-The Indian Express Disaster-conscious planning as part of the urban agenda is helping India better prepare for natural calamities. Chennai 2015, Srinagar 2014, Uttarakhand 2013, Mumbai 2005. These disastrous floods remind us that without proper planning, unusually heavy rains in densely populated areas can brew a deadly cocktail for disaster. The issue is not just India’s alone. In our rapidly urbanising world, making towns and cities safer is emerging as one...

-The Hindu The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana scheme, which recognises the importance of clean cooking energy, is welcome. But we need to focus on issues of cash flow, awareness, availability and administration Within a fortnight of the recently announced Union Budget, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, earmarking Rs. 8,000 crore for it, with the aim of providing five crore subsidised Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)...

-The Financial Express This is a double whammy for the poor. Despite a fall in retail inflation to 5.18% in February from a 17-month high of 5.69% in the previous month, most of the lower-income states witnessed higher retail inflation than the richer ones, reports fe Bureau in New Delhi. According to DK Joshi, the chief economist at Crisil, higher-income states like Haryana, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Gujarat saw lower retail inflation...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Shopkeepers and street vendors across India who wish to continue providing commodities in plastic bags would need to pay Rs 4,000 per month to local authorities under new rules intended to discourage free carry bags. The Union environment ministry today announced revised rules to manage India's massive burden of plastic waste. The rules will introduce this waste management fee on vendors, while imposing a collect-back system for brand-owners...

-The Hindu Business Line MFIs are unable to address the needs of self-help groups. They have been hit by the falling growth of SHGs There has been a long-standing debate on the ability and effectiveness of the formal banking system as a vehicle for financial inclusion. The thrust has been to increase the number of small banks, as they play a very important role in the supply of credit to small business...