Jagdeesh Puppala – Common Ground

Reimagining Local Governance: The Kerala Model for Sustainable Commons Management

By Thomas Isaac, Former Finance Minister, Government of Kerala In Kerala, we have spent the last three decades charting an ambitious journey of democratic decentralisation. As someone deeply involved in shaping these processes, both as an academic and as a policymaker, I have witnessed firsthand how empowered local governments and Read more…

By Jagdeesh Puppala, 10 monthsSeptember 13, 2025 ago

Blogs

Reimagining ‘Wastelands’: Unlocking the Potential of India’s Commons

In this interview article with Hindustan Times, Jagdeesh Puppala, convener of the Common Ground Initiative, calls for a fundamental rethink of how India treats its commons—including a long-overdue shift away from the colonial term “wastelands.” He highlights how 205 million acres of shared forests, pastures, and water bodies support over Read more…

By Jagdeesh Puppala, 10 monthsSeptember 4, 2025 ago