It is now in the process of transforming these gauthans into what it calls rural industrial parks, or centres for cottage industries that the government hopes will create retail products that can “compete with the market”.

“When you look out the window, what you see out there should be on your plate.”

रंकाळा परिसरातील धुण्याची चावी हे एक बदलत्या काळातही प्रदूषणमुक्तीचे आदर्श मॉडेल म्हणून ओळखले जाते

Acknowledging groundwater as ‘commons’ is an important step in the right direction.

“Highly competitive cast of minds as well as a destructive mentality towards nature with a manifestation of dual behaviour is what the mainstream education cultivates and I had no intention to send my children to these schools. Therefore, I decided to home-school my children,” says Meenakshi.

The macro and micro-systems of nature work in tandem to survive. Their role in climate change resilience is paramount. Sreeja works to ensure that all community voices are heard, all-natural parts are valued and sustainability is defined in one’s own context.

"Forests thrive on their own without chemicals or constant watering. On my farm, I've created a similar ecosystem. So, my team and I just do one thing: harvest the plants," says Yella Reddy

“For centuries, the indigenous people have been living in harmony with nature. In our culture, we do hunt but for our sustenance and we do not sell meat,” he says.

The state government is working with the Centre on a legal framework to allow the state’s tribal communities to gain legal land rights over their customary land.