IN A small village north-west of Bangalore, peasants queue for identities. Each man fills in a form with his name and rough date of birth, or gets someone who can read to do it for him. He places his fingertips on one scanner and stares at another. A photograph of his face is snapped. These images are uploaded to a computer. Within a few weeks he will have an identity...
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Nine parties to launch nationwide agitation against price rise
“Government callous to plight of people groaning under spiralling prices of food items” Nine political parties, including four Left parties, on Thursday announced a week-long nationwide agitation against price rise. The United Progressive Alliance government was callous to the plight of people groaning under spiralling prices of food items, they alleged. “We have decided to jointly conduct a week-long agitation against the price rise from February 3 to 9. During the...
More »Food price inflation worries India
India's food prices have increased significantly over the weekend, leaving customers and Shopkeepers extremely worried. Reuters reports the price of onions in particular has peaked. Onions are currently selling between Rs 70-80 per kilogram ($AU1.56- $AU1.78), after being worth Rs 45 ($AU1) only a few days ago. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) reports food inflation climbed nearly to a year's high of 18.32 per cent on December...
More »India bans onion exports after eye-watering price rise
India's government has banned the export of onions after the vegetable doubled in price in the past week. The rise has been blamed on unusually heavy rains in growing areas, as well as on hoarders and speculators. Prices have jumped to 70 rupees ($1.55; £0.99) per kg from 35 rupees last week. The ban is until 15 January and India is importing onions to ease shortages. Onions are a basic ingredient in many...
More »How the PDS is changing in Chattisgarh by Udit Misra
The Chhattisgarh model offers some key lessons on how to make the public distribution system deliverProbably the only thing extraordinary about Manglu is that he is the perfect example of an ordinary tribal. The 60-year-old belongs to the Pahadi Korba tribe and lives in Govindpur village of Sarguja district of Chhattisgarh. He best represents what modern India calls a below poverty line (BPL) beneficiary of various government schemes. Manglu earns...
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