Society, Culture and Peace

Enhancing socio-cultural well-being, ensuring justice and equity

Featured here are initiatives to enhance social and cultural aspects of human life: the revival and progressive use of visual, performing, and other arts, of the myriad crafts of the country, of threatened or submerged languages, of food and cuisine diversity, and other such cultural traits and processes. They also cover the various struggles and constructive movements to achieve social justice, to reduce inequalities and inequities of various kinds including caste, class, gender, ethnicity, and religion, and to create dignity in living for those currently oppressed and exploited. Finally, they include movements to generate ethical living and thinking, and spread values such as simplicity, honesty, frugality, and tolerance.

Forests take centre stage at UN as countries gather to discuss climate mitigation

Several countries highlight the importance of integrating community engagement and traditional knowledge systems in defining policies and regulations across different levels of government.

Broken Signals: India’s Heatwave Warnings Are Missing the Mark

These stories ask us the question: how do we centre the needs of the most vulnerable while designing an effective disaster warning system?  

Want to invent leisure from leftovers? Laggere shows the way

The children of Laggere's resettlement colony, despite being pushed at the city's margins, have invented subtle and active ways to reclaim their space through play and leisure.

Play spaces for adolescents: The missing link in our cities

The idea of play is rooted in choice, in freedom, in agency; it is something “freely chosen, personally directed, and intrinsically motivated,” drawing from the environment around.

The unlikely success of a novel justice delivery system in Bihar

Local courts in Bihar, known as gram kachcheris, have become part of the state’s sociocultural fabric. They deliver justice in a timely and inexpensive manner, in matters ranging from theft and small land disputes to family feuds.

A Bengaluru Initiative Is Creating A Culture Of Sustainable & People-Centric Urban Living

Bengawalk aims to make Bengaluru more liveable by focusing on increasing walkability, safety, accessibility, and attractiveness in urban design so residents can thrive and stay connected.

How About Implementing the Constitution in Adivasi and Tribal Areas?

There is a need to implement constitutional measures in Adivasi and Tribal Areas to provide more autonomy in decision-making and governance.

Being a pilgrim- Walking along the Indus

Over the last few years, the Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust and Kalpavriksh have been organising Indus River walks with students and others to understand its ecological significance, beauty and various contemporary challenges.

In a First, Community Women Monitor Air Quality in Rural Jharkhand; Identify Pollution Hotspots

In a unique community initiative, a group of women (known as Paryavaran Sakhis) identify and monitor 26 air pollution hot spots in the coal mining belt of Dhanbad and Bokaro districts, which include health centres, anganwadis, community halls, and pond sites.