IDR Hindi
  • Languages ▼

    • Features

    Special IDR features and series, including editorial collaborations.

    Columns at Assos Temple of Athena under clear blue sky--systems change government
    Perspectives
    Why systems change matters (to the government)
    A tripod model between government, nonprofits, and philanthropists, much like public–private partnerships in the past, can help overcome the constraints that governments face and drive systemic change.
    by Vini Mahajan | 6 min read

    IDR Explains

    SEE ALL

    A comprehensive introduction to a development topic, concept, or approach that captures expert views as well as the latest secondary research on the topic.

    The image features three women working in a field. One women holds a stack of leaves in her hand and there are rows of bound and stacked leaves laid out on the ground._Community resources
    Environment
    IDR Explains | Commons
    In just 10 minutes, learn how India’s commons power its people, ecology, and economy—through examples, their history, and challenges.
    by India Development Review | 10 min read
    A group of people stand in a forest holding signs. - Forest Rights Act
    Rights
    IDR Explains | Forest Rights Act (FRA)
    In just four questions, learn what FRA is, why it was enacted, how it aims to benefit India’s forest-dwelling communities, and what are the barriers in doing so.
    by India Development Review | 7 min read
    A circular strip_circular economy
    Environment
    IDR Explains | Circular Economy
    In just five questions, explore the circular economy—what it is, why it’s crucial for sustainability in India, and the challenges of adopting it.
    by India Development Review | 10 min read

    Photo Essays

    SEE ALL

    Photo-driven stories that depict ground realities, explore pressing issues, and outline innovative solutions.

    a placard with the text
    Environment
    Teesta matters to us: A people’s march to save the waters
    Recently, people in Sikkim and West Bengal marched to oppose destructive hydropower projects on the Teesta River. Here's the story of the march and the two-decade-long resistance movement behind it.
    by Aakriti Thatal | 8 min read
    a large group of women sitting on the ground next to a field--MGNREGA
    Gender
    For women in Rajasthan, the end of MGNREGA means losing more than work
    For women, MGNREGA has been a gateway to employment, a voice in village panchayats, administrative accountability, and access to social welfare. Many fear that the VB-G RAM G Act will weaken these hard-won gains.
    by Shraddha Jain | 5 min read
    a woman picking tea leaves on a tea plantation next to a rice paddy; there are four other workers picking tea nearby--tea estates
    Livelihoods
    The promise of a patta in Tripura’s tea estates
    A 2022 land titling scheme promised security for Tripura's tea workers. But gaps in information and implementation have blunted its impact.
    by Rishiraj Sinha | 6 min read

    Ground Up

    SEE ALL
    Bite-sized stories from the people closest to the action.
    Technology
    photo
    Kandhamal, Odisha
    Registering migrants, one WhatsApp message at a time
    by Nanjaya Pradhan
    Climate Emergency
    photo
    Assam
    Assam’s worst flood in years needs new relief methods
    by Debojit Dutta
    Rights
    photo
    Baran, Rajasthan
    How a power plant evaded CSR spending in Rajasthan
    by Pavan Kevat

    IDR Interviews

    SEE ALL
    Conversations with visionaries on their life’s work, and their efforts to challenge the status quo in our country.
    a digital sketch of Dr Carmo Noronha against a pale blue background--
    "It's no use telling a child that one plus one is two… Unless you tell them how they can use that to actually improve their daily life."
    Dr Carmo Noronha
    2 min read
    a digital portrait of Dr Ram Punyani against a pale green background--communalism in india
    "By the time the truth puts on its shoes to step out, the lie has already travelled around the world."
    Dr Ram Puniyani
    2 min read
    an illustration of Rajim Ketwas, a Dalit, Adivasi, and gender rights activist from Chhattisgarh--Dalit and Adivasi rights
    "Even if you struggle equally, get beaten up, and go to jail, it is hard for men to accept women as leaders. They may accept a woman from an upper caste, because caste hierarchy plays a role. But it is much more difficult for an Adivasi or Dalit woman, no matter how educated or capable she is."
    Rajim Ketwas
    9 min read

    A day in the life of

    SEE ALL

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

    The image is set inside a home. A young women is sitting at the edge of a bed with her back turned to the camera. She is holding the hand of a person who is lying down on the bed, out of the frame.--palliative care
    Health & Well-being
    What does it mean to care for someone with a serious illness?
    A day in the life of a counsellor and nurse in Mumbai as they provide home-based palliative care, helping patients and families face illness, loss, and uncertainty with dignity.
    by Ankita Arvind Mhatre, Shruti Mukhopadhyay | 9 min read
    The image features the authors, Shakeela Banu and Nageena Banu. They are standing outdoors smiling warmly at each other while holding hands. Shakeela is wearing a bright red headscarf with a black inner layer, and Nageena is wearing a light-colored and patterned suit and dupatta . The background shows greenery and a blurred building--Beedi industry
    Rights
    ‘One day, one day, the women will go out to protest…’
    A day in the life of two union leaders fighting for fair working conditions in Karnataka’s beedi industry and for the rights of their community.
    by Nageena Banu, Shakeela Banu | 2 min read
    two women sitting on the floor in a classroom, with numbers and the kannada alphabet painted on the walls behind them--community organiser
    Gender
    The girl who refused to drop out
    A day in the life of a young field coordinator in Raichur, Karnataka, reflecting her journey of almost dropping out of school to supporting herself, her family, and her community.
    by Rubiya Begum | 7 min read

    Failure Files

    SEE ALL

    Social change leaders chronicle their failures and lessons learnt.

    Silhouetted birds perched on bare tree_leadership failure
    Leadership & Talent
    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.
    by Vijayalakshmi Mohan | 7 min read
    Aerial shot of women protestors sitting_well-being
    Social Justice
    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.
    by India Development Review | 10 min read
    Barbed wire_nonprofits
    Leadership & Talent
    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.
    by Tanaya Jagtiani, Rachita Vora | 7 min read

    Perspectives

    SEE ALL

    Op-eds and commentary that hold a mirror up to civil society, reflect upon its evolution, and unpack key trends.

    Columns at Assos Temple of Athena under clear blue sky--systems change government
    Perspectives
    Why systems change matters (to the government)
    A tripod model between government, nonprofits, and philanthropists, much like public–private partnerships in the past, can help overcome the constraints that governments face and drive systemic change.
    by Vini Mahajan | 6 min read
    a white paper boat floating on the surface of a pond littered with small yellow blossoms--civil society India
    Perspectives
    Can we nonprofits display the courage we ask of others?
    Civil society's influence depends not only on how many people it reaches, but also on what it is willing to stand for.
    by India Development Review | 4 min read
    a group of four people attempting to assemble a structure of some sort--Northeast India
    Perspectives
    Lessons from working in the Northeast India
    A non-local nonprofit shares insights from their solar electrification programme, on why trust and local partnership matter more to work in Northeast India.
    by Harsh Tiwari | 5 min read