-Live Mint Strong political commitment is needed to build a system of universal health coverage and better regulations Life expectancy in India has more than doubled since independence, to 65 years, from just 32 in 1950. The infant mortality rate has been cut by two-thirds since 1971. Smallpox and guinea worm have been eradicated, the spread of HIV/AIDS has been contained, and the World Health Organization has declared India polio-free. Yet for all...
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Who foots the huge dole for business? -Latha Jishnu
-Down to Earth Bad loans of public sector banks to business are more than double the food subsidy There are some things you simply do not do in the liberalised economy. You do not put bank loans under the lens-unless these are ballooning out of control. That is, until such loans are likely to jeopardise the entire banking system and send the economy into a tailspin. And there's another thing: you don't...
More »Nitish Kumar’s Bihar slides in GDP growth -Pradeep Thakur
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Closer to elections, Nitish Kumar's JD (U) government in Bihar seems to be on a slide with the state's GDP growth tumbling down - from a high of 15.05% in 2012-13 to an estimated 8.82% in 2013-14. Incidentally, the ebbing of growth coincides with the split in the JD(U)-BJP alliance. Nitish had called off the alliance with the BJP in mid-June last year when the...
More »Vote-on-account not to disappoint on fiscal deficit-Vrishti Beniwal
-The Business Standard Chidambaram may announce higher fund allocation for the social sector, with focus on education, food, women and rural masses In his last Budget speech as finance minister in the UPA-II government, P Chidambaram will have a lot to say on Monday but much of it is likely to be high on intent and low on content. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, interim Budget 2014-15 is likely to be...
More »Middle class poised to play greater role in 2014 elections: Zoya Hassan
-The Hindustan Times In recent years, there has been a constant stream of international attention given to the Indian middle class. Thanks to the expansion of this class, India's image has dramatically changed since the 1990s. Instead of the narrative about grinding poverty, India is now seen as the heart of new capitalism that is associated with high rates of growth as well as the consumerist elite and middle classes. The...
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