-The Times of India KORAPUT: Tribals protesting against bauxite mining in their area reportedly attacked a senior official of a private company and damaged his vehicle at Lakharsi village in Rayagada district on Wednesday. Tension erupted when the official of Hindalco, which has been granted mining lease at Lakharsi bauxite plateau, reached the village for a survey work around 3 pm. "The villagers have been opposing mining in the area fearing loss...

-The Hindu While India celebrates its near victory over polio, another dreaded disease, leprosy, that was overpowered in 2005 continues to haunt the government. Those affected by the disease continue to face social stigma and discrimination. In addition to the 12,305 child cases detected during the past year, 16 States and Union Territories have also shown an increase in the number of cases. Though in 2005 leprosy was eliminated (having less than 1...

-Reporters without Borders Access the 2013 World Press Freedom Index here. After the “Arab springs” and other protest movements that prompted many rises and falls in last year’s index, the 2013 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index marks a return to a more usual configuration. The ranking of most countries is no longer attributable to dramatic political developments. This year’s index is a better reflection of the attitudes and intentions of...

-The Hindu Unless the government regulates the growth of the private sector and makes it accountable, the worn-down public health infrastructure cannot be revitalised The absence of a well thought out policy framework for strengthening the health system is the most important issue facing the health sector in India. In the government, there is no clarity on what the nation’s health system should be 10 years hence. Should it be a public...

-The Times of India Blowing the lid off the government's 'cold' attitude towards the three-member committee it had set up to review rape laws, its chairman Justice J S Verma on Sunday said the panel was offered little else than a couple of rooms in Vigyan Bhavan and a government car to ferry the committee members, with all secretarial assistance and infrastructure being arranged by member Gopal Subramaniam. Lamenting the lack...