-Livemint.com India is a global outlier on social protection The government’s recent launch of three social security schemes has once again turned the spotlight on the lack of state protection for most Indian citizens. The three schemes—the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri JEEvan Jyoti Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana—seek to provide accidental death risk cover, contributory pension and natural and accidental death risk cover. These are, perhaps, the first...

-The Times of India An iodine patch, designed like a regular bindi, is expected to help one lakh tribal women in north-west Maharashtra battle iodine deficiency. Since these tribals don't consume iodized salt, they are usually deficiency in this nutrient. Last month, these iodine bindis were distributed free to tribal women in villages near Nashik and Ahmednagar. "Each woman got 30 bindis to last a month. When stuck on the forehead, it...

-The Hindu With JEEvan Dhara, govt. hopes to bring down infant morality rate Rajasthan's first State-run human milk bank, "JEEvan Dhara", was inaugurated by Health Minister Rajendra Rathore at the Mahila Chikitsalaya here on Thursday. He said the government would set up such banks across the State. The first mother's milk bank in the State was started by a non-governmental organisation in a government hospital in Udaipur. "JEEvan Dhara" has been started in collaboration...

-Economic and Political Weekly While the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act 2001 is a progressive piece of legislation that recognises farmers' rights to seed, it demands payment of an annual maintenance fee by the farmers to protect the varieties which they have been cultivating and conserving for years, only because these varieties have been brought under legal protection through national legislation. Parameswaran PraJEEsh (praJEEsh@mssrf.res.in) is a researcher with the...

-The Hindu Kozhikode: The recent resurgence in organic farming seems to have given sales of organic fertilizers and pest control prescriptions a huge boost in the market. Different city-based groups and collectives engaged in promoting organic farming and marketing organic products including vegetables and fruits testify to this trend. Besides other channels, the recently launched, NABARD-funded exclusive outlet for locally cultivated organic vegetables under Niravu Vengeri, a progressive residential forum here, sees...