The Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) — at the initiative of which the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was rolled out in UPA-I — is taking a fresh look at how to strengthen it. The NAC wants the scheme to move from its “relief work mode” to one that would blend “natural resources and labour to build productive assets.” When the NAC meets here on Thursday, the Deep...
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Rethink on SEZ land limit
-The Telegraph The government plans to revisit the minimum space criterion for special economic zones as developers are facing problems in acquiring land. “Land issues are critical... I think the minimum size is something that needs to be looked at again definitely. You are not going to find 5,000 (hectares) of land area, it is a pipe dream. It’s not going to happen... I think that’s something we need to talk...
More »SEZs: Centre to take a relook at land ceiling
-The Hindu Amid growing protests over land acquisition, the government on Wednesday indicated that it could re-visit the subject of land ceiling of 5,000 hectare for the special economic zones (SEZs) and the matter could be taken up by the Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for policy changes. “Land issues are critical and I think the minimum size is something that needs to be looked at...
More »Thousands then, four now: Akhil power play on
-The Times of India Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) general secretary Akhil Gogoi is known for drawing huge crowds in his demonstration programmes. But on Monday, when the RTI activist launched an indefinite sit-in stir against the recent hike in electricity tariff, he had only three men and a woman by his side. Is people's support for his campaign on social issues on the decline? Akhil reacts instantly. "The government...
More »A relentless crusader by Sudha Umashanker
Ruth Manorama started her work with the urban poor in her youth; there has been no turning back ever since. She is the powerful voice of Dalit women today. Is it easy being a Dalit in India? And a woman at that? Have things changed for the better for the Dalits who constitute roughly 16.23 per cent of our population, since the Constitution of India “cast a special responsibility on the...
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