Civil Society - March 2019

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What does it take to empower women in Bihar? Project Lehar by the Aga Khan Foundation begins with adolescents by helping them get an education, learn skills and find employment.

We have multiple journeys tracked in our cover story, each a sign of hope that young women can assert themselves in their families and society at large and as they do so experience a level of empowerment they never have till they were helped.

A universal basic income is in the news. Sikkim plans it too. PD Rai, Sikkim’s Member of Parliament, explains that the state thinks it is necessary to give young people choices. If a basic income, however small is assured, the young will be likely to be more entrepreneurial and less likely to seek government jobs.

Our other features include how an agricultural college came to be set up in Goa, a profile of J.K. Banerjee, the rural surgeon who passed away in February, a business in small cold storages which can be set up in villages and a heartwarming encounter with the Afghan Charlie Chaplin.

Civil Society Magazine Description:

Civil Society is an independent magazine published from New Delhi.

It was launched in September 2003 to tell stories of change from across the chaotic landscape of post-reforms India.

A newly growing economy has winners and losers — as journalists we wanted to tell the stories of those who were making it and as well as those who were getting left behind.

In the past 15 years, Civil Society has come to be known for its refreshing style of covering people, events and trends. We are credited with redefining mainstream concerns in the Indian media.

Civil Society's reportage has brought to national attention individuals and groups who play leadership roles and drive change but get overlooked. We have shown that there is an India that exists beyond prime time.

This has been possible because we moved out of big media jobs to create a small and efficient enterprise through which journalists could look for stories where it may not be fashionable to look for them.

A democracy thrives on credible information. Small media entities, freed up from the demands of big capital, allow journalists to innovate and explore new frontiers. A large and complex country like India needs more alternative voices.

Started with just Rs 4 lakhs (about $6,000) of personal savings, one small car and a single computer, Civil Society has shown that it is possible for professional journalists with skills and clear values to build influential enterprises in the media.