-Down to Earth India’s tribal communities have been pushed away from alluvial plains and fertile river basins, into the harshest ecological regions, the report notes   India’s tribal communities form 8.6 per cent of the country’s population according to the 2011 Census. But they are at the bottom of the country’s development pyramid even after 75 years of independence, according to a new report released November 28, 2022. The Tribal Development Report 2022,...

-The Hindu Not only are key nutrition schemes underfunded but even what is available is not being spent effectively The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022 has brought more unwelcome news for India, as far as its global ranking on a vital indicator of Human Development is concerned. India ranked 107 out of 121 countries. The Government of India attempted to discredit the index immediately in its attempt to deny the findings of...

-Newsclick.in Political parties conveniently use such indices to support their positions and programmes. However, we must view it as a crucial marker of the economic well-being of people. Health is regarded as an unalienable human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Children and adults can less utilise their full potential if they suffer from hunger, which unleashes a cycle of events that limit their choices and opportunities. The second of...

-The Tribune Armed conflicts afflicting many parts of the world have taken a huge toll on global poverty eradication programmes, humanitarian assistance and relief provided by the aid agencies. Multilateral development banks and large aid agencies need to play enhanced roles in providing funds to eradicate multidimensional poverty. India needs to hold more vigorous drives to achieve the first of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals — to end all forms of...

-Down to Earth Experts welcome move but call for a complete ban The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare issued a notice October 21, 2022 restricting the use of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, citing health hazards for humans and animals. Only authorised Pest Control Operators are allowed to use it.  Earlier, state governments of Maharashtra, Telangana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh have tried similar steps but failed. Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India...