New Delhi [India], December 25: TARAgram Yatra 2024, the flagship event of Development Alternatives, brought together social impact enthusiasts, civil society leaders, social innovators, policymakers, corporate, government officials, and changemakers, with the aim to showcase replicable, scalable impactful work on-ground that has happened alongside communities at grassroot level.

A group of villagers gather under a deepening sky along a dirt track that winds its way through houses made of clay, brick and mud. The men are assembled near the road, the women in their colourful saris and ghoonghat sit side-by-side in front of a house; inside, hens mill about. The children sit off to one side—curious, attentive and playful—while a group of outsiders and I sit opposite them with our backs to a neighbouring house’s wall. Together, we all form a semi-circle of sorts, waiting for a discussion to begin.

Today, the national capital is grappling with one of its most severe air pollution crises in recent history. This crisis is attributed to a confluence of factors, including stubble burning, the use of firecrackers, and emissions from the automobile industry.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district, Ms Usha Bharti was lucky to have her family’s support when she signed up for a programme in 2023 that trains women to drive electric rickshaws.

Development Alternatives (DA) is pleased to announce the release of its latest documentary, ‘Wheels of Change’. This groundbreaking film showcases the incredible journey of women e-rickshaw entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh who are redefining safe mobility and breaking social barriers.

Read this article by Dr. Ashok Khosla, Chairman, Development Alternatives on Financial Express. He argues that the trajectory of a country's GDP or its aggregate national carbon emissions are not the most important factors in determining its contribution to Loss and Damage Fund or its entitlement from it. Instead, he emphasizes the range of living conditions of its population as the key metric. The loss and damage fund was first announced during COP27 as a way to help developing countries that are vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.

This can be India’s moment of genuine leadership in building self-reliance and demonstrating a ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ beyond a global showcase.

With climate change, an already drought-prone area has rising temperature and more erratic rainfall. An already water-scarce region is facing a triad of challenges: rising temperature, more rainfall over fewer days which means more runoff and lower groundwater recharge, and overuse and mismanagement of existing ground water resources, experts tell us.

Prior to our intervention, Milak Lacchi's pond was disregarded and had become a dumping ground for the community, causing inconvenience due to litter, mosquito breeding, and contaminated water. It has now been transformed into a clean water body with aquatic life. Additionally, the installation of benches and the construction of a solid boundary surrounding the pond have played a crucial role in maintaining its cleanliness. The revitalized pond has become a favorite gathering spot for the villagers, who often spend their evenings there, enjoying the beauty of the clean water.

In conversation with Outlook India, Ms Zeenat Niazi, Senior Vice President & Chief Knowledge Officer, Development Alternatives Group talks of her experiences and learnings in the development sector, how planning and policy has changed over the decades, and outlines the actions and approaches that need to be followed by stakeholders at every level, so that sustainability can be achieved across the board.