-The Hindu Urban planning that involves the people and alternative service providers gives far better results than top-down efforts from the government, finds an IIT-M study In Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, the responsibility of managing and maintaining a set of more than 160 community toilets was handed over by the Tiruchirapalli City Corporation to a federation of women self-help groups. A post-programme field survey of 803 households revealed that the community participation had...

-The Times of India NEW delhi: Over 300 senior officials of Central government of the rank of director and deputy secretary have have been dispatched to states for "spot inspection" of toilets in schools and they have been asked to submit the report by next week. Sources said the step has been taken since the Prime Minister is miffed at the slow progress in building toilets in schools. Sources said each 'observer'...

-Financial Express The countrywide roll-out of the much-touted National Food Security Act (NFSA) seems unlikely even this fiscal, with a clutch of major states including Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat seeking more time to finalise and digitise the beneficiary lists and complete end-to-end computerisation of the public distribution system (PDS). The countrywide roll-out of the much-touted National Food Security Act (NFSA) seems unlikely even this fiscal, with a clutch of major...

-The Times of India NEW delhi: Despite the government's attempt over the years to popularize AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga or Naturopathy Unani, Siddha and homoeopathy), the people at large are still inclined towards allopathy treatment both in rural and urban India. The NSSO survey has found higher inclination towards allopathy treatment-- around 90%--in both rural and urban areas. Only 5 to 7% usage of 'other' type of treatment including AYUSH has been reported...

-Livemint.com Less than a third of rural India earns its living from agriculture. Landlessness, poor access to irrigation and credit, and low mechanization are all-pervasive New delhi: Rural India is no longer synonymous with agriculture, as most households are landless and depend on casual labour for a living, according to data from the socio-economic caste census (SECC) released last week. The numbers are telling. Across the country, agriculture is the primary source...