In a village distinguished by its rustic charm, traditional way of life, and close-knit community, I found myself embarking on a journey of community empowerment and collective action. Kalandi is situated in the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh and is inhabited mainly by cultivators, agriculture labourers, and marginal workers. The village is big enough to call itself a panchayat. As a volunteer for the Saksham programme, I dedicated myself to fostering

In a significant step towards empowering communities and fostering positive change through resilience building, Caritas India, along with 16 CSO partners, came together for the Global Programme Proposal Development Workshop. Hosted at Seva Kendra, Patna, between July 31 and August 4, 2023, the workshop brought together NGO partners, esteemed donors, and dedicated management and programme staff. The event served as a pivotal platform to shape the

In the heart of Hatigisha village under Naxalbari Block in West Bengal, the story of transformation unfolds as an ordinary homemaker, Mrs. Ava Toppo, emerges as the Dragon Fruit Lady. With unwavering determination and support from the U3 Programme, Ava turned her small kitchen garden into a flourishing dragon fruit plantation, becoming a beacon of hope for her family and community. Ava belongs to a marginal farming family and lives with her husband

In a bid to enhance the protection outcomes of its emergency response and disaster risk reduction (DRR) programs, a 3-day virtual training was organized on "Protection Risks and Protection Mainstreaming" for its staff from 1st to 3rd August 2023. The training, which was conducted by Ms. Sylvia Wekesa, a Protection Mainstreaming Specialist from CAFOD, covered topics such as gender-based violence (GBV) case management and safe referrals, protection

Do you know millet can thrive in areas with limited rainfall, poor soil conditions, and even high temperatures? These are some of the many advantages of millet, apart from its nutritional superiority. Almost 60 years ago, millets comprised 40% of cultivated grain in India, but the Green Revolution in India has changed everything. The crop, laden with vitamins such as folic acid, vitamin B6, beta-carotene, and niacin, was replaced with rice and wheat.

Samvaad, a peacebuilding and reconciliation programme of Caritas India, has organised an Interfaith conclave on July 27, 2023, to strengthen and promote interreligious dialogue for peace and harmony. The conclave was organised at St. Marry Convent School in Agra Diocese, with more than a hundred participants witnessing the dialogue on Peace and harmony. The participants included religious leaders from different faiths as well as representatives from

Smt. Madhumita Halder, Consultant, Directorate of Child Rights and Trafficking, Government of West Bengal, shared her experiences of child rescue and repatriation with the staff of the Surokhit Shaishav programme in Kolkata. Caritas India’s Surokhit Shaishav team collaborated with the Directorate of Child Rights and Trafficking, Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare (WCD & SW), Government of West Bengal, to organise one-day

Why there are so few persons with disabilities (PWDs) mainstreamed in our society? Why they are invisible even after being 2 per cent population in India? They are majorly missing in social, cultural and economic circles. Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) recognizes the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective