Many in India feel betrayed that neoliberal economic poLICies have not ended but increased fraud and corruption Corruption is not exactly new in India. Quite apart from the extensive historical evidence of its spread, during and after the "mixed economy" period of state planning, the "LICence-permit raj" was regularly accused by commentators of breeding graft, constraining economic activity and forcing citizens to be at the mercy of corrupt officialdom at all...

The Union government on Thursday allowed export of another tranche of 5 lakh tonnes of sugar under the Open General LICenses in the wake of improved production this year. Union Food Minister K.V. Thomas said this after a meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) that was chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. In April, a similar quantity was allowed to be exported. Mill owners had demanded export of additional 10...

Probing the trail of Rs 200 crore, which was paid to Kalaignar TV by Swan Telecom in the 2G spectrum scam, the CBI has now reached at the doors of four private companies including UB Group and India Cements. While the names of the other two companies could not be ascertained, CBI officials said the four had facilitated payments to Kalaignar TV to help it repay Rs 200 crore to Swan. "We...

Karnataka has among the worst track records in the country in meeting the rights of tribal communities, the latest figures with the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs reveal. Recently, the State Government opposed Unesco's nomination of the Western Ghats as a heritage site on the grounds that tribal rights could be violated, and that forest dwelling communities could even face eviction. However, Karnataka features at the bottom of the ranking of States...

-The Hindu   Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said environmental clearance to a project should not be construed as a LICence for forceful eviction of people. Asked about the resistance to land acquisition for the Posco steel project in Orissa, Mr. Ramesh said acquisition should not be coercive. He hoped the Orissa government would exhibit sensitivity in dealing with the agitators and resolve the issue...