The Changemaker Project has a two-fold objective — identify and document stories of changemakers in video, audio and text formats; and build a one-of-its-kind National Registry of Changemakers to connect ‘doers’ and ‘helpers’.

The Changemaker Project has a two-fold objective — identify and document stories of changemakers in video, audio and text formats; and build a one-of-its-kind National Registry of Changemakers to connect ‘doers’ and ‘helpers’.

Every year, as many as 100,000 villagers in Barabanki relocate to temporary shelters when the Ghaghara river inundates their villages and destroys their crops. These rural residents are trapped between the embankments of the river built for flood control. Villages like Tepra are washed away and for the past three years now, people are living on an embankment awaiting compensation and rehabilitation. Will the UP election results change their fate? A ground report.

India reported 663 murders attributed to witch-hunts between 2015 and 2021. This comes to an average of 95 witch–hunt/witch-craft related deaths every year. Bihar was the first state to enact a law against this practice with a punishment of up to 6 months jail or Rs 2,000 fine! Still, women continue to be hunted down as witches. A ground report.

With an aim to raise awareness on the issue of snakebites in India, Gaon Connection will launch a month-long campaign tomorrow which is titled as 'The Golden Hour'. The campaign will include ground reports, videos, podcasts, workshops, street plays, and insights from experts to help curb the fatality of snake bites. Details here.

The 245-page book has 75 stories of climate change from rural India. It is available for a free download from Gaon Connection’s website.

As I look back at the year gone by, my heart swells with pride, and I am also humbled at the achievements of Team Gaon Connection, big and small, that not only started some key projects in 2023 but also launched monthly magazines and published books with insights from rural India.

Using tobacco is an invitation to death – this was the message that was promoted at the day long youth festival held at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Every year nearly 15 lakh young people lose their lives to cancer and other serious health disorders directly related to tobacco use.

The Changemakers Project which is launched today, on Gandhi and Shastri Jayanti was incepted by Neelesh Misra, Founder of Gaon Connection. In a video message, he talks about the longstanding need to launch such a project. He also underlines the importance of celebrating such changemakers.