-The Hindu In the latest move on its social welfare agenda, the government may expand its pension scheme, widening the net for widows, single and divorced women, disabled people, Dalits and tribal senior citizens, as well as increasing the amount paid to older people. The Rural Development Ministry, which is proposing the expansion, estimates the additional cost at more than Rs. 18,000 crore per year. The Ministry has just accepted the recommendations made...
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Food worth crores for poor children siphoned off in Maharashtra, finds Supreme Court panel-Saurabh Gupta and Mala Das
-NDTV Mumbai: In a grim reminder of the continuing misery of the poor in India, a report by a Supreme Court panel has revealed widespread irregularities in the production and supply of food for malnourished children in Maharashtra. While private contractors illegally supplied food and made massive profits, the poor children, who were entitled to the benefit under the anganwadi scheme, were fed stale and low-quality food. The shocking revelations are part...
More »Jairam opposes Plan panel move on rural schemes
-The Indian Express Unhappy over the Planning Commission attempt to convert flagship schemes of the Union Ministry for Rural Development from Centrally-sponsored schemes to additional Central assistance schemes, Minister Jairam Ramesh has shot off a strongly-worded letter to Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the commission. Apprehending that such a move will transfer the financial control of schemes such as MGNREGA and PMGSY to the Finance Ministry, Ramesh in his letter said,...
More »Government plans Rs.40,000 crore fund for rural development
-IANS The government is planning to set up a Rs.40,000-crore flexi-fund to help states address specific rural development needs. The fund will be available to states from the next financial year till the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan in March 2017. The central government will have a 70 per cent share in the fund. "For the first time, we are putting together a flexi-fund of Rs.40,000 crore that will be available to...
More »Khurshid denies charges, has spat with reporters
-The Times of India Union law minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday fiercely quarreled with reporters of a TV channel, disputing their claim that his NGO Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust had embezzled public funds meant for the disabled. The minister countered the allegation that his trust made fake claims of having organized camps for distribution of equipment among the differently abled. A spirited Khurshid, with wife Louise by his side, attributed motives to...
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