ON SHAKY GROUND

Nearly half a million people living in and around the Jharia coalfield in Jharkhand have to be shifted to control underground fires

PRIVATE (LTD)

A controversial plan to sell water from the Sheonath river

ORPHANED BY APATHY

Hidden from the outside world, this is the plight of the Van Taungiyas

REPUBLIC QUAKED

How can a region officially recognised as the most earthquake prone be so helpless when it strikes?

TURNING TURTLE

Olive Ridley sea turtles have been coming to the Gahirmatha coast in Odisha for thousands of years for mass nesting. But for two consecutive years now they have failed to nest here, though they have shown up

THE RULERS NOUVEAUX

Madhya Pradesh became the first state in the country to implement the 3-tier panchayati raj. But lack of finances might just undo the transfer of power to the people

THE SALT OF THE EARTH

Moves are afoot to convert the brackish Pulicat lake into a freshwater one to supply water to Madras city and authorities seem to have little regard for its consequences on the environment

Can Vaccines Help Beat Latest Surge

ON APRIL 14, the country recorded 11,000 new COVID-19 cases, the highest so far in 2023. As cases rose throughout the month, states and Union Territories issued advisories on wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings to prevent the infection.

Power of pine

Women in Solan, Himachal Pradesh use abundantly available pine needles to weave items of everyday use and decor, earning a handsome monthly income

A silent crisis

Years of undernutrition and a heavy reliance on rice, supplied through public distribution system, could be fuelling diabetes among tribal population

POTENT EMITTER

Termites are a major source of methane, but determining the risk they pose to global warming is fraught with uncertainty

PLANT BABOOL

The tree can grow well on degraded land, can survive droughts and floods, and has numerous medicinal properties

Tiger reserved

Fiftieth anniversary of Project Tiger means little to forest-dwelling communities

GREEN FLIGHT

From sustainable fuel to hydrogen-propelled engines, the aviation sector is experimenting with various technologies for a clean future

'ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO MARRIAGE'

Nearly five years after scrapping Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalised homosexuality, the Supreme Court in April 2023 began hearing petitions seeking legalisation of same-sex marriage, which would not just recognise unions within India's LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, transgender, queer-identifying and others) community, but also allow partners to open joint bank accounts, make medical decisions and be eligible for inheritance. As a five-judge bench of the Apex Court headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud heard arguments both for and against the petitions, debates arose on the institution of marriage, on whether marriage equality was an \"elitist concept\", and even on the biological definitions of a man and a woman. DOWN TO EARTH spoke to two experts on the fate of marriage equality in India.

When generics turn into Big Pharma

Top generics firms, some from India, are charged with price-fixing and sleazy deals; Sun Pharma has paid up to settle claims

Every count matters

India’s first census of waterbodies is a much awaited one but experts question the methodology

RISE OF THE FUNGUS

Fungal infections often go undiagnosed. Even when identified, they are among the most difficult diseases to manage. They are now quietly spreading across the globe, preying on people's weakened immune system and taking advantage of the high diabetes burden. Some are even showing resistance to the existing arsenal of drugs and are becoming virulent in a warming world.

Deserted by state

Rural households in West Bengal are pushed into debt traps and forced migration after the Centre's decision to withhold funds to implement India's flagship public wage programme in the state

Mined To Destruction

Sand is the second most exploited resource after water and the most mined material globally, as per the UN Environment Programme. Its extraction from riverbeds is often done without regard to the adverse impact on natural river ecology. In India, sand mining grew as a large and, in many cases, illegal industry after the rapid urbanisation brought on by the economic liberalisation in the 1990s

Revival of a tradition

Rajasthan communities restore pastureland to ease impacts of fodder crisis in livestock farming

Fatal coincidence

Forest fire season in Uttarakhand coincides with flowering and breeding months of several vulnerable species, many of them native to Himalayas

A brave, flimsy take

BHEED IS A LOUD SOCIAL COMMENTARY THAT FALLS FLAT DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF TOO MANY HALF-COOKED STORIES AND CHARACTERS SEQUENCED INTO A LINEAR PLOT

PERENNIAL GUAVA

Used in street food, chutneys and perfumes, the climate-resistant fruit is a clear option for farmers

Bedaquiline patent win is a half victory

India's ability to eliminate its huge TB burden by 2025 will be a test of both its patent laws and healthcare policy

HEAVY SWAY

India developed the concept of farmer producer company (FPC) two decades ago to help small farmers own and run businesses and gain standing in the market by negotiating collectively. In 2019, the government set a target of creating 10,000 FPCs by 2024. It also introduced the concept of cluster-based business organisation (CBBO) to provide hand-holding support to farmers in forming FPCs. The move, however, has led to creation of FPCs that are controlled by the bigger companies that operate as CBBOs

Fake determinants

A series of research papers and an open letter by 200 global figures hold industries accountable for the growing publichealth problems, call for urgent actions

Displaced by settlers

Tribal communities in Kerala's Attappady block are being alienated from their land despite laws in place to protect their rights

Familiar discourse

The world met to discuss the burgeoning water crisis after nearly half a century; but commitments on action were largely a reiteration of ongoing work

Disturbed frontier

Restoration of degraded forests is the only way to curb monkey menace in Karnataka and to tackle the outbreaks of monkey fever in humans