1. Drought in Maharashtra:

Three villages in Marathwada and three in Western Maharashtra were studied with the purpose of understanding the causes behind persistent droughts, its consequences and how steps can be taken to eradicate the drought. This research project is based on a field survey of drought-affected families along with interviews of political leaders, villagers, sarpanchs, administrative officials/staff and women. We undertook a critical investigation of many aspects including agricultural debt, increase in barren lands; migration; unemployment; issues of agriculture, landless people, agricultural laborers, small and marginal farmers, women, caste; the politics of drought etc. A comparative analysis of the drought in Western Maharashtra and Marathwada was also undertaken. The two divisions in Maharashtra have been studied through qualitative and quantitative research methods. A number of recommendations have been suggested, through this report, for overcoming the drought in Marathwada and Western Maharashtra. The report was eventually published.

2. Migratory lives of sugarcane-harvesting labourers:

The number of workers in the unorganized sector has been steadily increasing in the recent past. Due to the scourge of the agrarian crisis, the smallholder farmers and landless have been consistently turning to the unorganized sector. A large number of them are engaged in sugarcane-harvesting labour. The Unique Foundation attempted to explore their issues through the research project on the ‘Migratory lives of sugarcane-harvesting labourers’. The report discusses various aspects of the migratory life of sugarcane harvesting workers including remuneration of labour, issues of livelihood etc. It also discusses and how issues related to education, health, employment are becoming graver with time. Direct interviews and group discussions of sugarcane-harvesting labourers were conducted. In addition to formulating various issues of sugarcane-harvesting labourers, the report also suggests some solutions to the challenges facing trade union politics. The report has been published.

3. Evaluation of Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan Yojana:

Maharashtra has been experiencing persistent drought in the recent past; with thousands of villages struggling to deal with the harsh conditions. The state government has undertaken several water conservation schemes to overcome this persistent drought. In this context, Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan was started by the Maharashtra State Government from 26th January 2014. The previous state government kept claiming that the drought had been overcome through the campaign. To investigate this, we conducted a study of 9 villages in 9 districts to review the work done through the scheme. We studied the purpose of the scheme, errors in the implementation of the scheme, how much the work done has benefited the villages etc. The report was published in March 2020.

4. Evaluation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):

This research project analyzed the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY); which claimed to have provided a much needed ray of hope against the scourge of the deepening agrarian crisis. The report critically analyzed this scheme, while also throwing light on the shortcomings in its structure and implementation. This report also provided important recommendations towards the evolution of a sustainable mechanism to protect farmer incomes while dealing with agriculture’s precarious nature. While examining the performance of the scheme, 791 farmers from Beed, Gadchiroli, Pune, Dhule and Ratnagiri districts were surveyed. The report was published in March 2020.

5. Study of the implementation of the Right to Education Act

Eight schools each in Pune, Latur and Thane districts were studied to understand the implementation of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act along with its shortcomings and the role of schools and parents in the implementation. Around 60 parents, activists and journalists, working on these issues, were interviewed during the project. The report was published in March 2020.

6. Phalode (Taluka Ambegaon) Zilla Parishad School Project:

The school project is an experiment in teaching mathematics and science to the students of tribal areas in a simple manner. The school had been Zilla Parishad School adopted and a monthly workshop and teaching module had been set up there for a year.

7. Reverse migration of workers:

After the lockdown due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the workers in the state returned to their respective villages from big cities. The Unique Foundation, in collaboration with the Centre for Public Policy and Democratic Studies at Savitribai Phule Pune University, completed the study of the issues faced by the migrant workers during the lockdown. Under this project, field work in 16 villages of Maharashtra was undertaken. The report was published.

8. Success Stories of Villages in Water Conservation in Maharashtra:

Considering the growing water crisis in the state and especially its adverse impact on the already deepening agrarian crisis, prompted us to study this issue in depth. We came across some very creative and novel experiments in some of the villages in Maharashtra, which sought to overcome the issue of water shortage through local initiatives. The Unique Foundation undertook a project with the aim of bringing out such success stories of some villages in water conservation accomplished with the help of some sensitive individuals, cooperative water-use societies, governmental schemes and most importantly peoples’ participation. This project undertaken by Ramesh Padhye and Amit Narkar has been published in form of a book, ‘Panyachi Shodhyatra: Maharashtratil Pani Prashna’.

9. The agonies of ‘Onion’: From the Farm to the Market:

‘The Unique Foundation’ has completed a comprehensive research project on the production and subsequent market-related issues related to Onion. Journalist Yogesh Bidwai analyses the source of constant uncertainty in the Lasalgaon market of Nashik district (which leads in Onion production in Maharashtra). He also explores issues like monopoly of stock traders, price fluctuations, women's labour, impact of climate change, role of government etc. The research also investigates whether this crop is beneficial in drought prone areas; while also exploring new opportunities in this field. The research project has been published in 2022.

10. Marathi translation project of EPW editorials:

The Unique Foundation had undertaken a project to translate the editorials of the renowned social science weekly 'Economic & Political Weekly' into Marathi language from January 1, 2020.