-The Hindu Paper products made out of elephant and rhinoceros excreta are a duo’s idea of nature conservation. Innovation can be described as finding creative solutions to a problem. And if the solution happens to solve more than one problem, then that’s a huge bonus. Retired Coal India engineer M.C. Bora and his daughter Nisha Bora recently hit upon a unique solution to protect the wildlife in the eastern state of Assam,...

-The Times of India The National Campaign for the People's Right to Information (NCPCRI) has said the grievance redressal Bill cleared by the Union Cabinet on Thursday could become a potential game-changer, provided the government ensures that redressal can take place at the district level, and the principle of federalism is respected. The NCPRI, which includes Aruna Roy of the Rajasthan-based Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), was the organization that successfully campaigned...

-The Telegraph Ranchi: The state information commission, mandated to ensure enactment of a sunshine law that aims to empower citizens by allowing access to crucial official documents and decisions has stopped work in Jharkhand as it has no officer to hear cases. Headed by chief information commissioner Justice (retired) D.K.Sinha, the commission is meant to have 10 information commissioners (IC) to hear cases filed under the Right to Information Act. But, all posts...

-The Times of India KOCHI: The Kerala high court has ruled that the Arya Samaj cannot conduct marriages between people if they are not followers of the samaj and it will not be legally valid if it takes place. Arya Samaj mandirs are found in all Indian cities and towns and solemnize love, arranged, inter-religion and inter-caste marriages. The ruling was given by a division bench of justices Pius C Kuriakose and P...

-The Times of India The Chhattisgarh government fudged records, concealed facts, changed policy and altered decisions while the Union environment ministry overlooked all such illegalities to open up 1,899 hectares for mining in Hasdeo Arand, one of the best patches of forests in central India. Initially, the Centre had decided to protect Hasdeo Arand by making it a no-go zone for miners. The Chhattisgarh government too had moved to get the dense...