-Frontline Mediocre access to health, education and job opportunities but significant political empowerment marks the pattern of women's lives in the subcontinent. The fifth annual gender GAP index of the World Economic Form (WEF) finds India occupying the 101st position among 136 countries, way behind Bangladesh at 75 though ahead of Pakistan at 135. The index bases its rankings on its findings regarding how women fare in four areas - health, access...

-The Hindu     While it is apparent that due process has been subverted to the advantage of a few by the political executive, it is equally true that there has been some politicisation of the civil service Two recent events have focussed attention on the relationship between the political executive and public servants. At the international conference on corruption organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation on November 11, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the health ministry's proposal to institute a three-year degree programme for public health professionals. The bachelor in community health programme will act as a bridge between auxiliary nurse midwife and a doctor and overrides the objections raised by a parliamentary panel and the Medical Council of India. The decision will help raise a cadre of public health professionals for rural...

-The Indian Express After tasting success with its free bicycle scheme for school-going girls, the Bihar government is planning a freebie in tune with the times - a tablet PC - ahead of the 2014 elections. While other state governments have so far targeted the student community with free laptops and tablets, the Nitish Kumar government is working on an ambitious Rs 8,000 crore scheme to provide tablets to digitally illiterate...

-WageIndicator.org   The report entitled: "Gender Pay GAP in the Formal Sector: 2006-2013 -WageIndicator Data Report (Preliminary Evidences from Paycheck India Data)" aims at quantifying the magnitude of gender-based disparities that women face in the organized sector of the Indian labour market, and track their progress over time. The extent of the gender pay GAP is measured on various parameters such as age, educational qualifications, industry, work experience, designation, level of...