-The Hindu   Expresses concern over implementation of scheme in Maharashtra Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has asserted that the Union government would initiate action against States where there is deliberate “misappropriation/embezzlement” of funds earmarked for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The Minister expressed concern over the “disappointing nature” of implementation of MGNREGS in Maharashtra and said he had addressed a letter to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in...

-The Indian Express   A majority of children of primary classes in rural areas are at least two grades below the required level of proficiency in both mathematics and language, according to a study released today. It said that while the ability of children to correctly formulate and write sentences on their own is “exceedingly” low, a high proportion of children in class IV were struggling with basic multiplications and divisions. The Annual Status...

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Orissa government asking it to submit a detailed report on the alleged "man-made" floods in the last in August-September.  The disaster had officially claimed over 80 lives and damaged houses and agricultural lands in 21 districts.  The NHRC's direction came following petition filed by Bhubaneswar-based India Media Centre, a voluntary organisation.  Water resources secretary, chief engineer of irrigation department and Hirakud...

Although India is a labour-surplus economy – with an unlimited number of workers willing to work at a subsistence wage – a paradoxical feature of the labour market is the rising incidence of scarcity or shortages amid a situation of potential plenty. No doubt, this pertains to skilled labour. But when 15 per cent of Indian trucks are idle owing to a shortage of drivers or India Inc is worried...

-The Hindustan Times   The World Bank and International Monetary Fund just concluded their annual meetings in Washington. At an event on nutrition in South Asia, the evidence presented was clear and astonishing. On the one hand, South Asia has experienced robust economic growth averaging 6% a year over the past 20 years. On the other hand, the region continues to have unacceptably high rates of malnutrition with Bangladesh and India having...