-Outlook This could be the UPA’s worst cut to its beloved aam admi. Healthcare has virtually been handed over to privateers. Not For Those Who Need It Most Govt seems to have abandoned healthcare to the private sector Diagnosing An Ailing Republic     70 per cent of India still lives in the villages, where only two per cent of qualified allopathic doctors are available     Due to lack of access to medical care, rural India...

-The Hindustan Times Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai’s comments on Thursday at the Harvard Kennedy School (US)— saying his office was advised by the ‘highest in the land’ not to ‘exceed our mandate’ and get into auditing policy formulation — sparked off a war of words between the government and the opposition. Pointing out that constitutional authorities should circumscribe by “Lakshman Rekha propriety”, I&B minister Manish Tewari on Friday said...

-Outlook Paradip (Odisha): Land acquisition for the proposed mega steel plant of Posco is likely to resume tomorrow despite a day-long opposition by local residents, officials said. Odisha government halted land acquisition activities for Posco's proposed Rs 52,000 crore mega steel plant project for a day today in view of stiff opposition from locals. "The process is on though we have halted the land acquisition activities for one day," Jagatsinghpur district collector S...

-The Hindu The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) too objected to the "selective and arbitrary approach" of the Government to the recommendations. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has denounced the ordinance which the Union Cabinet issued on Friday to curb sexual violence against women. When Parliament was to convene for the budget session in three weeks, the promulgation of the ordinance ran counter to democratic norms, a statement issued by the...

-Outlook A new land acquisition bill readies for budget session. How will it fare? Bill Of Blights     Defines “public purpose” too broadly, allows govt to acquire land for PPPs     Less landowner consent required for PPPs than private-only projects     The bill’s compensation norms likely to face strict challenges in the courts     States have been given R&R powers but could lead to arbitrary outcomes     Doesn’t consider govt projects where compensation, R&R are neglected *** The...