-Scroll.in An excerpt from ‘South vs North: India’s Great Divide’, by Nilakantan RS. India’s States are unlike each other in the extreme. Haryana, one of India’s richest States, is six times richer than Bihar. In the years shortly after Independence, West Bengal was richer than most other large States in India when measured on a per capita income basis. Maharashtra, Punjab and Gujarat were close behind. In the last six decades, though,...

-Hindustan Times The House panel also made a “strong appeal” to authorities to change the index that decides wage revision for better wages under the programme. New Delhi: A Parliamentary panel has recommended extension of work allocation under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), India’s flagship job scheme, to 150 days per year, according to a committee report. The MGNREGS currently guarantees 100 days of wage employment to each person in...

-Press release by Every Woman Treaty dated September 30, 2022 Every Woman, a coalition of more than 1,700 women's rights advocates in 128 countries, including India, has developed the findings-based draft instrument (Zero Draft EWT), informed by extensive consultation with experts from all regions of the world, including survivors, frontline activists, medical specialists, practitioners, scholars, human rights attorneys, and policy-makers. This Draft of global binding norm focuses on violence prevention and...

-The Telegraph Malaise has become such that even rations are being distributed in sacks with photos of PM, says petition The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre and the States on a public interest plea that alleges blatant misuse of government advertisements by ruling parties, and refers to the use of the Prime Minister’s images on Covid vaccine certificates, ration cards and PDS grain sacks. The petition, moved by the...

-Centre for Financial Accountability Jawabdehi Yatra organised by Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) along with 80 other organisations in Rajasthan is making history. Rajiv Gandhi once said that only 30% of the government funds reach the ultimate beneficiary.  The government machinery in many States is seen as uncaring and unaccountable.  There are various reasons, mainly shortage of staff poor training, large-scale outsourcing and also insensitivity among a section of the employees and...