• Key Facts

• Farmers' suicides

• Rural distress

• Debt Trap

• Unemployment

• Migration

• GENDER

• Displacement

• Right to Food  

• Right to Work (MG-NREGA)

• Social Audit

• Right to Information

• Right to Education

• Forest and Tribal Rights

• Policy/ Action so far

• Poverty and inequality

• Hunger Overview

• Malnutrition

• HDI Overview

• Education  

• Public Health

• Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS)

• PDS/ Ration/ Food Security  

• MDGs

• Water and Sanitation

• Impact on Agriculture

• Time Bomb Ticking

• Social Justice

• Access to Justice

• Human Rights

• Corruption

• General Insecurity

• Disaster & Relief

Sugar at ration shops may dry up in 15 states next month-Indivjal Dhasmana

ar Islands rely heavily on the Centre's supply. The Northeastern states want at least one year before they can shift to the new system because of the special situation of these states. Recently, food Minister K V Thomas urged all chief ministers to instruct their respective food and civil supplies departments to expedite the process of inviting open tenders to procure sugar from the open market. The de

‘62% of Delhi-NCR households prefer organic food’ -Tuhin Dutta

-The Indian Express New Delhi: Around 62 per cent of high-income households prefer organic food due to rising awareness, higher disposable income and easy availability in the markets of big cities, a study by Assocham says. There has been a growth in the demand for organic products in metropolitan cities, especially fruits and vegetables, an increase of 95 per cent in the last five years. The survey titled "Rising demand of org

Ranbaxy's dark chapter-Bhupesh Bhandari

Times said that the DGCI had indeed probed the charges against Ranbaxy in late 2008 but decided against imposing a ban on its products. There were three reasons for it: first, while the United States food and Drug Administration, or FDA, had banned drugs made at Ranbaxy factories in Dewas in Madhya Pradesh and Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh, drug regulators from developed countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom had inspected the factories

Ranbaxy case may take a toll on other Indian drug makers

-The Business Standard The tussle between the US food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and Ranbaxy is likely to hit the plans of Indian pharmaceutical companies of making it big in the US generic drugs market. Apart from the fact that their image may take a beating, the additional scrutiny on abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) from India would lead to more delays in drug approvals. Last week, Ranbaxy had agreed to pay a fine of $5

Post-2015 development agenda must focus on equality–UN experts

ion, despite clear evidence that social protection systems can contribute significantly to reducing poverty, creating social cohesion, realizing human rights and protecting people from shocks such as food price spikes," the experts said, adding that establishing social protection floors should be a priority of the post-2015 agenda. The experts also urged States to establish independent monitoring bodies with civil society and public particip

Iodine deficiency during pregnancy adversely affects child’s mental development -Kounteya Sinha

women, adversely affects the child's mental development. A UK study published in medical journal The Lancet on Thursday has shown that iodine - which is consumed mainly via dairy products and seafood - is essential for producing hormones made by the thyroid gland, which have a direct impact on fetal brain development. A recent Indian health ministry survey conducted in 324 districts across the country found that 263 districts are still endem

Privatising the ICDS?-Jayati Ghosh

n building, and that another 25 per cent were functioning out of kuccha/semi-pukka buildings or partially open structures. Between 40 and 65 per cent did not have separate spaces for cooking, storing food items or separate spaces for children's activities. Fifty two per cent of the AWCs did not have their own toilets, and 32 per cent had no drinking water facility. Functioning weighing machines for children and adults were absent in 26 per cent and 58

Anganwadi worker's daughter tops MP high school exam -Rajesh Bhatia

with tears when he heard that his daughter has not only topped in the district but has scored highest marks in the entire state. "My earning was so less that I was unable to provide proper food to my both children but still my daughter worked hard and scored highest marks in the state", said Pramila. Viewing obstacles coming in the way of Poonam's studies, her parents decided to send her in government girl's hostel. Her deter

Growth falters as UPA completes 4-years in office -Surojit Gupta

d to a 20-year low of 1% in 2012-13 and exports have slumped. While inflation has moderated in recent months, the stinging impact of stubborn prices for the past three years have hurt the common man. food prices continue to hover in double-digits prompting calls for urgent and deep supply side reforms to calm prices. "While the global economy was not very supportive the sharp slowdown in growth was largely home-grown," said D.K. Joshi,

Inflation spoils UPA’s report card -Sidhartha

or, especially investment in infrastructure that's long overdue. Poor infrastructure has aggravated the demand-supply mismatch, the economist said. As a result, it's not surprising that for most food articles, prices have more than doubled from the time UPA first came to power. Potatoes, chicken and eggs are the only exception. Onion tops the list with an over three-fold jump. For pollsters, it may be something to chew on.