The Rural Rock-stars. An unforgettable experience performing traditional folk songs with the community owned folk troupe. A privilege to have played with troupe for the village community.
This summer go rock the world! Apply for the Grassroutes Fellowship Program 2011
Host NGO: Vayali Folklore Group    | Photo Courtesy: Sri Ranganathan, Grassroutes Fellow 2010

Sewantha: The woman who got married at a very young age proves to be an inspiration. She has never tasted milk in her entire life so that her family could as they are very poor. She is not educated herself but will not leave any stone unturned for the education of her two little girls. A Perfect home maker.
This summer let the world inspire you. Apply for the Grassroutes Fellowship Program.
Host NGO: Grassroutes    |  Photo Courtesy: Shubhda Chaudhary, Grassroutes Fellow 2010

The first in the series of Photo Stories from Grassroutes Fellows. Grassroutes Fellows share their interesting experiences,defining moments, joyful moments and a lot more during their fellowship period.
This summer go have one of your own! Start the application here

Imagine going to an office nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas! The most beautiful and magnificent NGO campus. Hills, snow capped mountains, rains, flowers, berries, tea , sunset and amazingly intellectual environment.
Host NGO: CHIRAG | Photo Courtesy: Kriti Malhotra and Tanvi Rao, Grassroutes Fellows 2010

by Abhishek Vaddadi
Travelling through rural India we see people living in huts, women washing clothes by the streams, men tending their cattle. One may wonder what is it like to live with so less? To live in a place where the source of light is sun by the day and only spirit lamps through the nights. The food you eat is grown in your backyard, with all your efforts and no pesticides. Even the liquor you consume is produced locally!
Devkumar, a resident of the village Dekkapuram, takes me and my …

by Abhishek Vaddadi

Living in small clusters, the Araku tribals are geographically isolated. The rough hilly terrain and lack of effective transport network restrict their movements, cutting them off totally during heavy rains.

Sovva is an interior panchayat on the borders of Orissa in Araku mandal of Vishakapatnam District in Andhra Pradesh. Here tribal people followed a traditional forest management system of their own and they grew the most delicious vegetables. Farmers find it difficult to travel and reach their produce to markets. Hence, for decades, their produce has …

We’re very excited to announce that we have officially started accepting applications for the Grassroutes Fellowship 2011.
For the last 3 years we have been working towards awakening the nation’s youth by sensitizing them to the plethora of issues that exist in India’s hinterland and what they can do about it. This year again, we are back with a champion set of organizations to which our fellows will be mapped.
Take it from me, (as a past fellow and current team member of GR force) there is no better way to self …

by Mithun Madhusudhan
“Mammootty is a Super Mega Star”, says 26 year old Manoharan, as we sit in the middle of paddy fields relaxing after a cricket match. An impromptu debate on the biggest star in the Malayalam film industry has begun, and the Mammootty vs Mohan Lal fight is in full swing. All the while he is drumming with his fingers absent-mindedly. The Mammotty mania apart, rhythm is second nature to him. He started out by learning the Panchavadyam (an orchestra of five instruments which has evolved as a temple …

With jagged terrains, tropical climate, remote connectivity and a scarce population, Puruwshwadi (a village which is located six-seven hours away from Kasara station in Mumbai) reveals what tourism can do to promote rural development, infrastructure and lifestyle of villagers.
Three years back, Inir Pinherio started with the concept of local self development initiative in this village The entire concept of Grassroutes was to encourage the generation of livelihood in villages through rural tourism. This led to the commencement of a unique trend in which urban people, youngsters and foreigners could visit …

 by Tanvi Rao

 Meet Lalita (left) and Suman, two of my first friends at CHIRAG, and students-in-training under the organization’s ‘Kishori Shikshan Kendra’ (KSK) programme. Two very vociferous and spunky girls, Lalita and Suman have left their homes in nearby villages, for 20 days, to attend this residential training started by CHIRAG under its youth programme.
The KSK programme module is designed to equip adolescent girls of the region with the knowledge of various practical issues, as well as with certain vocational skills such as knitting, sewing, candle and jam making.  
The …

by Sri Ranganathan

One has to travel 48 kilometers from the city of Thrissur, Kerala to meet Gopalan Ettan. Why is he so special? He is special because he is one of the very few potters left that follow the traditional ways of making pots. What once used to be a flourishing trade in the villages of Kerala is now a dying art and people like Gopalan who still continue to make pots judiciously, are rare to find.

Mithun and I are currently doing our internship at an NGO called Vayali as …