Tracking Lacuna Limits CSR’s Contributions to Agri Sustainability | Analysis

Dasari Giridhar, Manan Bhan Hindu |  November 8, 2024 A decade ago, India became the first country to legally mandate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013 outlines the rules and regulations governing CSR. Its role in social development is crucial. According to the National CSR Portal, from 2014 to 2023, […]

Are CSR Contributions to Agriculture Properly Tracked?

Dasari Giridhar, Manan Bhan The Hindu | November 6, 2024 Adecade ago, India became the first country to legally mandate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Section 135 of the Com- panies Act 2013 outlines the rules and regulations governing CSR. According to the National CSR Portal, from 2014 to 2023, *1.84 lakh crore of CSR funds […]

Accessing panchayat ponds: Patterns from Central Kerala

Vinay Sankar and Eshani Girish Chemburkar India Water Portal | November 19, 2024 Freshwater bodies like ponds play a crucial role in water provisioning, especially for the poor, in many rural areas of India. These small-scale reservoirs also serve the domestic purposes of bathing, washing, cleaning, and as social gathering spots for dependent communities. However, […]

India’s Tea, Sugar Exports Raise Sustainability Concerns at Home

Dasari Giridhar, Manan Bhan The Hindu | November 14, 2024 India is one of the world’s largest agricultural product exporters. The Indian agricultural export is valued at $53.1 billion in 2022-2023, up from $8.7 billion in 2004-2005, a six-fold increase in less than two decades. For an economically developing economy like India, exports play a […]

Sacred Spaces of Myristica Swamps

Priya Ranganathan Nature InFocus |  November 8, 2024 Myristica swamps are rare freshwater habitats found in pockets of the Western Ghats, forming along streams in wet evergreen forests. These swamps are named after the Myristicaceae, or wild nutmeg family, which dominates the region and are dependent on monsoon rains and seasonal flooding. Globally, members of […]

Tree to Tallers

S. Natesh The Sunday Tribune Spectrum |  October 13, 2024 There’s a fascination in the public imagination for superla- tives the oldest tree, the tallest, the largest, and so on. Trees speak to our souls. Their roots, firmly grounded in earth, symbolise strength. Their trunks and branches shooting into the air signify resilience and endurance. […]

What Would the ESA Tag Do for the Western Ghats?

Gautam Aredath Deccan Herald |  October 10, 2024 The devastating landslide in Wayanad on July 30 is yet another reminder that abundant caution and ample restraint are essential when using land and natural resources, especially in sensitive geographical zones. Lesser understood effects of global climate change are aggravating both anthropogenic and natural factors that disturb […]

The Complex Process of Restoring Lakes in Bengaluru

Priyanka Jamwal, Hymavathi P The Hindu |  October 6, 2024 A recent report by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) stated that not one lake of the 110 lakes it studied in Bengaluru meets potable water quality standards. Potable water is water that is safe for human consumption — i.e., water that can be […]

Mahua and Its Products Need GI Recognition

Abhijit Dey Mongabay | September 26, 2024 The mahua flower, an integral part the Central Indian landscape, is a raw material used in delicacies and beverages for generations by tribal communities. A geographical indication (GI) tag awarded to mahua products can bring economic benefits for the communities that harvest the flowers, but the process has […]