Tears rolled down Rakshit’s* cheeks as he talked about losing his 75-year-old father six months ago. In April, his father was rushed to a top hospital after experiencing chest pain. An angiogram showed severe artery blockages, and doctors advised an urgent bypass surgery.

A week after being discharged, his father’s chest wound became infected. He was readmitted to the same hospital and treated with several antibiotics, but the wounds didn’t heal. Lab tests later showed the infection was from a bacteria resistant to most antibiotics, leaving only one or two options. The doctor suggested an expensive treatment plan but warned there were no guarantees.

"The doctor told me everything depended on my father’s response to the medicine," said Rakshit. Already deeply in debt from high-interest loans for his father’s care, Rakshit was conflicted.

Facing mounting hospital bills, Rakshit made the difficult decision to bring his father home against the doctor’s advice. “He passed away two days after we got him home. If I had enough money, I would have agreed to try the expensive medication,” he said.

Rakshit, an air conditioning mechanic, lives with his family of five on Bangalore’s outskirts. His story is not unique. Hospitals nationwide are seeing a rise in critically ill patients being discharged without medical consent, a practice known in medical terms as Discharge Against Medical Advice (DAMA) or Left Against Medical Advice (LAMA).

Experts point to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a key driver of this trend.

India is one of the world’s hotspots for antimicrobial resistance, primarily due to the uncontrolled use of antibiotics over the years. The AMR has disproportionately impacted healthcare access for economically and socially vulnerable populations. 

Data collection

Eight years ago, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) began efforts to collect antimicrobial resistance data from 20 major medical colleges across India. Meanwhile, the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) collects antimicrobial resistance information from 35 labs across India. A key partner in this initiative is Kasturba Medical College, part of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) in Manipal.

Dr Vandana KE, professor and head of Microbiology at the college and coordinator of the Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance, and Manipal-bioMerieux Centre of Excellence in antimicrobial stewardship, said the soaring medical costs driven by antimicrobial resistance often compel patients' families to opt for discharge against medical advice. Even if they continue to receive hospital care, the health outcome is compromised. “The situation is grave, to say the least,” she said.

The centre of excellence is set up with the support of bioMerieux, a leading French firm focussing on in vitro diagnostics for more than six decades.

The recently released eighth annual antimicrobial resistance report from ICMR has shed light on rising antibiotic resistance and the decreasing effectiveness of standard treatments against common bacteria in India. The report focused on frequently used antibiotics for managing conditions such as upper respiratory infections, fever, diarrhoea, pneumonia, sepsis, community-acquired pneumonia and other bloodstream infections.

Dr Vandana said this data is invaluable for doctors to gauge the resistance levels of specific bacteria. "A few years ago, we had no comprehensive data on antimicrobial resistance. Now, things are slowly but surely improving," she said.

The report, compiled from nearly 10,000 culture-positive isolates across 21 partner hospitals, provides crucial insights. "Each of the partner hospitals collects bacterial samples, analyses their sensitivity patterns, and uploads the information to the national portal," she added.

Limited options

Rising antimicrobial resistance is making many once-common antibiotics less effective. A few decades ago, doctors prescribed antibiotics based on symptoms and physical exams. With the rise of microbiology labs and advanced tests, doctors now send patient samples to labs to identify the specific bacteria and effective antibiotics. This approach helps doctors choose the right treatment, but they’re facing a bigger problem: new antibiotics are scarce, while bacteria are becoming more resistant.

Dr Muralidhar Varma, professor and head of Infectious Diseases at the college and chairman of Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programme, said the number of antibiotics that can be used for treatment has come down drastically. “For example, doctors had seven or eight drugs at their disposal some 25 years ago to treat the common E.coli (Escherichia coli) which causes urinary tract infection,” he said.

“Now, we have only one or two medicines available to treat the same urinary infection. E.coli bacteria has developed resistance to every other antibiotic. This is a huge challenge healthcare professionals are facing now,” he added.

According to experts, antimicrobial stewardship, which encourages the proper and judicious use of antibiotics, is essential in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. The focus is on educating healthcare providers to follow guidelines based on scientific evidence when prescribing and administering antibiotics. 

The Kasturba way

At Kasturba Medical College, a team of pharmacists, physicians, and microbiologists collaborates to ensure that AMS efforts are effective. Under the team’s guidelines, high-end antibiotics can only be administered to patients after receiving approval from the AMS team. “We are not about restricting antibiotic use altogether because patient safety is paramount. If healthcare professionals have a valid reason to prescribe a particular antibiotic, we authorise it,” said Dr Varma. “Similarly, hospital pharmacies must seek AMS team approval before dispensing any new antibiotic.”

We aim to have open conversations with doctors, explaining why certain antibiotics may not be ideal. They understand our reasoning, and we can move forward collaboratively.

The biggest challenge in implementing antimicrobial stewardship is gaining the trust of senior doctors who are accustomed to having autonomy in prescribing antibiotics.

Dr Vandana emphasised that strict mandates are unlikely to work with experienced doctors. “There are two global approaches to stewardship: restrictive and handshake. With a restrictive model, doctors must justify their rationale for using certain antibiotics, but this approach can feel intrusive and harm the programme’s success,” she said.

Dr Vandana’s team primarily relies on the handshake approach. “We aim to have open conversations with doctors, explaining why certain antibiotics may not be ideal. They understand our reasoning, and we can move forward collaboratively,” she said. “The handshake approach fosters shared responsibility.”

Diagnostics is key

“Without proper diagnosis, effective infection management is impossible. That’s why we also focus on diagnostic stewardship. Diagnostic stewardship means applying the right test for the right patient at the right time, along with accurate interpretation and effective communication between the diagnostician and prescriber,” said Dr Vandana. 

However, accurate diagnostics remain a distant dream for much of India’s population, as microbiology labs are scarce or nonexistent in rural areas.

“The lack of access deprives people in these regions of the benefits of both antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship,” said Dr Varma. “Until we establish robust facilities, a vast majority will be left out of efforts to reduce antimicrobial resistance.”

(*Name changed to protect identity)

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If you ever visit Thanamir, a quiet village on the Indian side bordering Myanmar, you’re likely to be welcomed with a glass of freshly made apple juice or dried apples–a fitting choice for a community of fewer than 800 residents that has made a name for itself as the only apple-producing village in the entire Northeast. The small yet vibrant community is not only helping Nagaland become one of India’s six apple-producing states but also establishing itself as a destination known for both its fruits and natural beauty.

Thanamir sits at over 2,000 metres high and is known for two things: its apples and Saramati, one of Asia’s tallest peaks. Nearly every home has at least one apple tree in the yard. Visit between July and September, and you’ll see trees bursting with blossoms. “For me apple means sustenance. It has become the means of my survival”, says Somuli Kips, a longtime apple farmer in Thanamir. Many others share his sentiment, seeing the apple as both a livelihood and a community symbol.

Today, the village’s apples are so celebrated that a quick google search for Thanamir online brings up pages all about its produce. Yet, despite the visibility online, Thanamir itself remains largely isolated, perched on a quiet hill in Nagaland.

Community Apple Project

In the 1970s, India was seeing a rise in apple production, but in the village of Thanamir in Nagaland, apples were unheard of. That changed thanks to a surprising act of kindness during the Indo-Naga conflict. An Assam Rifles soldier gave three apple saplings to a Village Guard in Thanamir as a peace offering. The saplings, planted in the village’s fertile soil, grew well, and soon apples became a part of daily life in Thanamir.

By 2011, apple farming had become such a success that Thanamir held its first Apple Festival. The festival grew into a yearly tradition, putting Thanamir’s apples on the map and resulting in the Community Apple Project, a local initiative to support and grow the village’s apple industry.

Today, Thanamir produces 40-50 tonnes of apples each year. The village’s cool, moist climate is perfect for apple growing, helping the apples develop a rich flavour and firm texture. With 19 inches of rainfall a year, the apples need very little irrigation, making farming here both natural and sustainable. This climate advantage has earned Thanamir the nickname Nagaland’s Apple Capital.

But the village faces challenges. Poor roads and limited phone access make it hard to reach new markets. Even so, Thanamir dreams of becoming an apple export hub. With better infrastructure, the village could expand to reach nearby countries like Myanmar and Malaysia. The demand for apple saplings is also growing, offering another way for the village to share its success.

What began as a simple gift has grown into an important part of life in Thanamir, bringing pride and new opportunities to the community. 

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Call for support

In September, the village of Thanamir celebrated its 15th annual Apple Festival, themed "Apple for Health, Wealth, and Prosperity." The event drew locals and officials alike, with the Minister for Women Resource Development & Horticulture, Salhoutuonuo Kruse, making a huge announcement: plans for a new apple processing unit in Thanamir. The facility would enhance the value of the village’s apple production and support economic growth. She also encouraged farmers to explore other crops suited to the region’s unique climate, pledging departmental help in connecting them with markets and providing technical guidance.

Yet, despite the festival’s success and the enduring charm of Thanamir’s apples, challenges persist. Locals are grappling with poor road infrastructure, which severely limits their ability to fully capitalise on the apple harvest. Community members are urging the state for a more equitable distribution of funds and assistance in establishing better marketing channels to reach wider audiences.

The pandemic added to these difficulties. With the festival on hold, Thanamir’s farmers took matters into their own hands, bringing their apples directly to urban markets. This meant long, exhausting journeys–over 300 kilometres, often taking eight hours or more–to the state capital, Kohima, and beyond to Dimapur, Nagaland’s bustling commercial hub. The payoff, however, was evident: their apples sold out swiftly at a wholesale rate of Rs 1,000 per 7 kg carton. The demand was undeniable.

Thanamir’s farmers are ready and eager to increase their apple yields. All they need now is the right support to make it happen.

(Image Credits: Imtiakang Imsong)

In 2020, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was linked to 700,000 deaths worldwide, a figure that continues each year. AMR causes severe infections in approximately 2.8 million people annually. In India alone, AMR was associated with 1,042,500 deaths in 2019, a number projected to more than double by 2050.

“While the term antibiotic resistance (ABR) is loosely used interchangeably with antimicrobial resistance (AMR), antibiotics as a group of medicines only work on pathogens that are bacterial and those that are semi-bacterial in nature. They don’t work on viruses or fungi. There are multiple types of bacteria, different ones in different living beings and different groups of antibiotics that will work on them, causing a wide variety of medicines to be circulating in our environment,” says Dr Samita Moolani Katara, an ophthalmologist from Pune.

Several studies have established the link between meat and antimicrobial resistance, and the potential risks are alarming. Resistant bacteria can travel from animals to humans through raw and cooked food, or even directly from animals on farms. 

Despite the challenge of feeding its large population, India boasts a strong agricultural sector, with a significant focus on animal husbandry. The country stands tall as the world leader in milk production, ranks third globally in egg production, and holds the eighth position in meat production. 

Moreover, the country caters to the growing international demand for meat, poultry, and agricultural products, with buffalo meat being a key export.

AMR and meat

AMR is a complex and growing crisis that connects our food, our health, and the environment. Microbial strains found in food, particularly Staphylococcus spp., extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp., highlight the spread of AMR. Today, the threat comes from multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria that can withstand multiple antibiotic classes, affecting both humans and animals.

“What’s so scary about this situation is that currently no new antibiotics are being developed globally. The same top-of-the-line antibiotics that were developed a couple of decades ago are in use today so when patients develop a resistance to these, there aren’t many other courses of action that us doctors are left with,” says Dr Samita who is seeing a lot of antibiotic resistance in her patients because even patients with a simple case of viral pink eye are being prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics. 

Antimicrobials, particularly antibiotics, are commonly used in the meat industry globally and in India, both for growth promotion in animals slated for meat consumption and to protect animals from disease. These antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiprotozoals, are effective at killing or inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms. When humans consume meat that contains antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, these bacteria can transfer to the human gut, potentially resulting in infections that are resistant to treatment. 

The same top-of-the-line antibiotics that were developed a couple of decades ago are in use today so when patients develop a resistance to these, there aren’t many other courses of action that us doctors are left with.

“Often, human and animal health professionals over-prescribe antibiotics or advise people to use them even when they’re not required,’ says Dr Geeta Kumar, a gynaecologist from Rae Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. 

Many antibiotics given to farm animals are excreted in their waste, which is frequently used as manure in agriculture. This practice introduces antibiotics into the soil and water, contaminating food crops as well. This contamination allows resistant bacteria in animals to reach humans directly or indirectly through food, water, soil and manure.

 “The unhygienic conditions and high number of animals packed into a small space make them even more susceptible to infections, which is why meat farms introduce various antibiotics as preventives, not curatives,” says Dr Samita.

Some types of meat are riskier than others. Salmon, often eaten raw, is one such example. “Salmon is one of the worst meats to have without cooking because their breeding conditions are quite bad. There is so much sickness in the water they’re farmed in that they are pumped with antibiotics. Salmon is often eaten without cooking, which results in a high transfer of antibiotics to the consumers,” she adds.

Policies and regulation

In 2010, India ranked as the fourth-largest user of antibiotics in animal food production, following China, Brazil, and the United States, and accounted for 3% of the global antibiotic use in this sector. Despite oversight from international regulatory bodies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), World Health Organization (WHO), World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the widespread use of antibiotics in healthy animals persists, partly due to the predominantly non-vegetarian diets in Western countries.

In India, regulatory bodies such as the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have made some efforts - while they have made policies and a list of drugs to watch out for, the implementation of these policies has not been very stringent. There has been some tightening of regulations around the use of antibiotics in food production as recently as last week. The FSSAI lowered the permissible residue levels in foods and also put more antimicrobial drugs on its watchlist. 

Practical precautions

The UN’s One Health campaign advocates for a unified approach to treating animals, humans, and the environment with equal care in the fight against AMR.

Holistic nutritionist Aashti Sindhu points to lab-grown meat as a hopeful alternative. “Every time we eat meat that’s been pumped full of drugs, we’re adding to the problem. Lab-grown meat could be a game-changer—it doesn’t need antibiotics, so it’s cleaner, better for our health, and kinder to the planet. It’s a win-win solution that could really make a difference.”

Several organisations are now working to counter AMR in India’s National Action Plan, with initiatives focused on awareness, enhanced surveillance, infection control, and research. Although antibiotic-free poultry options exist, there is often limited verification of their claims, leaving consumers in a tricky position.

Veterinarians, too, play a critical role. “I’m personally aware of a number of times I have been prescribed antibiotics for very minor ailments. If the government increased the prices of antibiotics, I’m sure vets would reduce use of them,” says Goa-based veterinarian Dr Suvarnaraj Gaonkar. As individuals, we must take responsibility by staying informed and reducing our own antibiotic reliance.

Beyond reducing meat consumption, small actions can make a difference. “Washing hands is key. It might sound simple, but it’s a highly effective tool in preventing infection spread,” says Dr Kumar.

For those who choose to eat meat, opting for certified organic and humane sources is best. However, sourcing verification can be challenging in India. Ensure meat is thoroughly washed and fully cooked. Other precautions include using separate cutting boards for meat, washing hands between handling meat and other foods, and storing food properly to minimise infection and AMR risks.

By being mindful of the choices we make–from what we eat to how we approach hygiene–we can all play a part in slowing the AMR crisis.

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Between April 2023 and March 2024, Tamil Nadu issued corrective actions to 517 pharmacies and suspended 283 licences for violations including unsupervised drug sales, failure to maintain prescription registers, and dispensing drugs without prescriptions from registered medical practitioners, according to data we accessed from the Drug Control (DC) Department.

The department has ramped up pharmacy inspections across the state, raising awareness on restricted antibiotic use to curb antimicrobial resistance. “We are invoking the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945, to suspend the licence of pharmacies that sell antibiotics without a prescription. We find this approach more effective than court prosecution, as closing the shop brings about a behavioural change,” said MN Sridhar, joint director, Drugs Control cum Controlling Authority.

The assistant director of drugs control conducts annual awareness sessions for pharmacies across the state’s 26 zones. “We have WhatsApp groups for each zone to regularly discuss AMR (antimicrobial resistance) and stress the importance of not giving antibiotics without a prescription,” said Swaminathan Elangovan, treasurer of the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association, which has 30,000 members across the state.

Meanwhile, the health department is streamlining infection control committees in major private and public hospitals to monitor antimicrobial susceptibility, provide guidelines, and restrict the excessive use of antibiotics. Headed by microbiologists in medical college and teaching hospitals, these committees work to control infections and encourage judicious antibiotic use.

Ground reality

India launched its National Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance in 2017. But seven years later, Tamil Nadu still hasn’t developed a state-level action plan. “Even without a plan, we’ve been consistently working to keep antibiotic use in check,” said MN Sridhar, Joint Director of Drugs Control.

Yet, the situation on the ground remains concerning. “Creating a state action plan involves coordination with various departments beyond health, such as agriculture and environment. It took us some time to bring them all under a singular umbrella to work on the plan,” said an official from the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH), who requested anonymity.

Patients who buy antibiotics over the counter often cite time constraints, avoidance of doctor fees, and a perception that the same drug is always prescribed.

Out of seven pharmacies visited by this reporter and her team to ask about Amoxicillin, one of the most commonly overused antibiotics, four were willing to sell it without a prescription. The pharmacies are located in rural areas of Trichy, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Thiruvallur.

A 2022 study published in the National Library of Medicine, which looked at 15 independent pharmacies in a major city and a smaller city, found that antibiotics like Amoxicillin, co-amoxiclav, azithromycin, levofloxacin, and metronidazole were often bought without prescriptions. “Patients who buy antibiotics over the counter often cite time constraints, avoidance of doctor fees, and a perception that the same drug is always prescribed,” the study noted.

“Azithromycin is one of the most abused antibiotics, especially since COVID-19 when restrictions were mild and whatsapp forwards encouraged people to use the drug if they face any symptoms of respiratory distress,” said Nanda Kumar, pharmacist, Sekar Medicals, Thiruvottiyur. “We don’t sell antibiotics without a prescription. We issue sinarest for cold and Dolo 650 for fever,” he added. 

Antibiotic resistance in hospitals

Doctors are witnessing an increase in drug resistance within hospitals, signalling a serious health threat. “For example, some Fluoroquinolones, a type of antibiotics used to treat Typhoid, have become resistant due to inappropriate usage. Thus, we are going for new antibiotics, but they are sold at higher cost. This is a dangerous pattern,” said Dr Keerthy Varman, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors Association.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant challenge for the medical community. “For patients who are at a higher risk of infection, we rely on blood cultures and organism identification to determine appropriate treatment. A drug sensitivity test is performed in the lab, and I’ve often seen reports where the infection shows resistance to all standard antibiotics, particularly in critically ill ICU patients. In such cases, we have to resort to different classes of drugs, but the success rate is unfortunately lower,” Varman added. 

According to the 2023 annual report by the National AMR Surveillance Network (NARS-Net), certain antibiotics, like methicillin and, to a lesser extent, linezolid, show significant resistance, especially in ICU environments. Research from 41 hospitals across the country, including two in Tamil Nadu, highlights resistance to many drugs.

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Status quo

State Action Plans on AMR align with India's National Action Plan and adopt a One Health approach that encompasses animal health, agriculture, and the environment for a comprehensive fight against AMR. “Health is a state subject with major decisions happening at the state level. A state action plan on AMR will provide a clear direction to tackle AMR for all stakeholders,” said Dr S S Lal, director of ReAct Asia Pacific, a global network dedicated to the problem of AMR. 

Tamil Nadu hospitals analyse resistance patterns from their patients and periodically submit data to the WHO. The state is working to create a plan, following the examples of other Indian states like Kerala and Delhi, to limit antibiotic use across all sectors.

“There is a desperate need for local antibiotic usage/consumption and antibiotic resistance data from both human and animal sectors. While resistance data among patients are available in major tertiary care hospitals, the same is limited at the secondary care and community levels. Adopting a State Action plan should be seen as a starting point to fill these gaps, to promote awareness among different stakeholders, and to allocate health resources in a better manner,” said Dr Jaya Ranjalkar, former deputy director, ReAct Asia Pacific, who has been working on this issue for over six years.

A model state

Kerala serves as an inspiring model among states with action plans. Through initiatives like the Kerala Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (KARS-NET), the state collects drug resistance data from public and private hospitals. Awareness of AMR is being raised not only in major medical college hospitals but also in primary care centres.

Earlier, ReAct Asia Pacific had developed and piloted the ‘Antibiotic Smart Communities’ model in Kerala to empower residents and key stakeholders within local government organisations. The model identifies local drivers of AMR and gaps within the community to design context-specific interventions. “A 15-point indicator framework is used to assess the antibiotic smartness of a community,” Dr Jaya said, adding that community engagement is essential to address complex One Health challenges such as AMR besides identifying synergies with other health plans across sectors, engaging private entities and civil societies.   

Although Tamil Nadu is taking steps to combat AMR, a unified approach and intersectoral coordination among departments such as health, agriculture, animal welfare, environment, and veterinary services are vital. Adopting a well-funded state action plan on AMR will enhance effectiveness in addressing this issue.

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“If we use antibiotics when not needed, we may not have them when they are most needed,” Dr Tom Frieden, former director of the US CDC.

Antimicrobial resistance is knocking at humanity’s door, and the warnings have been ringing loud and clear. Since the advent of antimicrobial medicines in the 1920s, these drugs have increased our average lifespan by 23 years and saved countless lives. However, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and antiparasitics have created a vicious cycle of resistant pathogens, rendering these life-saving medicines increasingly ineffective.

We now stand at the brink of a post-antibiotic era, where common diseases are no longer treatable by these drugs.

Global health crisis

But what happens when bacteria adapt, and our bodies stop responding to these medicines? That’s when antimicrobial resistance (AMR) sets in. “Common diseases are becoming untreatable.” That’s the blunt warning issued on page one of a 2019 United Nations report on drug resistance.

When antibiotics and other antimicrobials lose effectiveness, infections become harder—or even impossible—to treat, raising the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. Misuse, such as taking antibiotics when they’re not needed or failing to follow prescriptions, enables bacteria to adapt and become resistant, complicating future treatments.

As antibiotics lose their effectiveness, experts have warned for years of a ‘silent’ global health crisis. Some argue that the rise in AMR cases could make the COVID-19 crisis pale in comparison.

“Antimicrobial resistance could unwind 100 years of medical progress, making infections that are easily treatable today a death sentence,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization director-general, at a news conference in September. “No country is immune to this threat, but low- and middle-income countries bear the greatest burden.”

Indian picture

One out of every eight people worldwide lives in India, and with that concentration of humanity comes an equally concentrated problem of antimicrobial resistance. India’s struggle with AMR is paradoxical, with people suffering both from a lack of access to antibiotics and from fatal AMR infections.

According to a analysis, between 300,000 to 1.1 million Indians lost their lives to AMR in 2019. The superbug crisis has taken a toll on India's healthcare system. 

The three most common antibiotic-resistant pathogens here are E. coli, causing gut infections; Klebsiella pneumoniae, which leads to pneumonia and urinary tract infections; and Acinetobacter baumannii, associated mainly with hospital-acquired infections.

A concerning number of children in India are born with infections resistant to most antibiotics, resulting in over 58,000 infant deaths within a year. Just five years ago, the situation wasn’t this severe. The rapid rise of AMR in India stems from multiple factors: lack of clean water, harmful bacteria prevalent from soil to sewage, and widespread environmental contamination.

With a population of 1.5 billion, India is well aware of the urgency of addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The Indian government has already created a national action plan to tackle the issue, which recognizes the importance of tackling all four key drivers of AMR: humans, animals, food, and environment.

Recognizing the country-specific challenges like untreated water waste, improper discard of livestock, and use of sludge in agriculture, the plan takes a comprehensive approach to address the issue from multiple angles.

While similar factors drive AMR in other countries, India lacks adequate data and research on AMR trends. Researchers, scientists, and doctors are charting new territory in the fight against AMR, with experts calling for a unified data system and standard operating procedures to monitor AMR effectively. Planning, monitoring progress, and reassessing the approach are critical steps to ensure India can manage this growing crisis effectively.

Unschooled 

AMR has always been an integral part of our everyday lives, but it's been largely ignored in the pages of our science textbooks and in public discourse. However, after spending nearly two years cooped up in our homes during the pandemic, AMR has suddenly been thrust into the spotlight.

With a newfound focus on health, food, and medicine, people have become increasingly aware of the importance of AMR and the urgent need to address it. The global COVID-19 lockdown has served as a wake-up call, making AMR one of the hottest topics in health and science today.

Every year since 2015, the World Health Organization has designated November 18-24 as World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) to draw attention to the alarming problem of antimicrobial resistance, which is affecting the health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment alike. In 2024, the theme for WAAW is “Educate. Advocate. Act Now.”, chosen after receiving valuable input from around 200 stakeholders from diverse areas of health.

Silent threat

Year after year, medical journals and publications report on this “invisible killer,” often referred to as the “silent pandemic” or even “evolution in action.” Beyond human health, antibiotics are used heavily in agriculture, livestock farming, and aquaculture, further fueling their spread across our environment.

Throughout November, the Good Food Movement will cover these topics and more as part of the World Health Organization’s AMR awareness week.

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The apple harvest in Himachal Pradesh's famed orchards has come up short this season, as the state’s collection centres have received only 3.61 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of apples, a big drop from last year's 3.84 LMT. The dip has been attributed to several factors, according to Rakesh Thakur, an apple orchard owner in Shimla. “This year, the season, which typically runs from June 27 to October 25, started late. Ageing orchards are being replaced, and some farmers are shifting to other crops for year-round income. We’ve also faced setbacks from fungal infections.”

While the old adage about an apple a day keeping the doctor away may still hold some truth, the stakes are higher. According to a 2022 mBio study, 13% of sampled apples from northern India were found to harbour the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris, which has been linked to severe infections and carries a mortality rate of 34%, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.

With such high risks associated with this potentially deadly pathogen, the message is loud and clear: keep your apple safe by thoroughly washing it before taking a bite.

The presence of drug-resistant fungus on fruits like apples is just the tip of the iceberg. The broader, underlying issue is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in our food systems, where once-healthy soil has become a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The increasing use of antimicrobials in agriculture, often used to boost crop yield and protect plants from diseases, is contaminating the soil with these substances. “Increasing use of antimicrobials in agriculture is contaminating the soil, leading to the emergence and selection of resistant strains,” said Rajesh Bhatia, former director of communicable diseases for WHO's South-East Asia regional office.

How AMR enters our soil

As global food demand rises, so too does the use of antibiotics to speed up livestock growth and protect crops from disease. While these practices may offer short-term gains, they also inadvertently create a long-term problem: antibiotic-resistant bacteria in soil. 

These resistant bacteria can spread and survive in soil through multiple routes, including seeds, soil additives, irrigation water, and especially animal manure used as fertiliser. Antibiotics given to livestock often remain in their manure, and when this manure is applied to fields, it releases antibiotic residues and resistance genes into the environment.

AMR bacteria can contaminate crops, get into water supplies, and pass resistance to bacteria that infect people. As a result, common infections could become harder to treat, causing longer illnesses and more deaths. “The food we eat plays a critical role in the dynamics of AMR, largely due to the overuse of antibiotics. Intensive farming practices often involve giving animals antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease, leading to resistant bacteria that can enter the human food chain,” said Dr Akhlesh Tandekar, head consultant of critical care at Wockhardt Hospitals Mira Road.

A recent study confirmed that animal manure often contains antibiotics like tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and fluoroquinolones, all of which contribute to the growth of AMR in soil. These resistant microbes can easily find their way onto nearby crops.

The food we eat plays a critical role in the dynamics of AMR, largely due to the overuse of antibiotics. Intensive farming practices often involve giving animals antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease.

“Antimicrobials and bacteria from these sources also adapt and exchange genetic material, creating more resistant strains. Through the food chain, humans and animals can become exposed to these resistant pathogens,” said Bhatia. 

In a 2021 study, researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that over 60% of the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes found on lettuce leaves were traced back to soil that had been fertilised with animal manure.

Moreover, antibiotics are sometimes applied directly to plants, enhancing crop health and yields. However, this practice also fuels the spread of resistant bacteria in the soil. "For instance, tetracyclines are injected into tree trunks to combat citrus diseases like huanglongbing (HLB) and sprayed on pears and apples to prevent fire blight. Although effective, such practices add to the growing issue of resistance in soils, posing risks across the food chain," said Vidyut Singh, a pear farmer in Kullu.

Climate change then compounds the issue. "Rising temperatures create favourable conditions for bacteria to multiply, while excessive rains and water accumulation create an ideal environment for pathogens," said Bhatia.

Why it matters to you

In 2023, the WHO identified AMR as one of the top global public health threats. And the alarming part? These bacteria don’t respond to common antibiotics. "If they cause infections, doctors have fewer treatment options, turning a mild infection into a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. When people consume foods carrying antibiotic-resistant bacteria, they face the risk of infections that require longer hospital stays and can increase mortality rates," said Dr Tandekar.

According to the WHO, bacterial AMR caused an estimated 1.27 million deaths and contributed to an additional 4.95 million in 2019 alone. If left unchecked, the impact of AMR is predicted to be catastrophic, with an estimated 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050. India, with its vast population, carries a disproportionate burden of drug-resistant pathogens, highlighting the urgent need for action and interventions to mitigate this crisis.

For farmers, the impact is even more immediate. "Resistant bacteria degrade soil health, reducing crop yields. This forces farmers to rely on even more chemicals, creating a vicious cycle that is hard to break. Addressing AMR is crucial not just for our health, but for the sustainability of agriculture and food security," said Thakur.

Solutions for AMR-free farming

The challenge is significant. “India’s National Action Plan on AMR (2017-2021) highlighted the importance of a One Health approach, integrating efforts across human, animal, and environmental health. However, implementation faltered due to the pandemic and limited engagement from the environmental sector,” said Bhatia.

Despite setbacks, experts believe India's farming sector can still turn the tide. Here are their recommendations:

But India’s farming sector can still turn the tide. Here’s what the experts recommended:

• Go organic: Organic farming avoids antibiotics and synthetic pesticides, fostering healthier soil microbes that combat resistant bacteria. India has 2.6 million hectares under organic farming, fifth largest in the world, supported by the GOI’s Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, but broader adoption is needed.
• Integrated pest management (IPM): By using natural pest predators, crop rotation, and habitat modifications, IPM reduces reliance on chemicals, limiting resistant bacteria in the soil.
• Stricter regulation & awareness: Stronger enforcement of antibiotic regulations and educating farmers about AMR risks are essential. Public health campaigns should target rural areas to ensure greater awareness.
• Monitoring soil health: Focus on Soil Health Management (SHM) under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), by combining chemical fertilisers with organic manures and bio-fertilisers to improve soil health and productivity.

Protecting our soil from resistant bacteria means safeguarding our crops, health, and the future of Indian agriculture. That future depends on the choices we make today–in the fields, in research labs, and at our dinner tables.

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Earlier this year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its first global analysis of mangroves. The findings were alarming: half of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse. The primary culprit? Human activity.

While the report highlighted mangrove degradation in southern India, similar destruction is unfolding elsewhere. In the same month, media reported mangrove loss in Maharashtra, heavy metal pollution in the Sundarbans, and mangroves being cleared in Gujarat to build a cricket ground.

A vital ecosystem

The Indian peninsula, with one of the world's longest coastlines and a tropical climate that supports mangroves, has 43 of the 80 true mangrove species, second only to Indonesia, according to a report by the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. These ecosystems thrive in brackish water, where most plants cannot survive.

Researchers repeatedly emphasise the crucial role mangroves play in combating climate change. They reduce the impact of storm surges during cyclones, decreasing both wave height and speed. Their tangled roots help prevent flooding and absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide. Additionally, mangroves provide habitats for crabs and other crustaceans, boosting local fish populations and supporting marine ecosystems. These salt-tolerant plants, known as halophytes, can flourish in environments where most vegetation cannot survive.

Urbanisation vs restoration

As India's fragile coastal areas balance urbanisation and restoration, nonprofit organisations have stepped up to compensate for the lack of government support. They're planting hundreds of thousands of mangrove trees to restore these natural barriers.

“Real estate is a major concern because a city like Mumbai is expanding. Since there is no land, the only way to expand is into the ocean,” said Radhika Jahveri, an environmental activist. “The Navi Mumbai airport project is entirely built on CRZ1 [coastal regulation zone which includes mangroves],” she added.

According to the notification, no new construction is permitted in these zones, but that’s clearly not the case here. In 2009, the CRZ rules were amended to allow airport construction after repeated pleas from local politicians.

The latest 2019 notification requires that a minimum of three times the mangrove area affected, destroyed, or cut during construction be compensated by planting new mangroves. One of the most important voices in the city’s environmental conscience, Stalin D, the director of Vanashakti, said the biggest joke is that there is currently no space for compensatory afforestation of mangroves. “Wherever mangroves could have grown, they are already growing,” he said.

Human impact

“Flooding has worsened in the villages, especially in Raigad and Uran. The villagers who settled here 100-200 years ago knew the area was safe. But today, the entire surrounding land has been reclaimed. The villages have sunk by three metres.”

“Naturally, instead of spreading out in the flood-holding zones, the water is now entering the villages,” he added.

Nandakumar Pawar, a member of the Vanashakti NGO and part of a fishing community, has witnessed the impact of mangrove destruction firsthand.

“Where we live on the coast, a mangrove forest used to be right in our backyard. Our tradition was to cast our nets and catch plenty of fresh fish; we never relied on frozen or dead fish from the market,” he recalled. However, things have changed dramatically.

Until the early 90s, fishing conditions were still favourable. Gradually, urban development began to take over the region. Today, fisherfolk struggle to find any fish in Thane Creek, the largest creek in Asia, which connects three regions. It is now contaminated beyond imagination, as noted by Pawar, who has been documenting the ecological damage for decades.

Toxic waste, sewage, and other chemicals have polluted the water bodies, severely affecting fish breeding grounds. As a result, only a handful of species remain. “Oysters and crabs have been completely wiped out,” he said.

Kerala’s coastline

Meanwhile, Kerala has lost 95 percent of its mangroves in the last three to four decades. From 700 square km in 1975, the state’s mangrove cover has dwindled to just 24 square km. Over half of the remaining mangroves are privately owned, making them difficult to protect.

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In 2021, government authorities planned to acquire around 51 hectares of private land with mangroves in Thrissur, Kollam, Malappuram and Kannur districts. However, in 2023, the project was halted for unknown reasons.

While authorities remain indecisive, fishermen like TP Murukesan are taking action. Over the past decade, Murukesan has planted more than one lakh mangrove saplings in Malappuram, despite the financial burden. He believes that if reforestation continues, the landscape will improve within the next decade.

Read more: A fisherman's inspiring fight to save Kerala's coast

The Sundarbans

To the east lies the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove ecosystem on the planet, which has lost nearly 25 percent of its area in the past three decades due to relentless erosion.

Ayush Sarda, a 25-year-old environmental advocate with the Sundarban Foundation, has spent four years working to restore this vital ecosystem. He recalls planting mangrove saplings just seven to nine inches tall; many have now grown into sturdy four-foot trees. “We’ve planted about one lakh mangrove trees in the Birajnagar blocks of Gosaba Island,” he said.

The Sundarbans, surrounded by saline water, lack drinkable freshwater, forcing locals to dig deep borewells or rely on scarce freshwater lakes. Here, mangroves serve as a barrier, keeping saltwater at bay.

Sarda said mangroves once extended as far as Kalighat, now overrun by urban expansion. As a result, cyclones have intensified, rainfall patterns have become erratic, and climate change is affecting urban areas like Kolkata, where winters are warming and summers are scorching.

“We need to ensure high survival rates,” said Sarda. The foundation has achieved a 90% survival rate among the mangroves it planted, while many other initiatives struggle with survival rates of only 60% or 70%.

In 2020, to compensate for the damage caused by cyclone Amphan, the West Bengal government planned to plant five crore mangrove propagules (seeds). Experts called the plan ‘improbable,’ citing lack of space as a major factor, among other concerns. Two years later, most of the mangroves planted between 2020 and 2022 have washed away.

Untapped potential

At the largest Pichavaram mangroves in Tamil Nadu, tourism aims to help people connect with and appreciate nature. However, authorities have yet to address the lack of infrastructure and mismanagement.

The verdant system, spread over 1,000 hectares, suffered destruction during the 2004 tsunami, after which little or no effort has been made by authorities to develop the infrastructure. The government's lack of attention and awareness is leading to further deterioration of the ecosystem.

Earlier in 2024, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) organisation's first global mangrove assessment stated that mangroves covering the Tamil Nadu coast are critically endangered. 

Local environmentalists argue that the government should focus on promoting community-led tourism to fully tap the region's potential. They also urge the government to establish a learning centre at Pichavaram dedicated to all things related to mangroves, particularly for researchers.

Time is running out

India’s mangroves are in peril, and the consequences of inaction are clear. These vital ecosystems protect our coastlines, support biodiversity, and help combat climate change. Without immediate and sustained efforts, from both government and communities, the future of India’s mangroves–and the people who depend on them–remains uncertain.

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In Bidire village in Karnataka’s Hassan district, Sudha faced an unexpected turning point when her husband lost his job in Channarayapatna. As her family struggled to make ends meet, Sudha decided to use the opportunity–and her land–to change their future. “Our family was struggling,” she said, “so one day, we decided to make use of our vacant land.” And with that, a small dairy farm began, along with a few rows of banana plants, marking the start of a journey toward stability.

The first year saw the family steadily gain revenue from dairy sales, enough to expand into poultry farming with a focus on country chickens and egg sales. Today, Sudha has cleared her debts and lives a content, self-sufficient life. Her story serves as a vivid example of resilience, illustrating how job loss can sometimes pave the way to a thriving, independent life in rural India.

Return to the roots

Between 2020 and 2021, India saw a 28.9% migration rate, with rural areas contributing to 26.5% of this movement. Remarkably, a growing segment of these individuals–10.8%--moved in search of employment, only to return to agriculture. 

The recent Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation highlights this shift. From July 2023 to June 2024, approximately 46.1% of India’s workforce was involved in agriculture–a rise from 42.5% in 2018-19. 

Sudha’s story reflects the emerging landscape of rural employment. While challenges persist, such examples of resilience offer hope, showing how individual initiative and adaptability can lead to empowerment and self-sufficiency.

Economic pressures

For countless landless and daily wage labourers, returning to their villages during the pandemic became a test of resilience. Pappu, from Naugawa, shared his story of walking nearly 800 kilometres from Surat to his home in Banda district-a journey that took him 26 days. Upon arrival, he endured another 15 days in quarantine, isolated but finally safe. Another villager, Bhaiyaram Lakshman, trekked from Hyderabad, sometimes receiving lifts, yet his journey still stretched over 15 exhausting days. He reached home with swollen, blistered feet. For both men, life remained harsh; their families, already grappling with hunger, now had additional mouths to feed. Despite relentless job searches, no work was available nearby. Survival hinged on support from voluntary groups and organisations, which stepped in with food and essentials, bridging the gap as employment opportunities remained scarce.

Agriculture is one sector that can absorb as many as it can. People tried to return to the cities, but jobs were scarce. This trend has contributed to a 3-4% increase in agricultural employment over the past five years.

The economic fallout of COVID-19 left 9.3% of urban workers jobless, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). Once seen as hubs of prosperity, cities have become increasingly unaffordable, especially in tier-1 and tier-2 locales, as the cost of essentials like food, housing, and transport continues to climb. Industrial workers, who earn an average of Rs 563 per day (around Rs 14,075 per month) according to the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), often find themselves stretched thin.

For many, the weight of urban financial strain prompted a re-evaluation, drawing them back to rural life where agriculture offers a more sustainable, if hard-won, livelihood. "During COVID-19, many people who depended on unorganised work in the cities went back to their native places,” said Dr SR Keshava, economist and HOD at Bangalore University. “Agriculture is one sector that can absorb as many as it can. People tried to return to the cities, but jobs were scarce. This trend has contributed to a 3-4% increase in agricultural employment over the past five years."

The pandemic spurred a migration reversal, redirecting thousands back to their roots, where farming–though challenging–has offered a measure of stability and self-reliance that urban industries could not.

Methodology

Between July 2023 and June 2024, an extensive survey was conducted across 12,800 first-stage units (FSUs) throughout India, comprising 7,016 villages and 5,784 urban frame survey (UFS) blocks. Of these, 12,743 FSUs (6,975 villages and 5,768 urban blocks) were successfully surveyed for canvassing the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).

In total, 1,01,920 households were surveyed, with 55,796 households from rural areas and 46,124 from urban areas. The survey covered 4,18,159 individuals, of which 2,42,546 were from rural areas and 1,75,613 from urban areas.

The sample also included 3,19,773 individuals aged 15 years and above, with 1,80,793 from rural areas and 1,38,980 from urban areas. This data provides a comprehensive snapshot of the surveyed population's labour force characteristics across India’s rural and urban regions.

The PLFS survey methodology was robust, covering a large and diverse sample size. Surveyors collected data from rural and urban households, painting a detailed picture of how labour dynamics have evolved over time. The survey allows policymakers to assess the effects of urban migration, job loss, and the shift back to agriculture with greater accuracy, guiding future decisions.

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Ripple effects

The increase in India’s farming population brings both opportunities and challenges. On the positive side, more farmers could boost agricultural production, enhance food security, and open up growth in sectors like agro-processing. A strengthened rural economy could lead to job creation and increased exports, bringing long-term benefits to the country. “In case if more job opportunities are created in other sectors especially in manufacturing, agriculture will also be productive and the d-sector will also get the workforce,” Keshava said.

However, this shift also raises concerns about the strain on natural resources such as land and water. Overcrowding in the agricultural sector could reduce the productivity of individual farmers unless steps are taken to support sustainable farming practices. The government will need to invest in farmer education and infrastructure to ensure that this trend benefits both the rural and national economies in the long run.

“In all developed countries, there is a clear pattern of how sectors evolved. They moved from an agricultural economy to an industrial economy and then to a service economy. However, in India, a large part of the population moved directly from an agricultural economy to a service economy, bypassing the industrial stage. This is not the right approach.

If India wants to become a developed country by 2027, the share of agriculture in the economy should reduce to around 15%. Currently, the surplus labour is in agriculture, which is why productivity in the sector is low. Dr BR Ambedkar noted this in 1917, and every economist suggests the same solution: shifting surplus labour to other sectors. Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented pandemic and government facilities and subsidies, more people have returned to agriculture. However, this percentage may decrease in the next two years,” he added.

In the wake of economic pressures, agriculture has offered a safety net for many. While this transition has the potential to reshape rural economies and bolster food security, it must be managed carefully to avoid overburdening resources. By embracing sustainable practices and ensuring proper infrastructure, India can navigate this shift in its workforce, balancing growth with long-term sustainability.

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We often don't know who grows our vegetables and fruits, or where and how they are grown. Kai Thota, which literally means kitchen garden, is a backyard farm near Bengaluru working to change that.

The one-acre farm, managed by 24 women from the Mayuri Shakti organisation, follows a community-supported agriculture (CSA) or crop-sharing model. They deliver fresh greens to urban Bengaluru, cutting out middlemen and simplifying the conventional supply chain.

The farm is located in Ragihalli, less than 30 kilometres from central Bengaluru. The area, a mix of scrubland and dry deciduous forest in the valleys, has been marked as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). it's under constant pressure from urbanisation, impacting its resources and forest management. "When the forest department takes over the land, it becomes really hard for farmers to make a living," said Geetha, an expert farmer who has been with Kai Thota since day one at a discussion at Bangalore International Centre (BIC). Since these locals farm organically, their income is lower than in neighbouring panchayats. But the women, along with the Ragihalli panchayat, prioritise quality over quantity, even though market demands suggest otherwise.

The people of Ragihalli rely heavily on agriculture. However, limited farming space and conflicts with the forest department have driven many to seek work in Bengaluru. Before turning to farming, some women worked in factories in Jigani and Anekal, stayed at home, or found job in a local bakery.

Biodiversity and community farming

What are the farmers growing? Pretty much everything. In total, 80 varieties of fruits and vegetables thrive on this land. These include taro (arbi), bottle gourd, amaranth, Malabar spinach, papaya, cauliflower, brinjals, knol-khol, onions, white yam, okra, mint, sweet potato, turmeric, gongura, radish, spring onions, snake gourd, carrots, chillies, doddapatre, curry leaves, lemongrass, shallots, ash gourd, and perennial coriander. The biodiversity on each of the 31 plots creates its own microclimate. 

Despite the labour-intensive work compared to monocropping, the women find the rewards fulfilling. The women also educate customers by adding local weeds to their baskets and sharing cooking tips. Many of these weeds are highly nutritious, and this effort spreads awareness about edible weeds while showcasing the local women's expertise. 

People who destroy ecosystems act collectively, so working alone isn’t enough.

Nikhil Shenoy, a member of Kai Thota, said the goal is for city dwellers to learn how to incorporate these plants into their diets. “These grow in Bengaluru too, but we don’t know about them,” he added.

Shenoy, trained as a mechanical engineer, eventually realised his passion for agriculture. He spent around five years with MKSS in Rajasthan, practising farming in water-scarce regions, before coming to Bengaluru. 

“When you start growing for customers, there's a different kind of pressure to deliver–one that doesn’t exist when you’re just growing for yourself.” 

He believes organic farming is part of a larger philosophy where you work within the system, not as a lone individual. "People who destroy ecosystems act collectively, so working alone isn’t enough."

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Autonomy and sustainable farming

The women typically work from 9 am to 1 pm, marking their attendance daily. Along with managing the plots, they maintain a nursery, eliminating the need to travel 40 kilometres to Chandapura for saplings. The goal is to foster their independence and autonomy.

Currently, they're rebuilding the soil beds to prevent water stagnation during the rains. "For the women, it’s a new experience; they’re learning, and so are we," said Shenoy.

Beyond giving them ownership, the aim is to help them understand that being in an ecologically sensitive zone brings advantages, like biodiversity. Shenoy recalled a snail infestation during the rainy season, but birds quickly dealt with it. "If this had happened in a city, the farmer would’ve had to use external inputs to control the snails," he pointed out. 

Natural solutions

When the women noticed an increase in fruit flies, they made a fruit fly trap. “Once you have the problem, you think of a solution,” said Shenoy. “Now we’re dealing with rats. We’ll see if nature resolves it; otherwise, we’ll figure something out.”

They also prepare a popular organic insect repellent called Dashaparni, made from a mix of ten leaves. 

The Ragihalli panchayat is surrounded on all sides by Bannerghatta National Park, the only corridor for elephants to move between the Western and Eastern Ghats. 

"Ragi and paddy attract them because they’re more nutritious than what’s available in the forest," said Nishant Srinivasaiah in a Land Body Ecologies discussion. The farm is solar-fenced to protect the plants and produce from marauding animals. 

Scaling sustainable agriculture initiatives

Kai Thota’s vision follows a three-fold plan. The first step is the current model. Next, they aim to scale it to an organisational level, where IT companies can provide fresh greens to their employees. The third model will involve larger-scale planting.

"We can implement a vegetable basket CSA where people can either come and pick their own harvest in any combination or have it delivered," Shenoy said. They also want to introduce a nutri-garden programme for schools and colleges. 

Through the government’s NREGA scheme, the school or panchayat would provide land and labour, while the agriculture department would supply drip irrigation. Children would get involved in sowing and weeding activities. "Right now, D1 and D2 plots operate like that," said Shenoy.

Abheek, an alternative learning school in Gottigere, has subscribed to two plots. Every Wednesday, the children come from 10 am to 1 pm to help, followed by a one-hour class exploring and understanding the area. The group’s progress is visible in the land, the way they share knowledge, and their efforts to restore lost food diversity.

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(Image Credits: Tasmia A)