-The Hindu Minister writes to counterparts to galvanise support In an effort to galvanise States against the "unilateral and anti-people" stance of the Centre to the public Distribution system, Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao is writing to his counterparts across the country on the "reduced" role of the government in providing minimum support price to farmers in foodgrain procurement and the cut in kerosene quota to...

-Frontline The problem in rural India is not one of too much credit to poor households that leads to debt waivers that damage bank balance sheets, but one of inadequate access to credit from formal sources. IF Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan is to be believed, efforts to help Indian farmers by providing them with cheap(er) credit and relieving them of an unsustainable debt burden only harms them in the...

-The Indian Express Just a few years ago, the World Bank in its World Development Report claimed that migration from rural India to urban centres is "natural" and the same should not be interrupted or prevented through schemes like the MGNREGA. This was a shocking statement to all those who know why there is huge and ever-growing migration to cities, not only of the labour class but also of farmers and small...

-The Hindu Implementation in a phased manner: Mohanan ALAPPUZHA (Kerala): Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan has said that the government is seriously considering a ban on use of chemical fertilizers in the State. He was inaugurating an exhibition-cum-sale of dairy, agricultural, and industrial products organised by the Chengannur block panchayat here on Wednesday evening. Mr. Mohanan said the government was mulling over implementing the ban in a phased manner from next year. He said a study...

-The Times of India BAREILLY: Farmers already owning more than 80 bighas of land in Meerganj tehsil and driving SUVs were given allotment of land meant for the poor, under government schemes. The divisional commissioner was reportedly surprised on receiving the information and has asked for a probe into the matter. The matter came to light when residents of Asadnagar Sisauna village, under Meerganj tehsil, reported large irregularities in the Distribution of patta...