Why Governments Need to Rethink Development and Its Costs
Nations and communities have long grappled with a difficult question: should nature be damaged to build roads, cities and industries, or does real development mean protecting the natural systems we rely on to live? In the case of the Kazhuveli wetlands, authorities in Tamil Nadu chose the former. But a wetland researcher argues that sometimes, preserving – or even reversing –development, what she calls “de-development,” may better serve both people and the environment.
When Nature Changes Its Rhythm, Communities Suffer
In Bhutan’s high Himalayan pastures, villagers say the alpine plants they’ve used for incense, medicine and fuel for generations are disappearing. But new ecological research shows that many of these plants are still growing, and some are now found in greater numbers. The study raises questions relevant not only in Bhutan but also in the mountains of India, Nepal and Tibet, where people depend on nature’s cycles, as well as across South Asia, where similar shifts are already underway.
China’s Mega Dam in Tibet Raises Concerns Over Ecology, Livelihoods
China is building the world’s largest dam on a major river in Tibet, which originates from a glacier in the northern Himalayas and flows downstream as the Brahmaputra River, crossing into India before merging with the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh. The project is expected to significantly impact crucial ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people, including those in India and Bangladesh.
Supreme Court Suspends Naming Order for Eateries in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand
The Supreme Court of India has issued an interim order, halting the enforcement of directives in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand that mandated eateries along the Kanwar yatra route to display the names of their owners. The court decided that these establishments need only to show the type of food they serve, stressing the irrelevance of the owner’s name or religion in serving the Kanwariya pilgrims.
A City in Gujarat Becomes World’s First to Ban Non-Vegetarian Food
In Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, Palitana city has implemented a ban on non-vegetarian food, including the sale, consumption and slaughter of meat. This policy, which enforces the dietary laws of the Jain community across its entire population, clearly constitutes government overreach. It not only imposes a specific dietary preference but also extends government powers into areas of personal choice and freedom, areas typically considered sacrosanct under democratic principles.
Empowering Women Through Mobility
In the drought-prone district of Sangli in Maharashtra, a quiet revolution is unfolding—one that has transformed the lives of women grappling with limited mobility. In the episode, “A Ticket to Ride” for Newsreel Asia’s Radio Local podcast, a community radio Yeralavani sheds light on the inspiring stories of Savita Mote and Sakhubai Suryavanshi, illustrating how innovative solutions are breaking down barriers for rural women.
Madhya Pradesh’s New Meat Ban: A Step Back in Fighting Malnutrition
Madhya Pradesh’s new Chief Minister, Mohan Yadav, has declared a ban on the open sale of meat and eggs, stirring up serious concerns about its effects on public health, especially in a state already battling high malnutrition levels.