Huge economic reforms have taken place in India since the 90s. Institutions have been created for more market effectiveness, regulations have been established to make markets work better. The agricultural sector has been opened up to global competition. The development of the third sector, the so-called service sector has been going up. The most…
Tag: development
Digital potential to combat poverty – there is still a big gap
Wherever I have been during my Indian stay, even in small tribal villages, while talking to people, it happened after a while: People came closer, interested to find out more on what I was doing with the smartphone. Nearly everyone of the younger generation (not just the youngest, but also men and women up to…
Education in India- Tribal girls go for more goats, a lipstick and microbiology
We stay in one of the tribal villages close to Coimbatore where in the last years a lot of change has happened. It is a village with about 350 people/hundred families. Three women Self Help Groups have been set up six years ago and since then a huge number of trainings and awareness programs…
A kindergarten inauguration, an unusual collaboration and more health
The kindergarten inauguration in South India in a tribal village When I arrive in the late morning and see all the people in front of the new anganwadi (kindergarten), the drumming boys welcoming everyone with an exciting sound and rhythm and the parents and children who are dressed up in the best way for the…
Indian tribal drumming dreams and missing opportunities
Often when I visit tribal villages most of the males have left for school, for work, for a walk into another village … This time school holidays have started and some young boys between ten and twenty sit under a tree or close to a house, all together, and talk. “I wish we had…
Knitting with tribal women in Tamil Nadu, India
The knitting experience I wanted to find out how the intercultural collaboration and interaction “across the borders” works and feels: being in middle of tribal women, who are organized in some selfhelp groups, live in very limited infrastructural surroundings and who are busy with caring goats and providing the basics for their families. How…
To end poverty micro-loans are never enough
Micro-loans – the bestseller among development tools is under fire “Microfinance, not a quick escape from poverty, studies show” – When I came across this article published recently in various media talking about the limited effect of micro-loans, I got angry – and at the same time I was more than surprised that we really need…
Selfhelp groups: Everyone says women are social drivers, but men are active, too!
Everywhere strong women are changemakers in the society. In rich and in poor countries. Many publications and articles pay attention to their achievements. Social organizations set up programs around women and support self-help groups for women, women are celebrated as social entrepreneurs, women taking care on health and children education are interviewed and celebrated. Women…
Poor people as change drivers: What if we became partners instead of empowering dependencies
Have you ever thought if poor people can have innovative ideas for your business or become a real partner for development not in their poor villages, but in large and wealthy industries? It is true: many poor people often have no opportunity to get a good school or professional education. Many of them can not…
Back from India – issues with ‘development’
Coming back to my home town in Germany after seven weeks in India was not really characterized by a “big shock”. Although many friends have asked exactly that question during the last days: “Isn’t it a big difference and somehow strange to come back to a completely different, developed and modern world?” It is cold,…
Go India, go future! 