Gujarat Right To Information (RTI) activist Jabbardan Gadhvi had sought information on alleged irregularities in cattle grazing in the Rapar taluka of Kutch district. Earlier this week, the 45-year-old RTI activist set himself ablaze in the compound of the Mamlatdar's office after having received constant threats from the Mamlatdar, Talati and the PSI of Rapar. Gadhvi's family, still in shock, wonders why no body stepped in to stop Gadhvi.Relative Haridan...
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Tribal leader elected Speaker of Gujarat Assembly by Manas Dasgupta
Ganpat Vasava, a tribal leader, has been unanimously elected Speaker of the Gujarat Assembly on the opening day of the budget session on Thursday. Elected from the Scheduled Tribe reserved constituency of Mangrol in Surat district, Mr. Vasava is the first tribal to be chosen Speaker. The election was necessitated due to the death of Speaker Ashok Bhatt in December last. The session began with the inaugural address by Governor Kamla Beniwal,...
More »Threats shadow activists by Pallavi Singh & Maitreyee Handique
At least 10 RTI applicants have been killed over the past two years, with many others facing threats in their bid to expose corruption On a Republic Day when India celebrated 61 years of justice, equality and liberty, Amar Nath Pandey says he encountered the darkest moment of his life. In late evening on 26 January, a lone assailant leaped from the folds of darkness in the street outside his house in...
More »Rural job plan turns 5, but wages need to grow more by Prasad Nichenametla
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, UPA’s flagship aam admi scheme, turns five on Wednesday. However, more than 30% of the rural India working under the right-to-work act would continue to receive wages below the guaranteed minimum as per the minimum wages act. On January 14, the ministry of rural development issued a notification revising the wage rates under the MNREGA from Rs 100 per day to between...
More »JNNURM: A balance sheet by M Ramachandran
Five years ago, the Prime Minister launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), calling it the single-largest initiative of the government of India for a planned development of our cities. This unique, Rs 50,000-crore (subsequently enhanced to Rs 66,000 crore) programme to be implemented over a seven years from 2005 to 2012 focuses mainly on 65 mission cities with provision kept also for other small towns. While the...
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