Politics

People-centred governance and decision-making, ensuring accountability and transparency

This section features initiatives and approaches towards people-centred governance and decision-making, with direct participation, and based on principles of social and environmental justice. This includes initiatives attempting to realize local non-hierarchical systems of decision-making in urban and rural areas, and linkages of these to each other at bio-cultural levels. This would also include collectives or communities that raise non-party political concerns at the local level and beyond, as well as initiatives that enhance accountability and transparency of political bodies. It will include alternative policy frameworks that are based on or promote the alternative economies featured elsewhere on this site, such as meaningful practices and concepts of well-being, instead of the mainstream development model which focuses on economic growth.

Gardens of Resilience: How Gond Adivasi Women Are Cultivating Change Amid Crisis

A call to action for recognising and funding genuine, community-led gender-just climate solutions, providing women access to clean energy to meet their daily needs.

बणःतु हको कथाःरे Bana-Tu Haqo Kathare | Forest Rights Chronicles || A film by Himdhara Collective

The film traces through indigenous testimonies traces the evolution of socio-ecological systems in Lahaul

Realising the essence of the Sarvodaya ideal

He found countless ways to defy the constraints imposed by soulless systems by creating alternative paths that gave meaning and joy to a wide range of people

Van Gujjars help conserve forests, but are deprived of rights

The Van Gujjars – a pastoralist community in Uttarakhand – are on the frontline of climate change, but their role in forest management is limited by the rights they are denied

Why doing nothing is a radical act for India’s women – photo essay

‘Leisure is a feminist issue’ says Surabhi Yadav, whose photography project captures carefree moments of women around her

World Social Forum: Rethinking and Redefining Development Itself

Bioregionalism means regaining social and environmental well-being by redrawing the boundaries of governance, especially at the lowest village and township levels.

Songs of Resistance: Aarey

Resisting powerful forces, their music and activism persist, challenging mainstream development narratives and advocating for environmental justice and Adivasi rights.

A manifesto for justice

People’s movements and civil society organizations have to continue promoting changes through advocacy for policy shifts and ground action by and with communities.