The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has proved to be a boon for the tribal population in Wayanad district. It is the largest and the most successful livelihood programme under way in the tribes-dominated district. Women account for 775 of the person days of employment generated by the scheme, each of them earning Rs.125 as daily wage. The impact of the scheme on social structures has been significant,...

As rubber prices soared to Rs 180 per kg, even land, which is not traditionally best suited for rubber is getting converted in Kerala, thus shrinking the area under paddy cultivation. To stop diversion of paddy area towards rubber farms, the Kerala government has decided to implement a Rs 2,111-crore central package for paddy development in Kuttanad district, major producer of rice in the state. “Procurement price of paddy is now as...

Huge rain deficit for some pockets in the region The southern region has received 11 per cent more rain Tiruchi has the highest rainfall deficiency of 85 per cent Even though the on-going south-west monsoon has been the most benevolent so far over the southern peninsula, there are some pockets in the region, which are still facing huge deficiencies. The region, which consists of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, apart from Lakshadweep...

CSES says almost all of them in northern districts  Marriage below the age of 15 not reported Data show teenage marriages coming down KOCHI: Despite the rapid strides made by women in Kerala in social development, education and a host of reproductive health indicators, teenage marriage of girls continues to survive in the State, mainly in the Malabar region. One out of every 15 women in Kerala marries before attaining the legal minimum age...

KEY TRENDS   • Suicide by self-employed persons in agriculture as a percentage of total suicides at the national level stood at 15.6 percent in 1996, 16.3 percent in 2002, 14.4 percent in 2006, 13.7 percent in 2009, 11.9 percent in 2010, 10.3 percent in 2011, 11.4 percent in 2012 and 8.73 percent in 2013. Suicides committed in the farming sector (by farmers plus agricultural labourers) as a proportion of total suicides in India was 9.4 percent in...