is an online information and advocacy platform
‘Letters inspired me to start NGO’
Oscar-winning sound engineer Resul Pookutty says he was inspired to start his own NGO as he was inundated with requests for financial help after he won the Academy Award for Slumdog Millionaire in 2009.
“Over the last one year, I received a huge number of letters from across the country, seeking financial help because many people thought that A.R. Rahman and I have won billions of rupees …
State not keen on traffic restraint scheme
The Maharashtra government is concentrating more on improving public transport rather than schemes to restrain private vehicles.
During a hearing on a PIL seeking implementation of the Traffic Restraint Scheme (TRS) proposed by V.M. Lall in 2000, additional government pleader S.K. Nair told the court that the government was working towards improving public transport by increasing the number of coaches on local trains from nine to 12. A division bench was hearing a PIL filed by …
PIL wants ban on astrology
Is astrology a science or an art of making money? Mumbai NGO Janhit Manch has started a debate on the issue in the Bombay high court.
A public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the manch and its convener Bhagwanji Raiyani, along with his associate Dattaram Kumkar, has questioned the validity of predictions by well-known astrologers, including Bejan Daruwalla, and unknown babas like Brahmarshi Shri Kumar Swami.
Taking note …
An awards night for women
The NGO Pearls Wave – Ek Leher, which uses the slogan Nari Shakti Ko Salam recently helf the Pearls Wave gala award night to salute and celebrate Indian women against violence.
The evening was meant to empower women to take a stand against violence and highlighted the efforts of the people working together to make a world free of violence and abuse.
Many celebrities also pledged their support to the ‘Women against Violence’ cause.
DNA
The Beautiful Tree
An inspiring journey into the lives of families and teachers in the poorest communities of India, Africa, and China who have successfully created their own private schools in response to failed public education.
Wandering into the slums of Hyderabad’s Old City, Tooley was initially shocked to find it overflowing with small, parent-funded schools. Could these be [...]
Travel made meaningful
An initiative that pioneers responsible rural tourism
Inir Pinheiro talks of a ‘noise’ in his head; a disinterest in a typical ‘successful’ corporate life, and an urge to help others. A voice that eventually lead him to set up Grassroutes, a venture that promotes responsible rural tourism, by developing villages as tourist destinations.
“The basic cause of [...]
Armed with a brush, painting a future
Vasant Solanki is squinting hard at a Ganpati idol, concentrating on painting a pair of perfect eyes. When he gets it right, he smiles, first to himself, then at his teacher, and then at the class. After all, his achievements haven’t come easily. The 21-year-old is crippled and suffers some mental disabilities, and is dependent [...]
Apply for youth fellowship
PUKAR (Partners for urban knowledge, action & research) is inviting applications for the PUKAR Youth Fellowship 2010-2011. Supported by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, the initiative brings together a group of youngsters, who are trained and led by a mentor, to research a subject of their choice for a year. The last date for submitting the application is [...]