-Press Information Bureau (MoSPI) The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the key indicators of drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and housing condition in India, generated from the data collected in its 69th round survey during July 2012 to December 2012. Some of these subjects were covered in 65th round of NSS (July 2008- June 2009). Housing is a basic necessity of human well-being. Along with...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Almost two out of every five large projects in the country are held up due to absence of clearance by the ministry of environment and forests, putting pressure on the government to remove green roadblocks. According to ministry-wise data compiled by the government for projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore, nearly 38% are related to MoEF, which many view as the most powerful inspector, followed by...

-The Times of India CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu, home to several rare flora and fauna, is lagging behind many other states in implementing the National Biological Diversity Act, 2002, according to data released by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), an autonomous statutory body. Under the Act, the NBA coordinates the conservation activities across the country, primarily through state biodiversity boards and biodiversity management committees (BMC) constituted at grassroots level. BMCs work towards preserving biological...

-The Times of India MUMBAI: The murder of a young Right to Information activist from Bhiwandi was no aberration for a state that has seen the highest number of attacks on RTI activists since the Act's debut in 2005. data gleaned by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) shows Maharashtra has seen 53 attacks on RTI activists, including nine cases of murder, over the last eight years. Gujarat comes second with 34...

-Down to Earth Union health ministry says 17 other deaths of infants reported in Haryana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu were not linked to five-in-one vaccine The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has admitted that the pentavalent vaccine has caused at least three infant deaths in Tamil Nadu since December 2011 when the vaccine was launched in the state. The admission follows a Right To Information query after vaccine-related deaths were...