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This study examines the water supply systems, their sociopolitical dynamics, and the future of water management in two Indian towns in the Eastern Himalaya, Kalimpong in West Bengal and Singtam in Sikkim. The research was centred around issues of demand and supply, water scarcity and stress, equity, water governance, and the sustainable conservation and management of water resources in a climate change context. Methodologically based on surveys, focus group discussions, and key informants' interviews, this study finds that spring sources are drying alarmingly in Singtam, even as demand is increasing dramatically due to a floating population that is more than the number of local inhabitants. The town suffers from the lack of an adequate reservoir facility and the frequent damage of water supply pipes during the monsoon. Kalimpong faces acute water shortages all year round. The political tug of war between the state government agencies and the local government around the management and supply of water, declining water discharge in spring sources, the lack of water infrastructure for repair, maintenance, and supply, and the glaring inequity between the higher, middle, and lower income groups are the immediate issues around water in Kalimpong. The spring sources that supply drinking water to Kalimpong and Singtam need immediate conservation measures to arrest the declining state of discharge. Micro-planning at the local level, reviving drying springs, and the adoption of appropriate soil and water conservation practices on a watershed basis are all important ways forward. The development of water security plans and their strict enforcement through multi-institutional collaboration can contribute to improved water governance and socioecological restoration for sustainable water resources management.

Background India is experiencing a decline in fertility, but this change is uneven across regions. Some districts continue to experience very high birth rates. To address this issue, the Government of India introduced Mission Parivar Vikas (MPV) to promote modern contraceptive use and family planning awareness in high fertility districts. This study examines changes in modern contraceptive use in MPV and non-MPV districts and identifies socio-demographic factors associated with contraceptive use among married women. Methods Target respondents in this study were 239,466 (NFHS-4) and 224,238 (NFHS-5) married women aged 15–49 years. Weighted descriptive statistics were used to examine changes in contraceptive use, and separate binary logistic regression models were applied to assess factors associated with modern contraceptive use. Results Findings indicate that MPV districts have experienced progress, but it is far from expectations. In MPV districts current mCPR (modern contraceptive prevalence rate) is 48.7% which was 33.3% in preceding survey. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan performed well in increasing mCPR, whereas Uttar Pradesh lags behind among major states. Age, wealth status, education and exposure to mass media were significantly associated with higher odds of modern contraceptive use among the respondents. Conclusion Mission Parivar Vikas was introduced to strengthen family planning services in selected high-fertility districts but current status shows a significant gap between MPV andnon-MPV districts within the same states. Although some improvement is visible, stronger efforts are needed to implement the programme more effectively. The study suggests that additional initiatives are required to address the unmet need for contraception in backward districts.

Described in 2017 and known only from the holotype, Uromys vika is surely among the world's least studied rodents. This critically endangered species is facing a rapidly increasing scale for threat from logging of its primary lowland forest habitat, on the only island on which it occurs—Vangunu, Solomon Islands. However, a deep traditional ecological knowledge of U. vika is held by Vangunu's people. Using camera traps and guided by this knowledge, we aimed to make additional records of U. vika in the last major block of Vangunu's primary forest. We successfully captured 95 images of what we postulate is four different individuals. The forests at Zaira represent the last suitable habitat remaining for this species, and recent development consent for logging at Zaira will lead to its extinction if permitted to proceed. Described in 2017 and known only from the holotype, Uromys vika is one of the world's most data‐poor rodent species. However, a deep traditional ecological knowledge of U. vika is held by Vangunu's people. Using camera traps and guided by this knowledge, we successfully captured 95 images of what we postulate is four different individuals.

This case study investigates Gram Vikas' innovative social entrepreneurial approach to sustainable rural development through its 'Water and Sanitation Programme'. We explore its key innovation of 100 % inclusion and the process of creating democratic, self-governing management systems. This allows us to demonstrate how a social enterprise tries to realize its vision of \"an equitable and sustainable society where people live in peace with dignity\", and ultimately, how it contributes to the United Nations Millennium Goals of improving health, empowering women and breaking the vicious circle of poverty. We also discuss the management challenges that the organisation faces in the area of finance, personnel management and scaling up.

House of Glenfiddich - Art, Travel & Beyond, a luxury lifestyle brand has launched its campaign 'Where Next?'. At the House of Glenfiddich - Art, Travel & Beyond, we celebrate those who challenge norms, embracing vulnerability and continuously set new challenges for themselves. Being recognised as a part of House of Glenfiddich's campaign has been an incomparable experience, and I hope my story will help inspire others to constantly ask themselves the 'Where Next?' question!\" Salim Merchant, music composer, entrepreneur, says \"My life has been a beautiful journey of experimenting with diverse melodies and crafting music that touches every soul.