-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The government is set to constitute a commission to examine how the Central list of OBCs can be divided into sub-groups, an act that appears to be a BJP move to win over the "most backward castes" by addressing their grievance of "inequitable" distribution of Mandal reservation benefits. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of a commission for sub-categorisation of OBCs. It sets the...

-VillageSquare.in Even as Madhya Pradesh reels under severe drought, residents of a tribal village who were denied access to water have collectively restored farm ponds to harvest the meager rainfall to fulfill their water needs Shivpuri (Madhya Pradesh): The landscape of Shivpuri district in Madhya Pradesh is a clear indicator of how arid the region is. With below-average rainfall in successive years, Shivpuri has been in the list of drought-hit districts for...

-Livemint.com The caste networks will disappear when the market economy starts to function efficiently The caste system is arguably the most distinctive feature of Indian society. The Indian population is divided into four hierarchical classes, or varnas, with a large sub-population of untouchables excluded entirely from the system. Within each of these classes, and among the untouchables, are thousands of castes, or jatis. The central rule in Hindu society is that individuals...

-The Times of India LAKHIMPUR KHERI: Residents of Choudhipur village in Mailani area in Lakhimpur Kheri district, 70 km from here, have refused to celebrate Independence Day as they felt that no development has happened in their village even 70 years after Independence. There is no electrification in the village and the roads are in terrible condition. The villagers are still forced to defecate in the open, as most of the...

-The Hindu Business Line A recent book shows how a cocktail of indebtedness, masculinity and consumerism acts as a trigger. For those who have wondered whether indebtedness can be the sole factor driving farmers to take their lives, here is a book that introduces much needed nuance and complexity to the debate. Nilotpal Kumar’s book, based on a study of 22 suicide cases in Ananthapur district (accompanied by a fascinating ethnographic study...