an elderly man walking his bicycle through a field, carrying a bundle of grass, with stacks of straw in the background--inclusive growth india

Our tryst with destiny: Building a circular economy for inclusive growth

To realise poorna swaraj, we must ask what growth is for and how we can ensure equity.
by Arun Maira | 6 min read

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Two women in colorful sarees work in a lush green vegetable field, carefully tending to plants and using tools to harvest produce. Rows of leafy vines surround them under an overcast sky_group farming

For marginal farmers, good things come in small collectives
Group farming enables farmers to cultivate contiguous smallholding plots, increase yield, and transition out of subsistence farming.
A woman wearing a yellow headscarf and green shirt sits surrounded by piles of clothes, sorting textile waste at a dry waste collection centre._circularity

Where does textile waste from households go? 
Our discarded clothes often become polluting waste. From recovery to recycling, here's how circularity can improve textile waste management.
An industrial power plant with tall chimneys emits smoke into the air. Large cooling towers and electricity pylons dominate the scene, surrounded by open fields under a clear sky_enviornment impact assessment

Environmental public hearings: Who really gets heard?
Public hearings are central to India’s environmental impact assessment process. Yet the Chhabra Thermal Power Plant case shows how community voices are being ignored.
Two men inside a blue-painted shop measure and pour grain into a sack using a metal scoop, at a public distribution system ration shop._Public Distribution System PDS

Infrastructures of exclusion: How e-KYC impacts access to food
With digital systems prone to failure, the e-KYC process for ration cards threatens people’s access to food under the Public Distribution System.
by Sameet Panda, Sweta Dash | 8 min read

Bite-sized stories from the people closest to the action.



Where have Kashmir’s otters gone?
Location Icon Srinagar district, Jammu and Kashmir ; Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir


A day in the life of


Frontline workers and first responders share their insights from working at the grassroots.


a female forest guard puts out a forest fire in Mewar Biodiversity Park, Udaipur district, Rajasthan--forest guard
Why conservation needs connection: Guarding Rajasthan’s forests
A day in the life of a forest guard, who navigates gender roles, community needs, and conservation in Rajasthan.
Women in a village standing in a group and talking_mental health stigma
From self to society: Navigating silence and stigma around mental health
A day in the life of a community health worker in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, who tackles mental health stigma through trust and support—in her own life and for the people she serves.
a teacher coach observing a class in session--government school teachers

Observing classrooms, building capacities
A day in the life of an educator, who uses a technology-enabled approach to coach government school teachers in Palghar, Maharashtra.


Social change leaders chronicle their failures and lessons learnt.

Silhouetted birds perched on bare tree_leadership failure
Building team culture isn’t optional
A nonprofit co-founder reflects on how scaling rapidly unintentionally alienated employees, which led to cracks in organisational culture.
Aerial shot of women protestors sitting_well-being
Preparing for a marathon, not a sprint 
Dalit civil rights activist Thenmozhi Soundararajan on why failure is an opportunity to build power, how systems of oppression affect well-being, and what healing looks like for individuals and communities.
Barbed wire_nonprofits
Why don’t nonprofits talk about their failures?
A number of risks, both real and perceived, stop nonprofits from talking about failure. Here's how various stakeholders can work together to overcome them.


Conversations with visionaries on their life's work, and their efforts to challenge the status quo in our country.

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Insights and analysis of specific sectors in the development arena—what works, what doesn't, and what needs to change.

See all coverage by topic:
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Livelihoods
  • Rights
  • Water & Sanitation

  • For marginal farmers, good things come in small collectives
    Group farming enables farmers to cultivate contiguous smallholding plots, increase yield, and transition out of subsistence farming.

    Environmental public hearings: Who really gets heard?
    Public hearings are central to India’s environmental impact assessment process. Yet the Chhabra Thermal Power Plant case shows how community voices are being ignored.

    Infrastructures of exclusion: How e-KYC impacts access to food
    With digital systems prone to failure, the e-KYC process for ration cards threatens people’s access to food under the Public Distribution System.


    Our tryst with destiny: Building a circular economy for inclusive growth
    To realise poorna swaraj, we must ask what growth is for and how we can ensure equity.

    Where does textile waste from households go? 
    Our discarded clothes often become polluting waste. From recovery to recycling, here's how circularity can improve textile waste management.

    Photo essay: Illness and isolation in Kachchh’s salt pans
    For Agariya women, salt farming in Gujarat's Little Rann of Kachchh means spending months without adequate water, food, and healthcare.

    Skills and functions that are core to growing programmes and organisations.

    See all coverage by topic:
  • Board & Governance
  • Fundraising & Communications
  • Leadership & Talent
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Programme
  • Technology

  • Infrastructures of exclusion: How e-KYC impacts access to food
    With digital systems prone to failure, the e-KYC process for ration cards threatens people’s access to food under the Public Distribution System.

    Making acquisitions work for nonprofits
    What happens when a nonprofit gets acquired? UnLtd India’s story offers a rare look at how crisis can lead to reinvention, and what it takes to make such a move work.

    Making chatbots work for nonprofits
    What happens when nonprofits use WhatsApp chatbots? Two leaders reflect on its impact, challenges, and what it takes to make this tech work on the ground.