-Outlook Chennai: Describing the HRD Ministry's Model School Scheme initiative as yet another instance of Centre's interference in state rights, DMK president M Karunanidhi today asked the Tamil Nadu government to take up the matter with the Centre. The scheme envisages setting up 2500 model schools under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode in educationally backward blocks in the country. With Union HRD Ministry inviting proposals from interested private entities, state government had been...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Political leaders of different ideologies and hues whether S M Krishna, L K Advani, Sharad Yadav, Pawan Kumar Bansal or Dayanidhi Maran have one thing in common. They are all unauthorized occupants of ministerial bungalows, according to the urban development ministry. The data given by the ministry under the RTI shows that there are 36 former Union ministers who continue to squat on ministerial accommodation...

-The Times of India CHENNAI: A day after TN chief minister J Jayalalithaa rubbished his claim that rice would continue to be supplied to Above Poverty Line (APL) category of people at the old rate of 8.30/kg under the food security bill, DMK chief M Karunanidhi said the Union had given an assurance in this regard in Parliament and the cabinet has also accepted it. Jayalalithaa had said the Centre's assurance of...

-The Hindu The UPA government has decided to bring amendments to the National Food Security Bill to help secure more support for the "game changer" legislation in Parliament. The government may move some of the changes proposed by other political parties, such as the DMK, the BJP and the Left parties, as official amendments. At a meeting of senior Cabinet ministers convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday, it was decided that...

-The Hindu While the UPA is showcasing cash transfers as a key initiative and has even made a provision for it in the National Food Security Bill (NFSB), there is a strong resistance to it. Major Opposition parties are moving amendments against cash transfers, food coupons and cash allowances in lieu of food even as the law is to come up for approval. So far, Delhi and Bihar are keen on providing cash...