-The Business Standard Chandigarh: Worried over diminishing returns from small holdings in the state, young and educated farmers in Punjab with an entrepreneurial streak are venturing into commercial dairy farming. The farmers say that a commercial dairy farm gives them high returns compared with conventional agriculture on small land-holdings, which is proving unsustainable. There are about 6,000 progressive dairy farmers in Punjab and the state has more such farmers than any other...

-The Hindu Hyderabad: The road to motherhood is fraught with risks for women visiting the two government maternity hospitals in the city, says a recent study by women's group ‘Stree Vimukti Sanghatana'. A report detailing the matter was presented to Principal Secretary, Health, L.V. Subramanyam on Monday. The study reveals the appalling conditions prevalent at the teaching hospitals at Petla Burz and Koti, which are frequented by poor pregnant women from Old...

-The Hindu THRISSUR (Kerala): The only way to have poison-free vegetables is to cultivate them in the backyards of homes, Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath has said. Promoting homestead vegetable cultivation was the responsibility of every person in the State, he added. After visiting ‘Agrifiesta 2014', an agricultural exhibition, the Archbishop said the technologies, Machinery and implements developed by research institutions should reach farmers. The exhibition has been organised by the Kerala...

-The Hindu     Nearly three years after the government began experimenting with Aadhaar-based payments in Jharkhand, it has not been able to start disbursing payments to beneficiaries at their doorstep Jharkhand was one of five pilot States chosen for an Aadhaar-enabled payment system (AEPS). Beginning with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) payments in select blocks in four districts in 2012, AEPS added pension and scholarship schemes and the Janani Suraksha...

-Outlook New Delhi: The future of the flagship scheme providing 20 kilolitres of water to households announced by the former chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hangs in balance as the Delhi Jal Board is yet to receive the final confirmation for provision of subsidy of Rs 165 Crore for 2014-2015 from Delhi government. "The Board was informed that on the matter pertaining to the provision of subsidy of Rs 165 Crore for the...