Civil Society Online
 
Everyone is Someone:
An independent national magazine with amazing stories of change from across India
Eco-tourism in India’s only green state

Sikkim’s homestays offer a unique experience in the midst of nature. With almost 48 per cent of its area under forest cover which is increasing yearly, Sikkim is rich in biodiversity and has become a much sought-after tourist destination.
‘Sikkim will be a model for a truly green state’
‘All farming in Sikkim will soon be organic. Farmers have been linked to markets. We spend 20 per cent of our budget on education – the highest in the country. Currently, our literacy rate is 83 per cent. On healthcare we spend 15 per cent.’
Jackfruit defies drought in Vidarbha
Maharashtra is experiencing its worst drought in decades. But farmers in Vidarbha who invested in jackfruit trees years ago are earning decent sums of money. It is seen as the rich man’s vegetable.
Learning to make roads safer for everyone
Fred Wegman is a leading expert on road safety. He lives in the Netherlands but travels around the world sharing the findings of years of extensive research. He was in Delhi recently to talk on ‘Road Transport: The Science of Safety’.
Fund-raising with Smile
Smile Foundation held a two-day workshop entitled, ‘Empowering Grassroots,’ in New Delhi to train smaller NGOs on fundraising, sustainability, communication for brand- building, accountability, transparency, effective leadership and scaling up of organisational competencies.
Karnataka has new faces in politics
From gynaecologist and fertility expert, Meenakshi, to astronomer and journalist Ashwin, these new faces breath a fresh life into Karntaka State Assebly Election. Lok Satta is fielding 25 candidates for Karnataka’s State Assembly polls. All of them are accomplished professionals. Eleven are contesting from Bangalore. They include a lecturer, a software engineer, a couple of farmers, entrepreneurs, teachers and those from other professions.
Architecture is also art
Srinivas Murthy is one of the best-known names in the field of design and architecture, having designed some top commercial, residential and tourist landmarks in different Indian cities. But what sets Murthy apart from other architects is his passion to make urban spaces in India more user-friendly and architecturally aesthetic.
Mobile tech eases micro-credit
An open-source application developed by Ekgaon Technologies Pvt Ltd has eased access to micro-credit in rural areas and significantly brought down the cost of transactions. 
When Jolly LLB opened in the multiplexes on the Ides of March, few expected it to set the box office on fire. It had the looks of an intelligent courtroom satire with the potential to earn critical encomiums. It did garner heaps of the latter, but it was the commercial success of the film that was the real surprise.
Dr G.G. Gangadharan on effective natural remedies in Ayurveda for gums that become soft and inflamed. Astringent materials like the powder and paste of arimedha (khair or khadira or acacia katechu) or dried powder of ripened mango leaves, powder of terminalia balarica and black ash of burnt paddy husk are all good astringent materials for gum health.
Charms of lovely Lakshadweep

As our ship sailed out of Kochi’s harbour, we looked forward to having a whale of a time on our five-day island-hopping cruise to the Lakshadweep Islands….
Insights and cutting edge ideas on contentious issues of today from managing cities to environment control, agriculture and new laws

March 2013

April 2013
Spotlight
Endearing companies deliver greater value in the long run, says Jagdish N. Sheth, co-author of the book, Firms of Endearment. Sheth argues that managements need to be more caring and take into account all stakeholders.
Save the sparrow
Try recalling the last time you heard a sparrow tweet in your home. Buildings no longer have those nooks and crannies where little birds could nest. Faced with an acute shortage of housing and food, the homely sparrow is vanishing into the blue.
Sikkim’s success
There are so many things we somehow don’t know about Sikkim. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has been elected four times and the Sikkim Democratic Front government he heads seems to defy all theories of anti-incumbency. The state’s economy has been growing at 12 per cent, which is way ahead of other Indian states.
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