A timely reality check on public policies in the developing world, the Global Hunger Index 2010, (GHI) released by the International Food Policy Research Institute, reveals the disturbing fact that the number of hungry people in the world hovers around the one-billion mark. Although this year's estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organisation place the figure at 925 million, barely a year ago, at the height of the recession, “the...

This is with reference to the report “Centre to step in Rajasthan MNREGS wage row” (Oct. 10) which cites the Union Rural Development Ministry Secretary Mr. B.K. Sinha as stating that the State Government of Rajasthan will have to pay the prescribed Wage Rate under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act/Scheme (MGNREGA) to workers under MGNREGA. This has not communicated the Union Secretary's point of view correctly. The...

Despite recording robust economic growth over the last couple of decades and spending thousands of crores of rupees on subsidising foodgrain and other programmes aimed at improving the nation’s social indicators, India ranks a low 67 among 84 countries on the Global Hunger Index, 2010. The country has actually dropped two levels since last year on the index published jointly by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Welthungerhilfe and Concern...

‘Under no circumstances the labourers should be paid less than the Wage Rate' Angry workers returned the Re.1-wages to the government on October 2 Rural Development Ministry considering possibility of paying bonus to workers The Centre has decided to direct the Rajasthan government to pay the admissible Wage Rate under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) to those workers of Tonk district who were paid a mere pittance of Re....

In the long speeches made at the opening ceremony of the CW games, every important individual, department or institution that made a contribution, was acknowledged. Did anyone hear a word about the workers who made these world-class games possible? Maybe it was just a slip or maybe it was not considered necessary. Anyway, the workers were not there for the speeches, having been driven out of the capital just a...