-PTI   India’s proposed National Food Security Bill has the potential to become a benchmark for the rest of the world to follow, the NGO Oxfam India and UK-based Institute of Development Studies (IDS) has said. The proposed Food Security Bill aims at providing legal entitlement over subsidised foodgrain to the poor. The Bill was introduced in Parliament in December 2011 and the same has been referred to the Standing Committee. “India is taking...

-Kafila.org Almost a century ago, Katherine Mayo published a book titled ‘Mother India’ that criticized the Indian way of living, and Rudyard Kipling  spoke of the ‘White Man’s Burden’. These writings reflected the colonial perspective that what colonizers did was in the best interest of the colonized people. Consequently, most well-meaning citizens of colonial powers were alienated from the horrible plight of the colonized. Purpose well served – unopposed exploitation. Years later,...

-The Economic Times A social activist has filed a case in the Delhi High Court alleging that the US-based Walmart is carrying retailing to the end consumer through Bharti Retail, a Bharti Enterprises group company.  The high court has sent notices to Bharti Walmart, Bharti Retail as well as the central government, seeking their replies on the petition filed by environmental activist Vandana Shiva. Bharti Walmart is a 50:50 wholesale retail joint...

-Deccan Herald Two opposition parties in Jharkhand – the Congress and the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha Prajatantrik (JVMP) and ruling alliance partner, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha on Tuesday lend support to tribal villagers protesting against the government. They were up in arms against the government for regaining possession of 227 acres of land for building an IIT, an IIM and a law university which had been illegally occupied by them for farming. Former chief minister...

ASHAs will continue to bear the burden of the government's rural health mission as a new order lists more incentive-based services. On May 31, a Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare order listed additional incentivised duties for accredited social health activists, or ASHAs, but was silent on the issue of regularisation of their employment. ASHAs, who bridge the gap between the rural population and the nearest health care outlets under...