PIPAL: People’s Initiative for Participatory Action for food Labelling

  Strengthening NGO Capacity on FCRA Compliance for Nation Building Implementing Organization Jan Mitra Nyas Supporting Partner CTFK / GHAI Date & Location 12-13 December 2025 Background and Rationale Civil society organizations play a crucial role in social development and nation building. However, many grassroots organizations face challenges in understanding and complying with the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which often limits their ability to access and effectively utilize foreign funding. Complex legal language, fear of non-compliance, and lack of technical guidance further discourage transparent engagement with foreign contributions. To address these challenges, Jan Mitra Nyas organized a capacity-building workshop on “FCRA and Nation Building” with the support of CTFK/GHAI. The workshop aimed to simplify FCRA provisions and empower organizations with practical knowledge for lawful, transparent, and effective use of foreign contributions. Object...

Tobacco, Slow Violence, and a Policy Turning Point: How Grassroots Evidence from Varanasi Helped Shape India’s New Tobacco Tax Framework “Every public opinion is not policy. For that, we need champions.” — Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi On 7 December 2025, Hindustan Varanasi, Newspaper carried a stark headline: “Tobacco causes cancer in 51.2% of men.” The report, based on district-level screening data, revealed that more than half of cancer cases among men in Varanasi are linked to tobacco use. Among women, tobacco-related cancers stood at a staggering 14.2% . According to the article, 57% of those screened came from rural areas , underscoring how deeply tobacco-related disease burdens India’s poorest and most underserved communities. This data is not merely alarming — it is a call to action. It is against this backdrop that a broader movement for fiscal and regulatory reform has picked up pace. And at its center stands the persistent advocacy of Jan Mitra Nyas and the People’s Vigilance Commi...