Protesting social activists at Jantar Mantar (Delhi), who are fighting for better working conditions of MGNREGA workers, have recently shot off two demand letters – one addressed to the Finance Minister of India and the other to the Secretary of Department of Rural Development at the MoRD. The letter addressed to the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, dated 13 September, 2017, has been signed by eminent activists including Nikhil Dey,...

-The Hindu Facts show that the Services are the last bastion of male dominance, with women even denied a permanent commission Despite the latest move by the Army to induct 800 women into its ranks, cold facts show that the Indian military is the last bastion of male dominance in the government. Many women in uniform are hoping that the country’s first full-time woman Defence Minister will take bold decisions against what...

-The Asian Age The Central Board of Direct Taxes had been taking action whenever it found there were unexplained known sources of income. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to furnish details of the action taken against MLAs and Members of Parliament whose assets had grown manifold during the intervening period between one election to another. A bench of Justices J. Chelameswar and S.A. Abdul Nazeer passed this order...

-Down to Earth MGNREGA budget has declined in real terms over the years, despite claims of “highest ever” allocations In 2004, before India had any legal welfare entitlements for the informal sector, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, was furiously debated in the Parliament and the media. The aim of this legislation was to address the crisis of under employment and unemployment in the rural economy and provide job opportunities through public works...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The parliamentary standing committee on finance failed on Tuesday to adopt two reports critical of the government — on demonetisation and on the revised formula for calculating growth — in the face of vocal opposition by BJP and some non-NDA parties. The report on demonetisation, circulated in the morning ahead of the committee meeting, said the measure had cost the economy 1% of GDP. The other...