-PTI   Planning Commission today faced criticism inside and outside Parliament for its description of poor and resultant fall in people below the poverty line with Opposition parties saying it was making a "dishonest" attempt to conceal reality through "fraudulent" estimates. BJP hit out at the government and the Planning panel for the conclusion that the number of people living below the poverty line has fallen by seven per cent, alleging that the...

Today is 20th March and it was this day in 2009 when the new form of Right to Information Act (RTI Act) was enacted in J&K by Omar Abdullah led Government soon after coming to power. Prior to 2009 we had an RTI law passed by PDP Congress coalition Government headed by Mufti Mohammad Syeed in 2004 (J&K RTI Act 2004). The 2004 version of RTI Act was much weaker...

The Centre on Saturday asserted that adequate funds were available during the2012-13 financial year to meet job demands by below poverty line (bpl) households under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. Union Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh underlined that he has recommended reallocation of funds for rural development, especially fordrinking water and sanitation projects, to ensure inclusive growth and reflect the percolation of the high growth rate to the rural side. At the...

National AIDS Control Programme urged to move beyond medicine-centric approach The government programmes for children suffering from HIV/AIDS should move from medicine-centric approach to include nutrition and preventive care, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has recommended. In its recently released report ‘Rights and entitlements of children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS 2010-11’, the organisation also advocated provisions for issuing bpl cards to children who have lost their...

-PTI Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said that all efforts are being made in the state for achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  "Important steps are being taken in the state for achieving the MDGs by the deadline of 2015 through flagship programmes benefiting lakhs of poor and underprivileged people," Gehlot said, inaugurating a symposium 'MDGs in XII Plan of Rajasthan: Integrated and Futuristic Approach" here.  The Chief Minister claimed...