Common Ground

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Co-created public knowledge and tools to foster collective learning, building coherence, deepen practice, and alignment across the ecosystem.

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Local Decisions, Stronger Communities: The Impact of PESA Rules

The Panchayat Extension to Schedule Areas (PESA) Rules for Jharkhand have been approved by the State Government, shifting agency to local communities over land, natural resources, and institutional management, including c...
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CASE STUDIES

At the First Mile, First in Line

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EVENTS

Grameen Charcha by Atma Shakti, from 22nd to 24th Feb 2026 in Bisamcuttack, Odisha. KNOW MORE


SolveCon by Reap Benefit on 21st Feb 2026, for around 1500 young people to connect, learn by doing and explore change. KNOW MORE

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Blogs

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Local Decisions, Stronger Communities: The Impact of PESA Rules
2026

Local Decisions, Stronger Communities: The Impact of PESA Rules

The Panchayat Extension to Schedule Areas (PESA) Rules for Jharkhand have been approved by the State...
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Fighting Caste and Patriarchy, How Women Farmers Are Reclaiming Commons
2025

Fighting Caste and Patriarchy, How Women Farmers Are Reclaiming Common...

Dalit women in Punjab are reshaping access to agricultural common land by pooling money for auctions...
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IDR Explains | Forest Rights Act (FRA)
2025

IDR Explains | Forest Rights Act (FRA)

In just four questions, learn what FRA is, why it was enacted, how it aims to benefit India’s forest...
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IDR Explains | Commons
2025

IDR Explains | Commons

In just 10 minutes, learn how India’s commons power its people, ecology, and economy—through example...
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Budget and Adivasis: Is it about development or politics? | The Indian Express
2025

Budget and Adivasis: Is it about development or politics? | The Indian...

By Virginius Xaxa Tribals are strong vote banks of the BJP and have been crucial in their return ...
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Sam-Poshit Living: Rethinking Sustainability Through the Lens of Tribal Wisdom
2025

Sam-Poshit Living: Rethinking Sustainability Through the Lens of Triba...

By Sudarshan Iyengar Sam-Poshit Living: Rethinking Sustainability Through the Lens of Tribal Wisd...
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Reimagining Local Governance: The Kerala Model for Sustainable Commons Management
2025

Reimagining Local Governance: The Kerala Model for Sustainable Commons...

By Thomas Isaac, Former Finance Minister, Government of Kerala In Kerala, we have spent the last ...
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Village stories

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Koraput’s Gram Sabhas Organise to Manage and Benefit from Kendu Leaf Trade
2025

Koraput’s Gram Sabhas Organise to Manage and Benefit from Kendu Leaf Tr...

In Koraput district’s Boipariguda block, 103 Gram Sabhas have formed the Boipariguda Mahasangh inten...
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Keepers of the Forest: Adivasi Women Lead a Climate-Resilient Response in Koraput
2025

Keepers of the Forest: Adivasi Women Lead a Climate-Resilient Response...

In Odisha’s forested Koraput district, Adivasi women from over a 100 villages are leading acom...
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LIVELIHOODS THROUGH FOREST CONSERVATION
2025

LIVELIHOODS THROUGH FOREST CONSERVATION

The majority livelihoods of people living among the forests are dependent onthe health (protection, ...
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CLAIMING GENDER PARITY THROUGH INFORMED COLLABORATIVE ACTION
2025

CLAIMING GENDER PARITY THROUGH INFORMED COLLABORATIVE ACTION

This is the story of women forest community to claim Gender parity byCollaborating action with Infor...
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CLINCHING NTFP DEAL
2025

CLINCHING NTFP DEAL

This is the story of how Communities from Kalahandi dist obtainedprofitable incomes from their NTFP ...
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CONSERVATION AND PROMOTION OF TRIBAL ARTS &HANDICRAFTS: BETTER LIVELIHOODS
2025

CONSERVATION AND PROMOTION OF TRIBAL ARTS &HANDICRAFTS: BETTER LIV...

Often many Tribal communities are proficient in tribal arts that have aunique and Niche value. Also ...
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EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE
2025

EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE

It was a movement of gender parity and economic empowerment of womenfrom the village of Taljhari vil...
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Playbooks + Reports + Manuals

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At the First Mile, First in Line
2025 | Case studies

At the First Mile, First in Line

How Gram Panchayat Help Desks in Jharkhand are bridging the digital divide and rebuilding everyday governance.
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An Assessmentof Tribal Incomes from Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Ten Districts of Jharkhand and Odisha
2025 | Reports

An Assessmentof Tribal Incomes from Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Ten Districts of Jharkhand...

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The Design Features of an Orientation Workshop on DAJGUA by Block Level Functionaries
2025 | Playbooks

The Design Features of an Orientation Workshop on DAJGUA by Block Level Functionaries

ASSISTING POLICY-PRACTICE-FINANCE, NAVIGATING THE STATE

Provide Block Development Officers (BDOs)/ Block Level Functionaries with a structured guide to conduct a condensed orientation workshop for their Block Level Implementation Teams ...
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Participation As A Community Memeber – DAJGUA
2025 | Playbooks

Participation As A Community Memeber – DAJGUA

ASSISTING POLICY-PRACTICE-FINANCE, NAVIGATING THE STATE

The Kutia Kondh tribe residing in Kandhamal district of Odisha, India, are known for their traditional cultivation practices and cultural beliefs.
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Inclusion As A Rightholder Under DAJGUA
2025 | Playbooks

Inclusion As A Rightholder Under DAJGUA

ASSISTING POLICY-PRACTICE-FINANCE, NAVIGATING THE STATE

Lalita Jani, 34, is a landless tribal woman belonging to Kondh tribal community, one of the 64 Scheduled Tribe communities of Odisha.
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Natural Resource Management for Frontline Officials and Sarpanches/ Panchayat Pradhan
2025 | Playbooks

Natural Resource Management for Frontline Officials and Sarpanches/ Panchayat Pradhan

COMMUNITY-LED PRACTICES

This module serves as a comprehensive guide for Frontline Officers and Panchayat office bearers, enabling them to effectively understand and support communities on natural resource...
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Sensitise Children and Youth for Commons and NRM
2025 | Playbooks

Sensitise Children and Youth for Commons and NRM

INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING & YOUTH VOICES

A fun do-it-yourself booklet for village children and youth to learn more about village's common and natural resources.
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Podcasts

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Common Ground Initiative and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies

Common Ground Initiative and Asar

Common Ground Initiative and Asar

Common Ground Initiative and Asar

Common Ground Initiative and Asar

Common Ground Initiative and Asar

Media

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