June 1, 2021
India’s COVID-19 response limited by strong urban and tech bias
India's response to the second wave of COVID-19 glosses over the lack of infrastructure and technology know-how in rural India.
Budhaji Damse is the co-founder and president of the Shashwat Trust in Junnar, Maharashtra, a grassroots organisation that works on ensuring the rights of Adivasi, tribal, and indigenous communities in the Pune district. He has helped communities develop sustainable fishing, agriculture, and solar irrigation techniques. As a community leader and a key member of the Dimbhe Jalashay Shramik Adivasi Macchimar Sahakari Society, he continues to work towards equitable and inclusive fishing and land rights, ensuring that marginalised communities benefit from the development process. In 2024, he received the SPJIMR Alumni Award for Social Excellence.