-Down to Earth Gas cylinder subsidy will be transferred only to those consumers who get their Aadhar number linked to LPG consumer number, insists petroleum ministry in spite of Supreme Court order to the contrary In blatant violation of Supreme Court orders, the Union petroleum ministry continues with its stand on linking Aadhar numbers with LPG cylinder subsidy. The ministry and the three oil companies that supply gas cylinders to consumers have...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: For the first time, community radio stations will come up in Naxalite-affected areas in the country. In a significant shift in policy, the government has given the nod for nine CR stations in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. The first one is likely to come up in Bastar in Chhattisgarh. The CR stations that have received permission include one each in Ambikapur and Bilaspur and two in Raipur,...

-The Hindu     In the case of north-eastern and hilly States, Centre should bear 90% of the cost, says panel The Centre may share with the States 50 per cent of the costs for distribution of the foodgrains meant for the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under the recently passed National Food Security Act (NFSA). An inter-State committee of secretaries chaired by Union Food Secretary Sudhir Kumar has recommended that the Central government pick...

-The Telegraph The Centre has announced sweeping changes in rural employment scheme NREGA ahead of next summer's elections, promising family members of job cardholders more benefits and faster payments besides including new projects. Most changes are aimed at reducing payment delays, described by Beneficiaries and activists as the bane of the UPA's showcase welfare plan. A highlight of the revamp is a plan to engage a family member of an NREGA worker as...

-Economic and Political Weekly This study quantifies the environmental and socio-economic benefits generated by the works implemented under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and assesses the potential of these benefits to reduce vulnerability of agricultural production and livelihoods of the Beneficiaries, post-implementation (2011-12) as compared to pre-MGNREGA (2006-07), to current climate variability. Agricultural and livelihood vulnerability indices developed showed reduction in vulnerability due to implementation of works under...