Archive

A school with a difference

 
/ November 19, 2014

“Before coming to this camp, I used to graze goats,” says Durga Kumari, a student at Seva Mandir, an NGO that works as an alternative for kids who can’t go to a school. Community Correspondent Shambhulal reports on the ineffectual government schools in rural Rajasthan and how Seva Manadir’s model...

Failures of Indira Awaas Yojana in Uttar Pradesh

 
/ November 18, 2014

Radhika Devi — a 40-year-old woman and a widow — from Durga Nagar village in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, has been waiting for assistance under the Indira Awaas National Housing Scheme. Since the death of her husband 5 years ago, nothing has happened. She isn’t alone either; several other...

NREGA in Bihar: No work, no payments

 
/ November 18, 2014

Community Correspondent Tanju Devi, from Semri-Dumri village of West Champaran district of Bihar, reports on the plight of NREGA labourers who haven’t received due payments. CALL TO ACTION: You can call the P.O, Mr Kaushal Kishore, on +91-9431826712, and pressurize him into providing due payments to the labourers who have...

Stranded: Widows in UP

 
/ November 17, 2014

The widows of Dhamaruwa village of Uttar Pradesh are a truly disenfranchised community. The government’s failing to provide the widow-pension has weighed most heavily upon these women, reports Community Correspondent Gayatri Devi. “My husband passed away two years ago, but I haven’t received any widow-pension,” says Shilawanti Devi. Adding further,...

Reserved: Ladies Seat

 
/ November 17, 2014

Last year on International Women’s Day, the government’s transport department increased the number of seats reserved for women in local buses from 4 to 8. However, not much has changed. “Women still have to stand, be pushed around and get groped while men sit back and relax”, says Community Correspondent...

Ground Report: Flimsy conditions of a government school in Uttar Pradesh

 
/ November 14, 2014

The primary school in Puraina village, which houses 134 students, is a ramshackle block with no boundary wall. The toilet — built a long time ago — is no longer in a working condition either. Students wander about the campus to relieve themselves, VV-PACS Community Correspondent Brahmajith reports from Siddharth...

Women discriminated against for not giving birth to boys

 
/ November 13, 2014

Savitri Devi gets beaten up by her husband very frequently for not having a son, reports Community Correspondent Mahesh Kumar from Ambai Bujuru of Kaushambhi district in Uttar Pradesh. Kaushambhi district celebrates a festival known as Sakat or Ganesh Chowk every year. In this festival, everyone can participate except the...

No water in school: Students walk for hours to quench thirst

 
/ November 13, 2014

The nearest well to the Upper Middle School of Kailashpur is in the neighbouring village of Indrapatti. Students must walk there — miles away — in order to get drinkable water since the school doesn’t have a hand-pump.Community correspondent Amit Kumar reports from Bihar’s Gaya district on the deplorable state...