V Kishore Chandra Deo, the Minister of Panchayati Raj and Tribal Affairs, lighted up a gloomy January morning with his cheerful and warm disposition as he chatted with Sulagna Chattopadhyay, editor G’nY, about the changing roles of women in panchayat. While outlining the positive effects that programmes and schemes of the Ministry have had on empowering women in rural areas, he indicated the need to strengthen the entire system.

Grass root leaders who relentlessly work towards the betterment of their respective villages in different yet similar ways.

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.