-Down to Earth In a Union budget wish list, civil society organisations call for course correction in policy and improving access to healthcare in India The government's focus on improving health indicators stated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has worked against the aims of universal health coverage, said experts at the National Convention on Union Budget 2015-16 held in Delhi on January 8 and 9. They recommended that the focus must...

-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: After vociferous protests from workers' unions, Narendra Modi government's coal ordinance is drawing flak from adivasi villagers of north Chhattisgarh as 20 gram sabhas from three districts of the state have passed resolutions against resumption of mining in 16 coal blocks spread over 2,000 sq km of dense forests which were part of the previous UPA government's 'no go' areas. The opposition could be debilitating for the...

-Down to Earth The programme does not address challenges that farmers face in eastern states Farmers in Jharkhand have not derived significant benefits from the new Green Revolution programme initiated by the Centre in 2010-11, according to a report by non-profits working with the farmers in the state. The report claims that the government tried to implement the 1960s model of Green Revolution that increased agricultural production in Punjab and Haryana, without...

-The Hindu Minister writes to counterparts to galvanise support In an effort to galvanise States against the "unilateral and anti-people" stance of the Centre to the public distribution system, Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao is writing to his counterparts across the country on the "reduced" role of the government in providing minimum support price to farmers in foodgrain procurement and the cut in kerosene quota to...

-The Hindu The recently released draft National Health Policy 2015 highlights the "challenge" of population stabilisation in six of the 11 States. Following massive protests over the death of 13 women who underwent the sterilisation procedure of tubectomy in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh last November, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has written to all States reminding them that every person should be counselled about the different family planning options available....