-The Hindu Not too happy with the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, Union Tribal Affairs Minister V. Kishore Chandra Deo has asked the State governments to address several lacunae in the law while implementing it at the ground level. “If a clear signal is given to implementing authorities that all rights of forest dwellers must be adhered to and that the democratic...

The district administration's plan of giving priorities to digging of wells under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has started bearing fruits. The scheme has brought smiles to hundreds of farmers across the district. Official records show that the farmers have doubled their income by growing crops in about 7,200 acres in all seasons. Many farmers like Mahli Oraon at Rampur village of Sadar block shared their success...

The dreaded El Niño weather phenomenon is set to appear during the second half of the southwest monsoon, which may cause less-than-expected rains in August and September. El Niño had earlier hit the Indian monsoon in 2009, when the country faced a severe drought. This time, its impact is not clear as of now, but if there are excessive breaks in the monsoon, crops of paddy, oilseeds and pulses could...

BATHINDA: A Punjab village has been forced to set up its own " high court" to resolve disputes due to rising litigation costs and slow pace of justice. Pulha village elders claim the "court", comprising 35 "jury" members, has settled over 250 cases primarily related to Land disputes piled up over last three years in as many months.  "Except murder, we try to solve all other issues," said Sukhjinder Singh, a...

-The Times of India Opposition parties on Tuesday sought to put the government on the mat over the Coalgate scam front-paged by TOI with Parliament adjourned till noon and Left demanding a joint parliamentary probe on the reported Rs 1.8 lakh crore benefit to private companies. Opposition members stalled question hour in both Houses demanding a discussion on the CAG report. As soon as Rajya Sabha met for the day, Rajiv Pratap...