-Press release from NREGA Sangharsh Morcha The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Swaraj Abhiyan in the Supreme Court on the severe drought conditions in the country had drawn the attention of the Court to the inadequate effort of the Central and state governments in implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), amongst other welfare programmes. In its last judgment on issues of MGNREGA workers on 13 May...

-The New Indian Express NEW DELHI: Amid controversial reports of hunger deaths in Jharkhand due to PDS beneficiaries being turned away, economist Jean Dreze says that even official records show that a significant proportion of people are being deprived of food rations every month. In an interview with New Sunday Express, the prime mover behind the NREGA welfare scheme said “this does not mean that Aadhaar is solely responsible for the failures...

-The Times of India BengalURU: In last year's budget, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley promised a health cover of Rs 1 lakh per poor family under the National Health Protection Scheme, which was meant to replace the UPA government's Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). However, with the programme yet to see the light of day, the Centre is forced to continue with RSBY, which seems to be losing ground. An RTI application...

-PTI Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal government on Friday to file an action taken report on the dengue menace that has affected a large number of people in the state. A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee directed the state government to submit the report by coming Friday when a set of PILs seeking steps to control the vector-borne disease and compensation...

-PTI Chennai: Torrential rains for about ten hours overnight halted normal life in Tamil Nadu’s capital and neighbouring districts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur. Schools and colleges—already closed since 31 October due to rains—have been shut today as well in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts. The India Meteorological Department forecast heavy to very heavy showers in north coastal Tamil Nadu till Saturday. It said Thursday's low-pressure area over Sri Lanka and adjoining south West Bay...