Counterview Desk   A coalition of over 160 organizations and concerned citizens  has issued a joint appeal urging the Government of Chhattisgarh and the CPI (Maoist) to declare an immediate ceasefire and begin peace talks. The appeal highlights the urgent need to protect Adivasi communities and villagers affected by the prolonged conflict in Bastar, West Singhbhum, and Gadchiroli.  

- जलवायु एवं प्रकृति न्याय फोरम, दिल्ली  राजस्थान के बारां जिले के स्थानीय लोगों ने 500 किलोमीटर से अधिक की यात्रा करके प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी के लिये ज्ञापन दिया है, ताकि प्राचीन, जैव विविधता से भरपूर शाहबाद के जंगल में 1.19 लाख पुराने पेड़ों और अनगिनत अन्य छोटे पेड़ों और झाड़ियों को कटने से बचाया जा सके। ऐसा इसलिए हो रहा है क्योंकि सरकार ने हैदराबाद की ग्रीनको एनर्जी प्राइवेट लिमिटेड नामक एक निजी कंपनी को बारां जिले के शाहबाद ब्लॉक में 408 हेक्टेयर वन भूमि पर ‘पंप स्टोरेज प्रोजेक्ट’ स्थापित करने की अनुमति दी है।

By A Representative   Utthan, a grassroots organization dedicated to empowering vulnerable communities, has been awarded the prestigious First Prize in the Climate Change Award 2024–25 by the Climate Change Department, Government of Gujarat. The award, which includes a prize of ₹1 lakh, recognizes Utthan’s transformative work in empowering small and marginal women farmers through climate-resilient agricultural practices.   The organization has successfully transitioned 5,000 women farmers to sustainable farming methods and brought 3,300 acres under climate-resilient practices.  Over 99% of participating farmers have adopted eco-friendly techniques like seed treatment, bio-inputs, water-saving technologies, and agroforestry. Additionally, input costs have been reduced for more than 80% of farmers, while the initiative has also fostered climate entrepreneurs producing bio-inputs and offering tool rental services.   Utthan’s initiative aligns with India’s comm...

By Nava Thakuria*   The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India, recently drew national and international media attention for two incidents, but both for wrong reasons. The group of  572 islands, where  38 are inhabited, with the landmass of around 8,249 square kilometre woke up to an incident where a foreigner was caught for visiting a restricted island and also a local journalist was found dead in the last week of March 2025. News broke from Port Blair (now renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram), the capital abd largest township of the territory, that Ukrainian-American national (identified as Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov) reached North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean to make contact with the uncontacted Sentinelese people.

By Gajanan Khergamker   The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, alongside the repeal of the colonial-era Mussalman Wakf Bill of 1923, marks a significant legislative recalibration in the governance of Islamic charitable endowments in India. Touted as a reformative measure aimed at transparency, inclusion, and social justice, the Bill introduces sweeping changes—including the digitisation of property records, mandatory audits, and, most contentiously, the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council.

By Harsh Thakor*  Veteran actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar passed away at Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on Friday at the age of 87 after a prolonged battle with health issues. According to medical reports, he succumbed to cardiogenic shock resulting from an acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a severe heart attack. Additionally, he had been struggling with decompensated liver cirrhosis in recent months, which significantly worsened his condition. Manoj Kumar was not just an actor and filmmaker but an institution who set standards that continue to shape Indian cinema. His films were not merely cinematic spectacles but profound reflections of patriotism, social justice, and human endeavor. His influence has left a lasting imprint on generations, preventing commercial cinema from being diluted. His towering screen presence, distinctive charm, impeccable timing, moral conviction, and ability to understate characters were hallmarks of his craft. He effectively p...

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ  On Sunday 23 March, Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of Rome's Gemelli Hospital, for the first time since his hospitalization and before leaving the facility where he had been since 14 February.  During this period his he was very serious for many days. He greeted those present, imparted his blessing and gave the 'thumbs up' to the nearly three thousand people gathered in the square below who were applauding his appearance and release from hospital. He is now back in his residence at Santa Marta in the Vatican. For his deep faith, his resilience and the strength ‘not to give up’, we celebrate Pope Francis!

By Bharat Dogra  Water scarcity for many months in a year is becoming a significant problem in many rural communities of the world. In many areas it has become a survival issue and several communities are forced to abandon their habitations for a considerable time of the year mainly because of water scarcity. Many others are able to maintain their settlement only if the timely arrival of water tankers can be ensured. In other places communities are having to struggle very hard to quench the thirst of their farm, dairy and other animals. In a larger number of communities people are saying loud and clear that water has emerged as their biggest constraint as many other development initiatives cannot progress or even start due to water shortage.

By A Representative  A significant initiative aimed at conserving and enhancing urban biodiversity in Bhuj was launched on March 25, 2025, with the release of the book Trees of Bhuj  and the launch of the web portal treesofbhuj.in . The initiative is spearheaded by Home In the City (HIC), a collective of non-profits dedicated to creating a more sustainable and inclusive city.

By Harsh Thakor*  Following recent encounter killing of Maoists, a statement from the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) has surfaced, outlining conditions for a ceasefire. The group has demanded the suspension of anti-Naxal operations and the halting of new security force camps. The statement, dated March 28, 2025, and purportedly issued by Abhay, a spokesperson of the Central Committee of Maoists, emerged just before Union Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled visit to Chhattisgarh.

- राम पुनियानी  प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी हाल में नागपुर-स्थित आरएसएस मुख्यालय पहुंचे. वहां उन्होंने आरएसएस के संस्थापक डॉ के.बी. हेडगेवार और द्वितीय सरसंघचालक माधव सदाशिव गोलवलकर को श्रद्धांजलि दी. इस यात्रा का खूब प्रचार हुआ और इसकी सर्वत्र चर्चा हो रही है. कुछ लोगों का कयास है कि चूँकि अगले सितम्बर में मोदी 75 साल के हो जाएंगे और अपनी पार्टी के नियमों के अनुसार उन्हें सक्रिय राजनीति से सन्यास लेना होगा, इसलिए यह उनकी फेयरवेल यात्रा थी!

- नदी घाटी मंच, जन आंदोलनो का राष्ट्रीय समन्वय,   कोशी नवनिर्माण मंच*  28 मार्च 2025 को प्रेस इनफार्मेशन ब्युरो ने जानकारी दी कि केंद्रीय कैबिनेट ने कोशी-मेची नदी जोड़ परियोजना को मंजूरी दे दी है। उल्लेखनीय है कि यह नई परियोजना केन-बेतवा नदी जोड़ परियोजना के बाद देश की दूसरी बड़ी नदी जोड़ परियोजना है। इस परियोजना के लाभ के रूप में कोशी की बाढ़ से राहत और सीमांचल के  अररिया, पूर्णिया, किशनगंज, कटिहार इत्यादि जिलों सिंचाई को प्रचारित किया जा रहा है।

By Sumit Kumar Ganguly  The R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH), has been in news for the past eight months because of the brutal gangrape and murder of a junior doctor inside the institution. Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, was convicted and sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment for the crime in January. The downplaying of the gruesome murder initially as a ‘suicide’ by the college authorities and the destruction of the evidence by the state administration led to huge protests across the world . As the incident opened up a can of worms, exposing the criminal syndicate being run in the health department of West Bengal Government, the issue is no longer limited to this case. It has also refreshed the memories of the public about the saga of murder, suicides and unnatural deaths of students and faculty belonging to that medical college in the past two and a half decades.

By Bharat Dogra   SRUTI, known for its highly creative and impactful initiatives for social justice and the empowerment of communities through collective action, has recently celebrated four decades of its remarkable journey.  

By A Representative  A major international study involving a Newcastle University PhD student has pinpointed the causes of the devastating 2023 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Sikkim, India. The findings, published in Science , reveal how a combination of landslides and climate change led to the disaster while warning of growing risks in the Himalayas.  

- राज कुमार सिन्हा*  जल संसाधन से जुड़ी स्थायी समिति ने वर्तमान लोकसभा सत्र में पेश रिपोर्ट में बताया है कि "नल से जल" मिशन में राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी साबित हुए हैं। जबकि देश के 11 राज्यों में शत-प्रतिशत ग्रामीणों को नल से जल आपूर्ति शुरू कर दी गई है। रिपोर्ट में समिति ने केंद्र सरकार को सिफारिश की है कि मिशन पुरा करने में राज्य सरकारों की समस्याओं पर गौर किया जाए। 

By A Representative  The global civil society platform, the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE), has released a statement arguing that the intended reforms in international development finance outlined in the First Draft of the Outcome Document for the 4th Financing for Development (FfD4) Forum are insufficient to address today’s pressing global challenges.

By Harsh Thakor*  On March 28th, the Forum Against Corporatization and Militarization (FACAM) organized an event titled "Bastar Killing Fields" at TEFLAS Union Hall, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The program marked 15 months since the launch of Operation Kagaar and examined its impact on the region.

By Bishwarupa Sahu*    A decade ago, a Google search for "Mahua+India" primarily yielded Facebook profiles of women named Mahua, Bengali ancestry sites, and, finally on page 3 of the search results, an article referencing the Mahua tree (The Hindustan Times, January 2, 2014). The bond between tribal communities and their forests is inseparable, with Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) playing a vital economic and cultural role in their lives. Mahua is deeply woven into every stage of life—from conception to death, marriage to funerals.  

By N.S. Venkataraman*  Since taking office, President Trump has come across as a man in a hurry. He has announced numerous decisions and made bold statements in such a short span of time that many around the world are questioning whether the short-term and long-term implications of his actions have been carefully considered. While his supporters in the U.S. hail him for his decisive moves and bold efforts to achieve his much-publicized "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) agenda, others—both within the U.S. and abroad—remain unconvinced.

By Vikas Meshram*  According to the National Judicial Data Grid report, as of March, more than 45.4 million cases were pending in the country's courts. Of these, over 4.643 million cases are more than ten years old. If we assume that each case involves at least two or three parties, then approximately 100 to 150 million people in the country are victims of judicial delays, and this number is continuously increasing. From the perspective of the common man, nothing is bigger than judicial proceedings. Once entangled in the cycle of court dates, it becomes nearly impossible to escape for years.

By A Representative  A serious human rights crisis has been reported in East Sahebganj (North Part), a village located near the Indo-Bangladesh border in Cooch Behar, West Bengal. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has been urged to take immediate action against the restrictions imposed by the Border Security Force (BSF), which have severely impacted the lives of 101 residents of the village.

By Harsh Thakor*  In the wake of recent security operations in southern Chhattisgarh, two senior Maoist leaders, G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya, were killed. These operations, which took place amidst a historically significant Maoist presence, resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals on March 20th and 16 more three days prior.

By Rosamma Thomas Imagine having a tumour the size of a tennis ball, protruding from your eye. Imagine it was cancerous, and you had no means to get it treated. If you can imagine that much, you could possibly also consider that not too many people would be happy to greet you and talk to you, since they would not be able to bear the sight of the pink ball of flesh bulging from your eye.

By Dr Palla Trinadha Rao  Recent remarks made by the Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu, regarding the Tribal Protective Land Transfer Regulations 1 of 70 have sparked strong protests, particularly concerning the blocking of private investment in tourism within Scheduled Areas. 

By Simran Agarwal  When Babur, the great conqueror and founder of the Mughal Empire, first entered India with his armies in the 16th century, he was not impressed by how people dressed. The climate and landscape of the Indian subcontinent were very different to that of Samarqand (in present-day Uzbekistan), from which he hailed. “I had never seen a hot climate or any of Hindustan before,” he recorded in his memoirs . “A new world came into view—different plants, different trees, different animals and birds, different tribes and people, different manners and customs. It was astonishing, truly astonishing.” Describing the clothing he saw on this campaign, he wrote derisively, “Peasants and people of low standing go about naked. They tie on a thing called lungūtā, a decency-clout which hangs two spans below the navel.” Babur was the product of a Mongol-descended Islamic dynasty in Central Asia. He grew more familiar with the Indian subcontinent’s climates and cultures (and their perce...

By Harsh Thakor  To opposition bowlers, Saeed Anwar could be tormenting, creating a sensation of torture -- but till he bowed to religious activities. When he was in full flow, he would make even the most partisan of supporters search their souls, witnessing artistry mingled with scintillating strokeplay. Yet, for all his God-gifted strokeplay, he was never sharp in the field and struggled with the responsibilities of captaincy. Saeed Anwar’s father had been a gifted club cricketer in the brief time he could spare from his job. Anwar Senior once straight-drove a ball that cleared almost two grounds, possibly planting the genetic roots of the explosive power in Anwar’s strokes that would terrorize bowlers worldwide. Anwar’s cricketing journey began in the garage of his Karachi home. A friend who lived nearby would take up the role of bowler, often using a tennis ball covered with tape. The confined space of the garage meant the balls were released from a distance of just fourteen ya...

By Harsh Thakor*  The late cricketer Hanif Mohammad showcased batting perfection, fusing together a rock-solid defense, watertight technique, and ice-cool temperament with his incredible powers of concentration. Hanif epitomized perfection in batting technique, with his bat resembling a grinding machine or a boulder.