Citizens for Justice and Peace
CJP impact: A fellowship, that encouraged communities to cross communication barriers It has helped open up a window for Van Gujjars, whose stories are now being shared widely
06-Sep-2021
It has been an interesting year to say the least for me, as an activist who works closely on the rights of the Van Gujjar community to which I belong, and on environmental issues. After I was awarded the CJP Grassroots Fellowship and began chronicling the Van Gujjar community’s lifestyle, tradition, migration patterns, and their…
Increase in child marriages, a side effect of Lockdown? Avenues for education and employment shut, child marriage on the rise in West Bengal’s poorest areas
19-Aug-2021
It is well known that there has been a huge imbalance in access to digital education during the Covid-19 Lockdown. However, there has been another sinister fallout that is yet to create the outrage it should have, across India… the increase in cases of child marriages. According to the Department of Women and Child Welfare,…
When Katkaris migrate in search of work, their problems follow One of the oldest Adivasi communities, they are victims of institutional apathy
16-Aug-2021
Migration from one place to another has gone on for as long as history can record. It was according to the change of season, that both humans and animals migrated from one place to another, seeking food, and shelter for survival… and survive they did. However, in modern times one of the factors that fuels…
“Even if I don’t get to eat in the village, I will die in peace here” Migrant workers who returned home and took to small-time farming, unable to sustain the families
14-Aug-2021
“There is not a single paisa in my hand,” is something I have heard often when talking to people living in rural Bengal. However, it shook me when Samil Sheikh, a labourer who had returned home from Ranchi told me he had “tied a towel” on his stomach to curb his hunger pangs. “The young…
Support a CJP fellow today CJP grassroots fellows are making a difference on the ground
11-Aug-2021
Ripon sheikh, Mamta Pared, Meer Hamza and Tinku Sheikh. CJP’s grassroots fellows belong to different marginalized communities that we have been working with. Through our grassroots fellows, CJP aims to build a community of on ground researchers and community leaders who are passionate about exploring issues that impact them. Support our Fellowship Program. Visit here.…
CJP Impact: Churki Hansda goes from being called “Dayan” to “Di” Once accused of being a witch, this Covid Warrior is now an icon in Birbhum
05-Aug-2021
Remember Churki Hansda? Her inspirational story, published on the CJP website, has created waves across West Bengal. People are amazed that Churki Hansda, a Covid Warrior known for rushing oxygen concentrators, cylinders and medicines to the most deprived homes, herself had to struggle to survive a life of hardship. Many were shocked to find out…
“CJP’s Grassroots Fellowship gave me a leadership identity” CJP’s Grassroots Fellowship goes beyond individual recognition, empowers Van Gujjar community
05-Aug-2021
The Van Gujjar community’s traditional festival ‘Sela Parv’ had fascinated me since I was a young boy. However, I had not really seen it being celebrated, only heard stories about it from my elders. They in turn heard tales from their elders, how in the bygone era the Van Gujjar would migrate between kingdoms and…
Floods washing away the future for many in West Bengal Farmers working on small plots suffer most, as they also miss out on government’s relief packages
04-Aug-2021
If you thought that surviving the dual onslaught of Covid-19 and cyclone Amphan was a feat, residents of several districts of South Bengal, now have floods to deal with. Though, floods are so regular here, that anything short of devastation, doesn’t even ring alarm bells as loud as it should, anymore. Due to the incessant…
HC order empowers Van Gujjars during Covid-19 The community was finally allowed to enter the meadows of Uttarkashi
03-Aug-2021
The course the Covid-19 pandemic will now take, remains as unpredictable as ever. One the one hand, there is talk of a slowdown of the spread of the disease, one the other, there are also reports of an imminent arrival of the third wave if protocol is not adhered to. However, one cannot ignore the…
Overworked but not enough to eat CJP’s fellow reports from a construction site
31-Jul-2021
CJP Grassroots fellow Tinku Sheikh reports from a construction site, where he has been working amidst lockdown. Watch how the workers have been feeling overworked and malnourished because of the food provided to them. Support our grassroots fellows to bring out stories of the marginalized. To Know more and support our fellows, visit here Related:…