Caste, Class, and Awareness—Makers and Breakers of Common Land Dispute Resolution in Rajasthan
The second half of this investigative series on Rajasthan’s Public Land Protection Cells (PLPCs) finds evidence via RTIs and interviews with locals that explain why the district administration has not been effective in spreading awareness about the Cell's functions. Implementing final orders from the PLPC seems to be largely shaped by class and caste dynamics.
Institutes of Eminence: Imminent Game-changers for India’s Higher Education System?
Co-authored by Ishani Pant and Kirti Dass
Despite the many ups and downs that Indian higher education has seen, the goal of raising India’s academic...
Shimla’s Woes: Understanding the Water Crisis
Co-authored by Ishani Pant & Aishwarya Birla
The acute shortage of water in Shimla has resulted in yet another round of blame games, while affected...
Impact of Corona: Indian Fishers in Distress
While the government has announced numerous schemes to help the economically weaker sections cope with the lockdown and economic distress, a significant section of...
Rich Millet Poor Millet: The Irony in Our Consumerism
What transformed the humble millet into an exotic grain?
Part II: Whatever Happened to the Lutyens?
This is the second instalment of Ajitesh Bohar's graphic series 'Whatever Happened to the Lutyens?' Click here to read the other parts.
To be continued...
Femtech Says It’s Empowering Women, but Is It Commodifying Them Too?
The concept of ‘Femtech’—or technology “which addresses women's biological needs”—is so interlinked with the women’s health apps, that the term itself is credited to...
Can Palm Oil Have a Sustainable Supply Chain?
This morning, I ate toast for breakfast. Then, doing my share of household chores, I ran the washing machine. A quick shower later, I...
A Dubious Affair: Examining Mumbai’s Coastal Road Project
Written by Harsh Ghildiyal
Mumbai’s Coastal Road Project was dreamt up over a decade ago. Expected to cost over ₹12,000 crore and be ready in...
In Rajasthan, a Public Land Protection Cell is Removing Encroachments, But Challenges Abound
A 2019 order passed by the Rajasthan High Court called for the formation of a Public Land Protection Cell, a district-level conflict resolution institution to investigate cases of encroachments on common lands. In this two-part series, The Bastion investigates the efficiency of these unique Public Land Protection Cells through interviews and information received via Right to Information applications. Part 1 uncovers the types of conflicts that occur on these “commons”, and how a delayed start to these cells and slow disposals might be plaguing their functioning.
