Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed a conference on ‘Leveraging agriculture for improving nutrition and health’ in New Delhi, organised by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), as part of International Policy Consultation. “Nutrition and health are issues are particularly topical today as the world faces rising food prices in many countries and there is growing recognition that climate change may endanger food security in many developing countries. Leveraging agriculture for...

Journalists should uphold accuracy and fairness and make a conscious attempt to present diverse views on a situation or an issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Saturday. Inaugurating the year-long centenary celebrations of the Kerala Kaumudi here on Saturday, Dr. Singh said: “Journalists who inform and educate the public are conscience keepers of society who point out lapses of the administration and government and also society at large. A...

At present, the government spending on education is about 3.4 percent of GDP ‘It is imperative that the government increase outlays in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan' A delegation of the People's Budget Initiative met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee here on Saturday to demand enhanced resources for the social sector which was crucial for the development of human resource and the nation. Formed in 2006, People's Budget Initiative is a coalition comprising representatives from people's...

Why women in Punjab villages shy away from offering their super-nutritious panjiri to guests from abroad, and instead offer them chips and coke? And, is there any connection between panjiri and failure of the Punjab farmers to save their own traditional (sustainable) seeds in favour of hybrids or new varieties dished out by PAU or private companies? 'There is a deep connection between the two,' says Arshinder Kaur, India coordinator for international...

A shocking survey in Mumbai has highlighted the alarming rise in the number of death's during childbirth. That's in sharp contrast to the all India trend that has shown a decline in last few years.   Hard to believe, yet in the heart of Mumbai last year over 200 women died at childbirth beating the figure of 154 last year. This shows how maternal mortality in the city is rising at...