Shahina K K in Wayanad
DESPITE being one of the most sought-after hill stations in south India, the summer heat in Wayanad is at its peak. The region's lush green landscape and dense forests, typically known for its cool and pleasant climate, is witnessing searing heat conditions and a yellow alert has been issued. And despite being touted as a 'star constituency'where Rahul Gandhi of the Congress is contesting against CPI's senior leader Annie Raja-the streets appear lethargic. The BJP has fielded its state chief K Surendran.
Annie, who is the wife of CPI general secretary D Raja, kicked off her campaign in early March and has completed six rounds of campaigning in the constituency. Annie, while meeting plantation workers in Kalpetta city, receives an array of responses. On the one hand, the women are hugging and holding her hands expressing love and solidarity, and on the other, they express fear and grief over the frequent incidents of human-animal conflicts that have made Wayanad unliveable.
"Whoever wins, our lives will remain the same. Nobody does anything to save us from the wild animal attacks," says Rema, a plantation worker. She is equally unhappy with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government as well as the sitting MP, Gandhi, for their cold-shouldering.
Wayanad is grappling with numerous incidents of humananimal conflict, especially during summer as elephants enter human settlements in search of water. The tragic demise of a farmer recently-chased and fatally attacked by a radiocollared wild elephant-sent shock waves across the state.
This story is from the May 01, 2024 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 01, 2024 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
My Secular Mentor
A rare psychologist of Indian culture, Sudhir Kakar leaves behind seminal works that will have relevance for many generations
Battle of the Bahubalis
Gangsters in Bihar no longer enjoy the kind of dominance that they did in the 90s, but that has not kept them away from politics
Memories of Riots
Have frequent communal tensions changed the social fabric of Bihar?
Didi's Achilles Heel
Mamata Banerjee stays the course but her party, plagued by corruption charges, spins out of control
Memory Metamorphosis
What happened on March 14, 2007 in Nandigram? People still ask this question as they take part in the dance of democracy
Minority Report
He has not lost the Dhubri seat in Assam since 2009. Now he is fighting for political survival as Bengali Muslims look to favour the Congress
THE POWER OF PURPOSE
Doing good is good business as it transcends bottom lines and impacts lives positively, yielding profits that go beyond numbers.
CURRENT FARMING METHODS ARE EXACERBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) project is supporting transition of 850,000 farmers covering 377,801 hectares of land and operating in 3730 villages. \"Natural farming is in harmony with nature. It is a holistic land management practice that leverages the power of photosynthesis in plants\", says Mr. T Vijay Kumar, a retired IAS officer, who is the Executive Vice Chairman of Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, a non-profit organization set up by the Andhra Pradesh government in 2014. Since 2016, this platform has been utilized to integrate and promote APCNF activities, aimed at fostering the overall development and empowerment of farmers. Excerpts from an interview with Mr T Vijay Kumar:
IN PURSUIT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Harshavardhana Gourineni, Executive Director, Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Ltd, in an interview shares how through its products and operations the company is helping reduce carbon footprints and meet SDGs. Excerpts:
COOLING NO MORE A LUXURY, BUT A NECESSITY
With the rise in demand of air conditioners due to heat stress, sustainable air conditioning is the way forward to bring relief to people as well as manage emissions