Field Stories

These stories bring out the real-life narratives, moments, and experiences, highlighting the stories and voices of the communities our fellows work with

The Imposition Of Criminality

The Imposition Of Criminality

De-notified Tribes (DNTs) continue to be denied access to housing, healthcare, nutrition, education, livelihood, political representation, justice and lives of dignity. It’s scary how little we know/are taught about this history. This is my humble attempt to spread the word.

The Nights Were Dark And Full of Terror – Odisha And Education

After spending month in Kalahandi, experiencing almost all sorts of adventure, I ask myself, “Could there be anything left to  see?” I have seen death as well as new life coming into this world in front of my eyes. One week I was supposed to visit a village on the...

Mass Hysteria And Opinions – Story Of Kanpur Dehat

I am writing to tell you about an incident that shook me due to the incredulous nature of the story that got fabricated around it which still confounds me as to why that girl died. A number of conjectures it generated in order to piece together the character and the...

The Story Of The Black Angrez Of Rajasthan

I am sure all of you, after reading the title of this post are thinking: - Who are Black Angrez? Who can be the Black Angrez?  It was just a usual day when I was leaving the school I work in, for a field visit and waiting for the jeep to come. 40 minutes had already...

Domestic Violence : Pegging The Blame

What do you say when a woman you met 20 minutes back, tells you, “Maar-pitai to yahan har ghar mein hoti hai. Maine shadi ke pehle ye sab kabhi nahi dekha lekin is mohalle mein roz ka hi hai. Ab ajeeb nahi lagta, aadat pad gayi hai.” (Violence happens in every home...

How Useful Is A Health Insurance Scheme In India?

How Useful Is A Health Insurance Scheme In India?

Travel (home to block hospital) - Rs 200Medicine - Rs 300Travel (block hospital to private clinic) - Rs 100Medical expenses (doctor fees, caesarean delivery charges, medicines) - Rs 22,000Travel (private clinic to home) - Rs 200Total Expenditure (in 3 days) - Rs...

KHAAN : The Evolution Of A Dead Mine

KHAAN : The Evolution Of A Dead Mine

A few months back I worked on a radio series called Khanabadoshon Ki Duniya (The world of migrants). It focused on breaking the narrative of internal migrants as a threat to development as portrayed by various media. The themes touched upon areas like the...

Ladakh : The Land That Was!

It looked like a dream, stayed like an old friend and will be often recalled as the land where most outsiders found bliss, either in nature or in other people and a few, within themselves. Everyone knows Ladakh is heavenly, not just in the way it looks but also how it...

Aspiration Mapping Of Girls In Rural Bihar

अपने काम के दौरान मैं ग्रामीण बिहार की बहुत सी लड़कियों और उनके माता-पिता से मिलती हूँ, जो मुझे यहाँ लड़कियों की स्थिति समझने में मदद करता है | यहाँ की अधिकतर लड़कियां 14 से 16 साल की उम्र के बाद स्कूल जाना बंद हो जाता है | इसके कई कारण है, जैसे- माता-पिता डर होता है की...

Barter In The Hinterlands Of Gujarat

I work with Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a  legal aid organisation in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Foremost of CSJ’s vision is to create a network of legal aid centres across India. One of our centres is setup in Umarpada block of Surat district. This dainty quite block is...

What Renu Managed To Do With Training And Courage

What Renu Managed To Do With Training And Courage

Renu Devi was 7 months pregnant and expecting her second child. It was around midnight that she started having labour pains. She ignored the pain since her expected due date was two months away so she thought these must be false pains. Moreover, it was late at night...

Sanju’s Tryst With Beekeeping

Sanju’s Tryst With Beekeeping

Beekeeping, apart from helping improve crop produce and sustainability, can also provide a viable source of income for many in rural India. An account of how the practice has helped a high-school dropout rediscover his purpose in life, thanks to proper training and...

Humans Of Demonetization : A Digital Campaign

Humans Of Demonetization : A Digital Campaign

To read the whole story click here Just a few minutes before the official announcement, different corners of this nation had different things to worry about: the capital region wouldn’t stop ranting about the smog, people down-south were worried about a chief minister...

Voices Behind Statistics : The Faces Of The City

Voices Behind Statistics : The Faces Of The City

I had evidently become curious about every passing human – co-passengers in the metro, rickshaw pullers in the neighbourhood, friends, co workers and the like. No one in my vicinity seemed to belong here. They seemed to have travelled from faraway places in the...