Maharashtra

Ashok Sonule and his family struggle every day to feed twelve mouths. But, whereas most farmers in the vicinity have barren fields, his are lush with jowar. And what does he do with it? Leaves the entire harvest to feed birds. He has not even installed a scarecrow and ensures the water bowl is always full for the thirsty birds.

Aparna's father was an alcoholic and she had seen its ill-effects personally. When she saw many women from her neighbourhood being abused by their alcoholic husbands, she started a Red Brigade group which fights domestic violence in an interesting way.

“Aai, I will become a doctor when I grow up and cure people without money,” promised 8-year-old Swapnil Mane to his mother, as he helplessly watched his poor neighbour die of cancer. Twenty years later, this oncosurgeon and his wife have helped thousands of cancer sufferers in 52 villages in Maharashtra and have operated on 550 patients for free.

He was a photographer with a heart — always caring, compassionate and kind towards those in need. Now his family has chosen to honour his legacy in a unique way.

There has always been a stigma attached to mental health. About 80 percent of districts in India do not have even one psychiatrist in public service. However, the Public Health Foundation of India is addressing the issue through two unique initiatives in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Though still in the initial phase, these efforts have shown some great results.

They called him a foreigner in the city in which he grew up. But he went on to help them rediscover their own history. See Chandrapur through the eyes of Ashok Singh Thakur.

Thousands of orphaned children in India never find loving homes because the authorities take too long to declare them ‘free for adoption.’ By the time they can be legally adopted, they have grown, and prospective parents in search of newborns pass them over. Prabhavati Muthal, 79-years-old and mother of to two adopted orphans herself, has been fighting to get justice for these children all her life.

This amazing gathering of thousands of students who make solar cookers and then cook their own food is helping to spread awareness about sustainable energy like nothing else! Here is how The World's Largest Solar Oven Cooking Class is bringing a change.

Somewhere in the interiors of Maharashtra, in a small town called Chandrapur, one couple step out of their comfort zone to spread largesse and cheer in their environment. Meet Sapna and Nihar Halder.

Sakhis are women equipped with health devices such as blood pressure machines, glucometers, etc., along with mobile tablets, who visit rural women door-to-door to conduct basic medical tests and surveys in villages.