Economics and Technologies

Community-based alternatives for production, consumption, and exchange

This section features stories of initiatives that help to create an alternative to the dominant neo-liberal or state-dominated economy. These include: localisation of economic activity with democratic control, producer and consumer collectives, local currencies and trade, non-monetised exchage and the gift economy, ecologically sensitive products and processes, macro-economic concepts that respect ecological limits, and approaches to human well-being that go beyond growth, GDP and other narrow measures and indicators.

What we do not feature are superficial and false solutions, such as market and technological fixes for problems that are deeply social and political, or more generally, ‘green growth’ kind of approaches that only tinker around with the existing system.

Goonj Initiative Helps Bihar Villagers Build Bamboo Bridge Amid Floods

With 250 pieces of bamboo sticks, the determined locals toiled for five days to build a 400-metre-long and 1.5-metre-wide bridge.

Handmade collective goes online

... to help farmers, weavers, spinners and dyers, who are all part of the cotton value chain and were affected by the pandemic

Nagaland Students Setup Mini Hydropower Plant, Power Highway Street Lights

“Project Brighter Khuzama is wholly funded by like-minded locals and not by any governmental organisations."

SIRI to set up integrated millets processing units in Telangana

(Also) setting up a back-end integration network, involving Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies

Gujarat Man Helps Tribal Women Make Solar Cookers That Cost Just Rs 100!

Travelling across over 100 villages in Gujarat, the duo has trained people to make the best use of sun’s energy.

How Forest-Dwelling Communities are Braving the Pandemic

Local communities and gram sabhas better understand the local complexities than local administrations while dealing with a crisis

A rainbow recovery post-COVID

About creating dignified livelihoods, protecting nature, ensuring justice for all, and reviving solidarity.

COVID-19: Time to rethink development

It is also an opportunity to help people value the importance of happy and fulfilling lives over one based on earning money.

Press Release – Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan – Farming Reforms Acts 2020

3 Farm Bills - passed as Laws - pose a serious threat to the food security of Indian citizens