[Photos] Suffering in the town powering India’s nuclear dreams
Anamika Oraom, 16, of village Dungridih, around a kilometre away from Narwa Pahar uranium mine in Jharkhand, wants to study. But she cannot, owing to severe headaches that come up…
Children sketch human-elephant conflict and coexistence in Odisha
A pencil sketch shows an elephant trying to dismantle a thatched roof. Another depicts a pachyderm helping itself to succulent sugarcane stalks from a farm as people brandish fire torches…
Water sustainability leads to better income for Jharkhand farmers
Umesh Kumar is a young farmer at Pithra village in Simdega district in Jharkhand, a picturesque village surrounded by hills and green forest cover. The 26-year-old owns around 12 acres…
Third train track in Palamu reserve could derail seasonal elephant movement
In the eastern state of Jharkhand, elephant raids are common, especially during the paddy harvest season. The state is experimenting with mitigation measures like sending warnings to villagers about elephant…
Tribal children in a Jharkhand village learn the joy of science
A hum of voices reciting “A for aluminium” and “B for boron” float through the air in a room of eager children. As the clock strikes three in the afternoon,…
Protecting Jharkhand’s groves of faith
The mellow winter sun casts a soft glow on 13 sal (Shorea robusta) saplings encased in bamboo enclosures at Pandrasali, a small hamlet in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district. Pradhan Birua…
The burning coalfields of Jharia belch poison for local residents
Sahadev Ram and his family of 10 barely escaped with their lives when their house in Niluri Pathra Balurgada village suddenly collapsed without any warning six months ago. Although a…
New frog species from unexplored Jharkhand and Bihar brings cheer
A new species of small burrowing frog has been discovered from the Chota Nagpur plateau in Jharkhand. Scientists have named it ‘Magadha Burrowing Frog,’ (Sphaerotheca magadha) after the ancient kingdom of…
Mining devours Saranda, the largest sal forest in Asia
Krishna Birhor often complains of fever and bouts of vomiting. The 22-year-old depends on herbs from the forest to cure his illness. But he rues that it is just a…
Death of the Ganj: Pollution impacts health and environment in McCluskieganj
Sarhula Lohra suffers from tuberculosis (TB) and coughs blood regularly. The 65-year-old who does odd jobs to eke out his livelihood is often helped by neighbours who take him to…
