Skip to main content

Posts

Why Reserve Bank of India's rate cut alone won’t move India’s growth needle

By Hemantkumar Shah*  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently lowered its key policy rates, including the repo rate and announced a phased reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), signaling a shift towards a more accommodative monetary stance. At first glance, such a move might appear to herald a phase of economic acceleration—lower interest rates, easier loans, increased investments, and rising employment. However, closer scrutiny reveals that these policy changes, though significant on paper, may not meaningfully impact India’s GDP growth unless accompanied by robust fiscal measures and targeted reforms.
Recent posts

How forests can be saved best with the people who live closest to them

By Bharat Dogra  At a time when climate change has made environmental protection an existential priority, preserving and regenerating natural forests must remain at the centre of any strategy for ecological stability and biodiversity conservation. However, a growing body of experience from India and around the world confirms what tribal and rural communities have long known: forests cannot be protected from the top down. True and lasting conservation can only be achieved when the communities living near forests are actively involved in managing and protecting them.

From margins to mainstream: Waste picker-led circularity model expands to 12 Indian cities

By A Representative  In a groundbreaking development that aligns environmental action with social equity, a textile waste recycling initiative led by informal waste workers in Bengaluru has scaled from a local pilot to a national model. The project, part of the broader Saamuhika Shakti programme, is now being replicated in 12 cities across India—demonstrating that circularity can be both climate-positive and socially inclusive when rooted in community leadership.

Western Sydney initiative in India earns global praise for empowering women through water security, grassroots leadership

By A Representative  A powerful grassroots initiative empowering women in rural India has drawn international recognition as part of a global university-community partnership that has placed women at the heart of local water governance. The MARVI project (Managing Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention), supported by Western Sydney University in collaboration with Indian NGOs and community groups, is being applauded worldwide for its transformative impact—particularly in training rural women as groundwater leaders and changemakers.

Violent evictions in Nagarahole: Forest department razes adivasi huts despite FRA protections

By A Representative   In a disturbing escalation of tensions between state authorities and Adivasi communities in the Nagarahole forests, over 250 personnel from the Forest Department, Special Tiger Protection Force, and local police violently demolished six huts belonging to Jenu Kuruba Adivasi families in Karadikallu Atturu Koli Haadi on June 18. The demolition took place in the midst of heavy monsoon rains, leaving families exposed to the elements and stripped of their temporary homes.

Rural women volunteers lead the way in restoring traditional water sources

By Bharat Dogra  In the arid landscape of Bundelkhand, where water scarcity and erratic rainfall define the rhythms of daily life, a quiet revolution is underway. At the forefront are rural women volunteers—known as jal sahelis—who are emerging as tireless champions of water conservation, community hygiene, and ecological revival.

Diaspora group report alleges Indian government engaged in transnational repression in the U.S.

By A Representative   The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a U.S.-based advocacy organization, has released a report alleging that the Indian government is engaging in transnational repression (TNR) tactics within the United States to target critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration. The report claims these efforts are facilitated with the involvement of Indian consulates and pro-government networks.

Hope from the Amazon: Land rights, indigenous voices, and the winds of change in Latin America

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  After several days of travel and digital silence, I returned from a rare and deeply moving journey into the Amazon region of Colombia. It was not just another field trip, but an opportunity to witness the pulse of Latin America’s land rights movement, firsthand.

Herbal intelligence: Antioxidant plants that enhance focus and memory

By Maninder Singh*  In our fast-paced lives, we often overlook one of the most vital aspects of our well-being—our mind. From meeting deadlines to staying focused and recalling important details, our brain is constantly at work. To keep it healthy and sharp, it needs consistent care and nourishment.

Left-wing Philippine leader, peace negotiator Ka Louie Jalandoni passes away at 90

By Harsh Thakor*   Ka Louie Jalandoni, a long-time leader of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), passed away on June 7 at the age of 90. He played a prominent role in the country’s leftist revolutionary movement and was the NDFP’s chief international representative and chief peace negotiator for several decades.