-Economic and Political Weekly This article re-estimates the prevalence of child malnutrition among the under-five age group in eight north-east states using the composite index of anthropometric failure method as proposed by P Svedberg, using the National Family Health Survey-3 data. These data show that in the north-east only about 35% of children under-five are underweight. However, results using the CIAF method indicate a substantially higher malnutrition level of 56%, and...

-The Business Standard This is happening especially with small and marginal farms Bhopal: In contrast to the tall claims of achieving double digit growth in agriculture sector National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) today said agriculture in Madhya Pradesh is perceived to be increasingly unviable owing to yield and price risks as well as lack of risk mitigation mechanism. This is happening especially with small and marginal farms. Interestingly, government...

-The Times of India LUCKNOW: A Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court on Friday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into allegations of financial irregularities in MGNREGS in seven districts of Uttar Pradesh. Expressing displeasure over corruption in the scheme's implementation, the bench also directed the agency to hold preliminary inquiry into use of MGNREGS funds in other districts of the state. The court said the agency should conduct...

-The Indian Express Chhattisgarh government is unable to accept the right to protest and unwilling to hear the people's voice. By going to town as the Chhattisgarh police and media have recently done on my alleged Maoist links, the real questions have been sidelined. As citizens of this country, do we have the right to protest democratically and constitutionally, and as journalists, researchers or human rights activists, are we free to pursue...

-The Indian Express Social audits should not be judged by state response alone. They create awareness about rights and create engaged citizens. This article is in response to Farzana Afridi's ‘Social audit isn't enough' (IE, January 22). Social audits have been enshrined as one of the transparency and accountability tools in the MGNREGA. Such accountability mechanisms aim to strengthen the otherwise weak institutions of delivery as they engage the beneficiaries in the...