A successful campaign to empower elected women representatives (EWRs) in the State, suggests that supporting them addresses several issues through the panchayat as women’s leadership is inclusive, collaborative, consultative, tolerant of different points of view, people-oriented and uses democratic and facilitative forms of decision-making.

Powerful local initiatives by elected women leaders at the village level have led to innovative outcomes. We present stories that made the difference in the year 2012-13.

The need to adopt a green way of life is reflected in the increasing demand for ‘green’ buildings. It remains to be seen whether voluntary submissions would suffice in the effort to achieve holistic conservation of resources.

At the turn of the 20th century, there were estimatedly 40,000 tigers in India. Today the figure stands at 1,706. Clearly, the big cats roaming the country’s 81,881 sq km of tiger habitat are in need of urgent attention.

The decision to establish ‘inviolate spaces’ for tigers has resulted in the relocation of villages located in the core areas of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. The study throws light on the fragmented lives of the villagers and raises questions about the necessity of relocation.

Breaking away from tradition, The Other Hundred, a photo-book project, tells stories of a 100 people who are not rich or famous, but deserve to be celebrated for their extraordinary lives.

Although a safe and energy efficient mode of transport, waterways still remain underdeveloped.

Mercury is poisonous in any form. Neurological and behavioural disorders may be observed after inhalation, ingestion or dermal exposure of different mercury compounds.

Though CFLs consume a fifth of the energy required by incandescent lamps, they contain highly toxic mercury. The absence of fixed standards for mercury content and the lack of disposal norms, even a decade after CFLs were introduced in India, mean there are huge quantities of mercury lying in our waste, seeping into our atmosphere and entering our food chain.