Articles by: Shuchita Jha

Phool Bai Basor and her husband make bamboo items for living in Putrichhua village of Satna 1. Photo Credit- Shuchita Jha

Covid woes of MP and UP’s bamboo basket making community

The Basor community of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are still reeling with the losses of the pandemic as it brought their business – making household items of bamboo­ – to a screeching halt. Depending upon benevolent supporters and NGOs for ration, the members of the Basor community, today have no alternative livelihood. The popularity of plastic in the last[Read More…]

by 25/10/2021 Comments are Disabled COVID Response Watch
Bhimanna Jadhav. Photo courtsey- Bhimanna Jadhav

Sundari players struggle as Covid takes the music out of Indian weddings

Bhopal: Sundari, a wind-instrument is held in high regard among musicians of Maharashtra, as the younger sister of the better-known Shehnai. But sadly, the Sundari-organists in Solapur, are still reeling from the consequences of the pandemic trying out odd jobs to make ends meet after COVID-19 took a toll on their livelihood. “I tried to become an auto-driver a few[Read More…]

by 26/09/2021 Comments are Disabled COVID Response Watch
Trump’s Taj Mahal tour guide and others out of work since COVID lockdown

Trump’s Taj Mahal tour guide and others out of work since COVID lockdown

In late February last year Nitin Singh, a tourist guide at the famous Taj Mahal in Agra was on top of the world. He had been entrusted with the prestigious task of showing US President Donald Trump the Mughal monument to love during his tour of India as part of the ‘Namaste Trump’ event organised by the Modi government. He[Read More…]

by 09/09/2021 Comments are Disabled COVID Response Watch
Fears, stigma, lack of representation deter transgenders from getting vaccines

Fears, stigma, lack of representation deter transgenders from getting vaccines

Bhopal: While much of India is rushing to get vaccinated for Covid-19, there are still many people from the transgender and kinnar or hijra communities in the country who are lagging behind due to lack of awareness and counselling. Myths, fears and social stigma have also left the community wary of vaccination. And even when they do seek the vaccine,[Read More…]

by 05/08/2021 Comments are Disabled COVID Response Watch
Vaccination among women 11% lower than in men in Madhya Pradesh

Vaccination among women 11% lower than in men in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: “I don’t want to take the vaccine as I have read on social media that I will not be able to bear a child,” said Rekha (name changed on request). The 22 year old, is a resident of Bhopal, the state capital of Madhya Pradesh, who fears that she will have grave side effects after vaccination that will render[Read More…]

by 27/07/2021 Comments are Disabled COVID Response Watch
Ram Narayan Singh Maravi and his wife Indu Bai Maravi selling vegetables in Bhopal

Tribal artists forced to sell vegetables, and paintings on the street during pandemic

Bhopal: Selling vegetables on Bhopal’s Depot Chouraha with his wife, Gond artist Ram Narayan Singh Maravi always carries a tote bag full of paintings with his brushes and colours, at all times. His heart skips a beat every time a customer turns up for his vegetables but  also asks to buy one of his paintings. “I carry this bag with[Read More…]

by 14/07/2021 1 comment COVID Response Watch
Gudiya (name changed) at her house, eating plain rice form a plate, sharing it with her sisters- Photo Courtsey - Sachin Kumar Jain

After Covid, a pandemic of hunger looms large in MP

The lockdown-induced loss of livelihoods has left many vulnerable villagers in Madhya Pradesh unable to feed their families even two square meals a day.   Bhopal: Four-year-old Gudiya* (name changed) smiles shyly as she eats salted rice from a plate that she shares with her two sisters. The three girls from Birhulia village in Umaria, Madhya Pradesh haven’t eaten dal[Read More…]

by 17/06/2021 Comments are Disabled COVID Response Watch