Fiscal decentralisation for rural local governments can be meaningful only when the panchayat has adequate untied funds to provide public services assigned to them. Untied funds would imply that either the panchayat should be able to raise tax and non-tax revenues from the sources assigned to them or higher level governments should provide unconditional transfers […]
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Gram sabha, the assembly of all voters residing in a village, is the basic unit of Indian democracy. It is a forum, a constitutional entity, to ensure direct democracy through meaningful mass participation. The financial year 2009-2010 was declared the ‘year of the gram sabha’ for the first time, which helped focus on this vital […]
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Household consumption surveys The Household Consumer Expenditure Survey of the National Sample Survey (NSS), conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, is the primary source of government data on various indicators of levels of living, pattern of consumption and well being of households at the national and state level. […]
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The Lakshadweep Islands lying off the west coast of India are comprised of coral atolls, reefs and submerged banks, which surround 36 low lying coralline islands. It is considered the smallest Union Territory of India with a population of 64,429 in 2011. However, the land area of 32 sq km accounts for less than 1 […]
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Paddy cultivation and fishing is the mainstay of the Sundarban ecoregions’ economy. However, loss of landmass and frequent incursions of saltwater into agricultural fields is rendering the practice less viable each passing day. Sustainable aquaculture as well as shrimp-paddy culture has the potential to help affected cultivators to not only adapt to climate change but […]
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There is an ancient Greek myth that could be a potent parable for our times. Demeter, goddess of grain, fertility and the rhythm of the seasons, appears as a mortal priestess to the imperious King Erysichthon, suggesting he refrain from cutting the trees of a sacred grove planted in celebration of all she embodies. He […]
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Evidence of the ancient people of Chhattisgarh has been found in the hills of Raigarh, Singhanpur, Kabra, Basnajhar, Boslada and Ongana Mountains of ‘Chitwandongri’ in Rajnandgaon District. The stone equipments made and used by ancient people have been found on the coasts of Mahanadi, Mand, Kanhar, Manihari and Kelo rivers. The rock paintings of Singhanpur […]
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Bharhut is a small village, located in Satna district, in the eastern part of present day Madhya Pradesh. It once contained a magnificent Buddhist stupa surrounded by a massive vedika (railings) and interspersed by four toranas (gateways) placed in the cardinal directions, constructed during the reign of the Sunga dynasty – rulers of north and […]
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Chhau, a form of tribal martial dance of India, is believed to have originated in the former princely state of Mayurbhanj. Today, three variations of the dance are performed in eastern India – Seraikella Chhau in Jharkhand, Mayurbhanj Chhau in Orissa, and Purulia Chhau in West Bengal. All the dances are performed with masks. However […]
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The Causes of Climate Change Climate change is primarily attributable to an increase in trace gases – carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, also called greenhouse gases (GHGs) that warm the atmosphere by trapping heat radiating from the earth. Human activities resulting in constantly escalating use of energy ‘subsidies’ in the form of fossil fuels […]
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