While driving across the dusty countryside of Ajmer district in Rajasthan, some surprises await you at the Tilonia village. Here, you find villagers working diligently on computers, in a solar energy centre, and in a mini-electronics telephone exchange!

A community radio service in the Baramati district is building up the confidence and knowledge levels of rural women and girls in the area.

Life is grim for the tribals living in the reserve forest areas of the country, who face pressure from corrupt officials on one hand, and the environment lobby on the other.

Kappaphycus Alvarezii is a source of livelihood in the Gulf of Mannar region, but with speculation that it might be bio-invasive, the onus lies with the Government of TamilNadu to strike the right balance.

Of the 149 households, only ten had toilets. The challenge of making Idgah Hills open defecation free was huge, but the community chose to change.

The People

Kalliammal is busy gathering harvested gingerly seed crops and piling them up in a heap and does not notice us as we enter the village. A quick glance around, will tell you that many of her neighbours are in a hurry as well. It

Not every village is as fortunate as Saledhana, the village that once saw its women walk distances to fetch water for everyday life, now has 24-hour supply!

The Nirmal Gram Puraskar was launched by Government of India in the year 2002 with the objective to promote rural sanitation, especially to eliminate the practice of open defecation and to reward PRIs ( Panchayat Raj Institution)Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, Zilla Panchayat), individuals and institutions for their sustained efforts towards achieving it.

A small village called Thangammalpuram, in Vilathikulam Block, Tutucorin District received a national award recently from the President of India, Pratibha Patil, for attaining full sanitation coverage in households, schools, Angawadis, etc., and for outstanding contribution in the promotion of rural sanitation for the year 2008.

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