-IANS Shimla: Himachal Pradesh, whose economy largely banks on agriculture and horticulture, aims to develop bio villages by promoting organic farming. The state is also eyeing investment in cold chains. An additional 2,000 hectares will be brought under organic farming and there are plans to develop 200 bio-villages in the next fiscal, a government spokesperson told IANS. He said farmers in the bio-villages would use only bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides and discourage...

-The Indian Express The auditor also pointed out that there was no provision in the scheme for purchase of laptop bags and mugs. Chandigarh: Finding loopholes in the implementation of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found diversion of funds meant for the campaign in Panipat district. According to CAG’s latest report, over Rs 3 lakh were spent on “preparation”...

-The Hindu Business Line Incentivises exports by offering up to 25 per cent of the overall transport cost Ahmedabad: Facing assembly elections later this year, the Gujarat government on Monday announced Financial Assistance to the farmers growing potato and tomato in the form of transport assistance for exports. The move is seen as a step directed to please a large section of potato and tomato growing farmers. Announcing the decision, the deputy chief...

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) election manifesto for 2014 Lok Sabha election says that if elected to the Centre, it will then "(p)ut in place welfare measures for farmers above 60 years in age, small and marginal farmers and farm labours", among other things. Despite the formation of a BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre in 2014, the latest available data on farm suicides from the...

-Hindustan Times Chinsurah, West Bengal: A 163-year-old municipality administering a small town in West Bengal has shown the world how to manage solid waste in an eco-friendly way, potentially giving urban planners and administrators the key to tackling one of the biggest civic problems. The initiatives of Uttarpara-Kotrung municipality helped the Kolkata Solid Waste Management Improvement Project win a global award, defeating nearest contenders Auckland and Milan in urban solid waste management...