People may avoid migrating if they cannot insure themselves against the risk of a bad outcome. Governments can reduce the consumption risk faced by migrants by allowing them to access social protection programs in the destination. This study randomly informed around 62,000 households across 18 Indian states about a new …
It’s early morning. As a speeding passenger bus approaches the Acharya Vihar crossing in Bhubaneswar, a man on the roadside waves a coconut wrapped in a piece of red cloth. The bus screeches to a halt. The conductor hurries down and accepts the fruit. Barely after a kilometre, the bus …
Sacred groves are communally-protected forest fragments with significant religious connotations. These community lands attain significance due to biodiversity conservation and provide ecological services in local landscapes. However, it has often been found that interests related to sacred groves are often concentrated towards the groves with conspicuous presence, i.e. in terms …
Maulana Talib Hussein does not find it easy to squat. Yet five times a day, the 64-year-old must get into that position to perform wudu , Arabic for the Islamic norm of cleaning. “Wudu is one of the prescribed acts of cleansing Muslims must undertake before offering prayers,” he said. …
India has continued to report cases of wild poliovirus and acute flaccid paralysis throughout the 2000s. Indeed, in 2009 the numbers of both exceeded the totals for 2008, by 26% and 9.5%, respectively. Confirmed wild poliovirus cases are increasingly concentrated amongst Muslim children and localised in western Uttar Pradesh and …
Conservation of Deo-rahati (sacred groves) in India has ancient roots from Vedic period. Even in modern days ethnic groups conserve religiously preserved forest patches through their customs, taboos and local festivals associated with the deities. Therefore, these forest pockets serve the vital function of conserving biological diversity and natural water …
An Associate Laureate of the 2004 Rolex Awards, Jo Thompson was selected for her pioneering efforts to save the bonobo, an endangered ape that dwells only in the Congo Basin region of Africa. During the Congo's war years (1998-2002), Thompson's wildlife project maintainted an active presence within the country. In …
Throughout the Pacific regions of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia, sea turtles are recognised as culturally significant species. The specifics of human-sea turtle interactions in these regions, however, are not well known, in part because ethnographic and historic reports documenting these interactions are scattered, requiring extensive archival research. Ethnographic and environmental …
On a global scale, the existing Sacred Groves (SGs) follow ancestral worship on conservation in forest patches. SGs are distributed over a wide ecosystem and help in conservation of rare and endemic species. Well preserved SGs are store houses of biological, ecological, medicinal, ethno-cultural and religious values. During November 2006 …
The main emphasis of ancient Indian concepts is on the inherent balance of nature. The five primary elements namely earth, water, fire, air and space together with flora and fauna form a network of interrelations which ultimately culminates in giving rise to a grand harmony among everything. The Mahabharata says …
Pollution from carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphate and suspended particulate matter due to ignition of fireworks during the festival of Diwali is well established. Although surface ozone exhibits high natural variability throughout the year, any short term enhancement in ozone levels coupled with high level of pollutants during Diwali might …
Indians add green touch to religious festivals Few events can rival the ancient rituals and riotous color of India's religious festivals. This year, the months-long celebration season is also becoming eco-friendly. Alarmed by the high levels of pollution caused by firecrackers, toxic paints and idols made of non-recyclable material, schools, …
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2009 prepared by the federal government seeks transformation of society along the lines of Islamic teachings and revitalise existing education system to cater to social, political and spiritual needs of individuals and society. The NEP has nine chapters and describes overarching challenges, articulates the ways …
The Gonds, like all aboriginal people, are animistic, for whom nature, from where they derive all their sustenance, is everything, hence a power to pray to and also appease. However, it was Lingo, their first mentor, who inculcated in them any sense of values, gave them the philosophy of life …
Give forest guards the slip to hunt deer on festival day heavy barricades and forest guards did not deter tribals of Jharkhand from celebrating their annual hunting festival, Sendra. The festival is an old ritual where tribals from the state and bordering areas of Orissa, Bihar and Bengal, join to …
Bhutan's nature conservation policy aims to integrate nature conservation and economic development. This policy is guided by a Buddhist attitude that places coexistence with nature over exploitation of nature for economic gain. We looked at how nature conservation policy affected everyday life and economic activities of local communities and what …
Archaeologists have unearthed four pharaonic temples in the Sinai peninsula, including one of mud brick with fortified walls that served as an important religious center at the eastern gateway to ancient Egypt. Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities said on Tuesday the temples dated to the beginning of the rule of …
Participants in a seminar on Friday called on the imams across the country to create awareness among the common people of HIV/AIDS to fight the deadly disease. They made the call at the seminar titled
