Mohsin Mushtaq

Feb 27, 2024 | villagesquare.in | Kiranjit Kaur Jhunir |Neha Roba Tickey |Kinshuk Ghosh |Mohsin Mushtaq

The art of decision-making within panchayats often remains untaught, the notion of choosing projects through democratic voting left unexplored. Workers, the lifeblood of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) initiative, are left wandering in the haze of unawareness, oblivious to the facilities bestowed upon them by the scheme. Myths and misconceptions, like vines, entwine the very roots of this endeavour, hindering its growth and potential impact.

Feb 26, 2024 | villagesquare.in | Kinshuk Ghosh |Mohsin Mushtaq |Sukanya Roy |Neha Roba Tickey

A mother of two children, Sumanti Mundain, had dreams bigger than what her circumstances probably allowed. Despite marrying young and leaving formal education behind, ambition simmered within the 35-year-old resident of Hutar village in Jharkhand. Agriculture was her family’s lifeblood, but she craved for more. Then she crossed paths with Kumud Kumari Singh, a village coordinator at Transform Rural India (TRI), a solution design practice for regenerative development.

Feb 26, 2024 | villagesquare.in | Kinshuk Ghosh |Mohsin Mushtaq |Sukanya Roy |Suhail Bhat

West Bengal is the second largest fish producing state in the country after Andhra Pradesh. But fingerling farming offers greater advantages over cultivating full-grown fish since it generates profits within a short period, typically 60-75 days. And villagers in Jhalda block of Purulia district are now discovering the benefits of fingerling farming for themselves.  The market price for fingerlings is Rs 300-350 per kg, positioning it as more financially rewarding than traditional fish farming.

Feb 22, 2024 | villagesquare.in | Mohsin Mushtaq |Sukanya Roy |Suhail Bhat

Abdul’s journey began when his father passed away. He, alongside his brother, then took up the mantle of their family legacy crafting blankets for children. Earlier, blankets were made with animal fur. But as ban was pronounced on animal fur, the craftsmen who worked on these blankets slowly went out of business. “Today hardly 3 or 4 workshops remain that are still make blankets for children by hand,” says Abdul.

Jan 3, 2024 | villagesquare.in | Priyanka Dalal |Harshal Mankar |Mohsin Mushtaq |Rabia Mushtaq

TS Eliot once said he measured out his life with coffee spoons. The same can likely be said about many members of our society. Growing up in Karnataka, which accounts for more than 70% of the coffee produced in the country, M Muniswamy would often start his days the same way: with coffee. Rooted to this coffee culture, Muniswamy ventured into uncharted territory 25 years ago to transform the barren land in his native village into a thriving coffee plantation.