-The Times of India CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government has been providing Old Age pension to 12,000 people, who were below the age of 60 and not eligible for the same, a report released by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) recently revealed. The beneficiaries received Old Age pension of Rs 500 between 2011 and December, 2012, when the state government came to know of the scam. The state government grants "Old Age allowance"...

-The Hindu Natpurwa is a village where women have been forced into prostitution for centuries. And one of them is determined to help the others break free. Round faced, stout and dusky, Chandralekha, at age 15, was the most desired girl among the politicians, policemen and senior members of Eastern Uttar Pradesh’s civil society. “They always wanted plump women,” says Chandralekha, now 51 years old. Chandralekha was pushed into prostitution, by her...

-The Business Standard Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi professor and development economist Reetika Khera tells Sreelatha Menon that the food Bill may not be a leap ahead, but it is certainly a step forward * The food Bill is a guarantee for lifelong dependence on government doles. As an economist, can one defend such a policy? The food Bill should be seen as an investment. "Labour" is India's most important asset. In that sense,...

-Reuters India approved on Thursday a tougher new law to punish sex crimes, including death for repeat rape offenders, after the fatal gang rape of a student in December sparked unprecedented protests over the treatment of women in the country. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013 or "anti-rape law" puts in place a slew of new provisions and tougher punishments, which include criminalising voyeurism and stalking and making acid attacks and human...

-IANS   Parliament on Thursday passed the Anti-rape Bill which keeps the age for consensual sex at 18 years and makes voyeurism and stalking punishable offences, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod to the legislation. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, approved by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, was moved in the Rajya Sabha earlier Thursday by home minister Sushilkumar Shinde. A resolution moved by Communist Party of India leader D...