amount of produce consumed fulfils 75% of the food requirements of the family. Vanita incurred a total expenditure of Rs. 9,600 per acre in cash, to raise the crops supplemented with the manure she produced from the cow dung from her farm, which was worth Rs. 6,000. Hence, her net income was Rs. 44,550 for two seasons, which amounts to nearly Rs.18,000 per acre.
Even before joining SSP, Vanita’s husband used to consult her in taking decisions. But since she knew very little about farming, she was not confident enough to suggest new techniques. However, after becoming a part of the producer group, she is more confident. She is now able to take care of the farm on her own, thereby providing free time for her husband to expand his civil contracting business. Due to two autonomous earning members in their family, their household income has also increased. Her husband supports her in all farm related decisions. Even children work on the farm and help her in cultivation.
Recently, the Supreme Court asked the Ministry of Human Resource and Development to constitute a core committee to monitor and ensure that all state boards comply with the order seeking implementation of the directive to make environment education a compulsory subject in schools across the country. Voice of Environment is disseminating information through various channels to put pressure on the union and state governments to make this happen.
Moharana explains that the government agencies don’t always comply with the court orders. The National Green Tribunal highlighted the relevance of environmental studies with regard to the eligibility criteria for appointment of the chairman and member secretary of state pollution control boards. If the said persion isn’t a graduate/post graduate in environmental studies as a specialized subject, he/she isn’t eligible for the position. “The first criteria of “Special Knowledge” for appointment of Chairman (of State Pollution Control Board) as prescribed under Section 4(2)(a) of the Water Act and Section 5(2) of the Air Act unambiguously means knowledge acquired through a well-designed special course based on topics pertaining to environment and its protection”.
“Though it has not been specifically mentioned in the aforesaid provisions that basic academic qualification in environmental protection is required, the words special knowledge taken within its ambit such requirement as the legislature cannot be presumed to be oblivious of existence of such basic qualifications”.
Both within the arrivals, and departure terminals, there is a clean and private baby room, equipped with a changing area, and cots, for more than one baby, and even dispensers for baby soap and cream. Hopefully we’ll see these rooms at every public space!
You can also contribute to help create 2000 breastfeeding counsellors in India. The project run by Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India will provide a four day course to train counsellors who can help mothers to make appropriate infant feeding choices and avoid harmful practices as well as solve their breastfeeding problems.