-The Times of India NEW DELHI: A cross-section of political leaders, activists and academics came together on Wednesday at JantarMantar against what they call NarendraModi government's attempt to dilute Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar, the first CM to lead a dharna against the dilution of MGNREGS, said his state is facing a massive cut in funds from the Centre. He said it has come down...

-Down to Earth Chhattisgarh's much appreciated public distribution scheme is falling apart due to corruption and mismanagement As chhattisgarh prepares for panchayat election at the end of the year, the fate of ration card holders in the state is in limbo. During a verification drive in July-August, the state government found almost 1.3 million "unnecessary" ration cards in the possession of people. These cards have been taken back by the government and...

-Business Standard Indian and other generic drug firms face prospect of US legislature debating compensation for undue price rises Indian generic drug makers might, if a proposed US law comes about, need to pay a rebate to the federal Medicaid programme there when prices of their medications outpace inflation. A Bill is to be introduced in the US Senate by a member, aimed to cushion the impact on taxpayers in this manner...

-The Hindu The government must recognise the role low-cost health IT innovations could play in improving diagnostic accuracy, including many that would be useful for rural India The diagnosis of the first patient with Ebola in the U.S. was initially missed in an emergency room late night on September 25. Thomas Duncan, a Liberian national visiting Dallas, Texas, complained of flu-like symptoms and fever, but after lab work and CT scans, was...

-The Hindu Adilabad (Telengana): For the shattered families, relief, as envisaged in GO 421 issued in 2004, at best a half-measure. How long does it take for a poor woman to come to grips with her drastically changed reality owing to the sudden and unexpected death of her husband as in the case of a farmer committing suicide? In some cases, it may even be a lifetime. Factors which have influenced farmers to...