An inconvenient truth? Or yet another case of shoddy data collection by state agencies? The government is scrambling to prove that it is the latter, after data on the UPA's flagship poverty alleviation programme shows that it may not be reaching its intended beneficiaries, those classified in official-speak as below the poverty line (BPL). A recent note circulated to all state departments by the rural development ministry revealed that only...
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Food Security Bill may cost Rs 2 lakh cr annually by Shishir Sinha
The proposed food security Bill may cost Rs 2 lakh crore annually for the Government. The Cabinet is expected to reconsider this Bill on Monday. The Government aims to introduce this Bill in the ongoing session of Parliament. Earlier the annual cost was estimated at Rs 1-1.5 lakh crore, but a latest calculation by the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) could show a higher outgo. The Finance Ministry allocated...
More »Union Cabinet clears Food Security Bill
-CNN-IBN The Union Cabinet on Sunday cleared Food Security Bill. The bill will now be tabled in Parliament. Earlier, around 30 activists staged a protest outside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence in New Delhi on Sunday evening demanding immediate passage of Right to Food Bill. A senior police official said the activists were detained and taken to police station. The meeting was originally scheduled for Monday but advanced to Sunday evening, sources said. The...
More »RD ministry goes plan panel way, to discuss annual funds with states by Subodh Ghildiyal
The Union rural development ministry has decided to ape Planning Commission's discussion with states for annual finances to send a stronger message about Centre's authorship on welfare schemes, a move aimed at addressing the longstanding gripe of Congress that states were cornering all the credit. The ministry has asked states to prepare for "annual plan discussion for RD schemes" from 2012, a consultation to finalise their budget for each scheme...
More »Negative Impact
-The Telegraph New laws are often brought in without assessing their judicial and financial impact. The result is poor implementation, says Seetha Call it collateral damage. According to newspaper reports, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has written to the Prime Minister asking for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) to be put on hold during the peak season of agricultural operations. With a guaranteed income of Rs 100 a day for at...
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