-Outlook Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pitched for revamping urban governance while linking it to the 'Digital India' mission and 'Swachh Bharat' campaign. Chairing a meeting on urban development here, he said programmes should be implemented in close consultation and coordination with states, generally based on the ppp model and a special module on urban governance should be a part of the IAS officers` training. "The Prime Minister said revamping urban governance should...

-The Hindu Business Line To address the water crisis, recycling plants can work as ppps and industry should switch to using such water Some stark facts: India has 18 per cent of world's population with only 4 per cent of total usable water resources. Annual per capita availability of water has declined by 15 per cent in the past 10 years and is estimated to fall to as low as 1140 m3/year...

-The Indian Express It is heartening that several ministries and companies have responded with alacrity to the prime minister's call for the construction of toilets. It is indicative not only of the PM's authority but also of the fact that the concern is widely shared. The ministry of rural development has proposed to increase the allocation for constructing individual, school, anganwadi and community toilets in rural areas. But it has proposed to...

-IANS Barmer (Rajasthan): An Indian energy major and modern technology have combined to bring about a revolution in two districts of Rajasthan that were infamous due to the scarcity of potable water. Thanks to water ATMs, many otherwise arid villages here have 24X7 access to the commodity at the swipe of a card - at 20 litres for Rs.5. Under Cairn India's "Jeevan Amrit Project," kiosks with reverse osmosis (RO) plants have...

-Al Jazeera The UN claims that its Millennium Development Campaign has reduced poverty globally, an assertion that is far from true. The received wisdom comes to us from all directions: Poverty rates are declining and extreme poverty will soon be eradicated. The World Bank, the governments of wealthy countries, and - most importantly - the United Nations Millennium Campaign all agree on this narrative. Relax, they tell us. The world is getting...