Traditional medical and agricultural practices, usually dismissed as unscientific, are regaining favour, with some help from Honeybee a journal that documents rural wisdom.

A Pikhor blacksmith has invented more than 20 agricultural tools.

Birds killed by chemicals inspired a villager to experiment and come up with a natural pesticide.

A traditional water harvesting system helps green a dry region.

The Raika tribals have developed an exhaustive system of veterinary medicine based on local herbs and products.

The killing of tigers and of forest guards in Ranthambore is the result of a conservation strategy that took away the rights of the local people and made them willing allies of poachers.

The government's employment generation schemes, laudable though they may be, have yet to achieve their goals. Not involving intended beneficiaries is cited as a major reason for their failure.

Kishorilal not his real name , is 39 and has been a forest guard at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve for 17 years. He spoke to Down To Earth on his experiences:

The panchayats of Sonrai in Uttar Pradesh and Palana in Rajasthan share a Jawahar Rozgar Yojana experience. Both ignored the water needs of the villagers and spent the money instead on projects that are not even being maintained properly.

The third tiger census in three years in Ranthambore may pronounce a verdict on the country's conservation strategy that could send a few heads rolling.