The government's ambitious Socio-economic and Caste Census 2011, the bedrock for many social schemes, is facing a human resource crisis that is likely to delay not only the survey, but also many big-ticket electoral promises of the UPA government, such as the National Food Security Bill. To salvage the situation, the rural development ministry, which is executing the census through state governments, recently approached the Registrar General of India (RGI) for...

-PTI The health sector will get a larger share of 2.5 per cent of GDP instead of 1.8 per cent, in the next Plan period, said Planning Commission member Syeda Hamid. Addressing an international Vaccination Symposium at Surajkund near here today, she said this will be a very "big jump." She said that year-by-year achievement has to be recorded to get maximum benefits and the Planning Commission will insist that what is spent...

A survey to identify the country’s Poor looks set to miss its December 2011 deadline since it has not even started in 20-odd states, including Bengal. The “socio-economic caste census” is being conducted by the rural development ministry, urban housing and poverty alleviation ministry, and the registrar-general of India. One reason that a rural development ministry official cited for the delay is Bharat Electronics Limited’s failure to supply enough low-cost tablet computers...

-The Hindu   State to take care of education and other needs of their son till 12th standard Two hardcore Maoists, one of whom was reportedly involved in the Silda camp killing in 2010, called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the State Secretariat on Thursday after surrendering before the police. Congratulating the duo, who met her along with their child, Ms. Banerjee said the government would examine the legal cases against...

Says she failed to act against officials who swindled MGNREGS funds, presses for CBI probe The war of words between the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party in the run-up to the Assembly elections has intensified, with a Union Minister blaming Chief Minister Mayawati for failing to act against officials who had allegedly swindled funds of a Central government scheme in seven districts of Uttar Pradesh. Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam...