amba azaad

@AmbaAzaad
288 Followers
136 Following
1.6K Posts
I'm not here much. You can find me on Bluesky @ambaazaad.bsky.social
amba azaadAug 23, 2024
Annie ZaidiAug 23, 2024

"NITI Aayog, the government’s think tank, urged the closure of 199 district agro-meteorological units, which were shut in March 2024... The Aayog pushed to privatise these services... climate change and a worsening farm crisis endangers the livelihoods of India’s 145 million farmers, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended critical weather-advisory services... sent to farmers via WhatsApp groups, text messages, TV and radio..."

https://article-14.com/post/farm-weather-advisory-offices-nationwide-shut-as-niti-aayog-misrepresents-their-role-seeks-privatisation-66aafa82d2fac?s=09

Farm Weather Advisory Offices Nationwide Shut, As Niti Aayog Misrepresents Their Role, Seeks Privatisation

Despite opposition from a senior union minister and an association of experts, the NITI Aayog, the government’s think tank, urged the closure of 199 district agro-meteorological units, which were shut in March 2024, according to documents we obtained under the right-to-information law. For six years, agromet units provided free, weather-based farm advisories to millions of farmers nationwide. The Aayog pushed to privatise these services, which experts cautioned against, given their value to marginalised farmers.

amba azaadAug 23, 2024
Delighted to report that @blaft's Kickstarter managed to get 91 (ninety one!!) donated copies of their pathbreaking anti-caste SFF anthology for the Free Libraries Network!
It's the firs time a publisher has incorporated library donation into their fundraising goals and I hope it sets a precedent.
Thank you so very much everyone who boosted my posts about this, and those who went ahead and donated a copy!
A milestone in getting liberatory literature in the hands of the most deserving readers!
Show threadamba azaadAug 23, 2024
@jdp23 thank you so much! @blaft got 91 donated copies by the end!
Show threadamba azaadAug 23, 2024
@anirvan yay, thank you! @blaft managed to get 91 donated copies in the final tally!
amba azaadAug 22, 2024
There are 14 hours left.
Currently 70 libraries out of Free Libraries Network's 200 members will receive a copy of @blaft's Anti-Caste SFF book.
Can we take this number up to at least 100?
Email friends who are not on socmed!
Offer to do the kickstarter work for family who can only UPI money!
Let's go!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/blaft/anti-caste-speculative-fiction-by-blaft-publications/rewards#reward-UmV3YXJkLVVtVjNZWEprTFRFd01Ea3dNekF3
amba azaadAug 19, 2024
There are 200 libraries in the Free Libraries Network and so far only 30 of them will get a free copy of @blaft's Anti-Caste Speculative Fiction Anthology.
You can donate a copy for $8!
If you've already pledged, you can modify it to add-on the donation!
The publishers are waiving their profits, and only paying the contributors for the donated copy.
This will get a pathbreaking book in the hands of marginalised readers outside the AC bookshop world.
Please donate!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/blaft/anti-caste-speculative-fiction-by-blaft-publications/rewards
amba azaadJul 27, 2024
Utterly delighted to see that this has blown past its funding target! I am hoping for some cool stretch goals. But meanwhile, please do continue to tell your friends about it. It's such a cool book in the making.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/blaft/anti-caste-speculative-fiction-by-blaft-publications/rewards#reward-UmV3YXJkLVVtVjNZWEprTFRFd01EUTBPREk1
Show threadamba azaadJul 26, 2024
@Theorem_Poem I still do it a lot so giving flowers to you!
amba azaadJul 26, 2024
#SFF people! The Blaft Anthology of Anti-Caste SF is an amazing project and deserves all the support! If you want to promote #OwnVoices and #DiverseSFF this goes beyond South Asian or Diaspora Indian lit to feature caste oppressed writers and anti-casteist stories. It's also super pretty and fun and well-designed! There's a tote!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/blaft/anti-caste-speculative-fiction-by-blaft-publications/rewards#reward-UmV3YXJkLVVtVjNZWEprTFRrNU5ERTVNakE9
amba azaadJul 26, 2024
Blaft PublicationsJul 25, 2024

Our crowdfunding campaign has hit the halfway mark!

Come support THE BLAFT BOOK OF ANTI-CASTE SF -- the first anthology of its kind! Featuring scifi, supernatural, and magical realist tales, in English and in English translation, from giants of Dalit & Bahujan literature as well as young people publishing their first stories. BAMA, GOGU SHYAMALA, MIMI MONDAL, P.A. UTHAMAN, SAHEJ RAHAL, and 20+ more. Edited by R. Talitha Samuel et al., with cover art by Priyanka Paul!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/blaft/anti-caste-speculative-fiction-by-blaft-publications