The lone Indian activist on the 2011 TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, Aruna Roy has been more successful than most,  when it comes to getting the government’s attention. The Chennai-born former bureaucrat who was an instrumental force behind the revolutionary Right to Information Act has also been credited by the government for “incorporating strong citizen entitlements” in the ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). A constant...

-The Times of India The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body set up to promote and defend child rights in the country, has sent a notice to the state government asking it to reply within 15 days on complaints of admission to private schools before the end of the present academic year thus violating Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009. The notice...

Despite its introduction with much fanfare three years ago, Jammu and Kashmir government has abruptly slowed down on the implementation of Right to Information (RTI) Act, which was designed to bring transparency and accountability to public offices. According to the Act enacted in March 2009, it is incumbent upon the state government to launch major awareness campaign for general public through various mediums of communication and languages, especially for disadvantaged communities...

-The Telegraph The dam burst today. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) has issued a public statement on the AMRI fire and subsequent arrests, demanding the immediate release of those “not responsible for day-to-day operations of any business”. “Those who are not found guilty and are not responsible for day-to-day operations of any business should be released immediately,” said the statement titled “Ficci’s stand on fire at AMRI Hospital”. The...

This is the season to count blessings. India's greatest blessings are its adherence to the democratic system of governance, an independent judiciary, a free and fearless media, and an Election Commission that inspires confidence. I hope that soon India will have an independent and effective Lokpal, which will pave the way for a corruption-free India, a pre-requisite for a hunger-free India. The other major paradigm shift observed in recent years is...