The story of Jaipur foot is quite well known. How a local artisan designed a low cost limb is a legend that has become a standard of frugality, flexibility and user friendliness world over. But when somebody reduces the cost of such a limb by one third and helps in fixing it in one third…
Sunday, Jun 9, 2013, 14:26 IST | Agency: DNA Anil Gupta Heirs, who have tried to transfer title of land after the death of the owner, know of the hassles involves, not to speak of the corruption. But this tragedy can also be an occasion when the state administration joins the family in mourning. It…
Most students have either proceeded on summer vacation or will be having holidays in a few weeks’ time. For school children, this is time to unwind, learn and grow. For many of the college students, this can be a time for engagement with their own inner self and also with the larger society. Let me…
Tremendous experimental ethic is evident among people while attempting local solutions. Some of the lazy intellectuals have tried to turn all frugal solutions as ‘jugaad’. A 250 USD ECG machine by GE, low cost health care by Naryan Hrudalaya, clay refrigerator by Manuskhbhai, etc., are all supposed to be ‘jugaad’!. Surely, a term used so…
A region from where Gandhiji steered the struggle for Indian independence, sitting in Sevagram Ashram could have so much of neglect and pathos was difficult to understand. Despite a large number of farmers suicide, frequent droughts and deprivation and indebtedness, the state can be so complacent. Some of the NGOs working with Sevagram and others…
The sun was about to set in the local craft market, where we had gone to experience art, culture and food. Kelli Ryan complimented my talk that I had given earlier this day at the inaugural session of the World Indigenous Network Conference WINC2013 in Darwin, Australia, and said that she was trying to do many things I had…