-Down to Earth New laws to regulate sand mining have not had much impact Illegal sand mining is a perennial problem in India. But it assumes gargantuan proportions right before the onset of monsoon because swollen rivers make extraction extremely difficult during the rainy season. To make most of the lean period, mine owners and hoarders try to dig out as much sand as possible, through legal and illegal means, in...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra has asked the National Human Rights Commission and State Human Rights Commissions to move appropriate courts if their directives relating to protection of human rights and award of compensations are not enforced by the authorities concerned. Addressing the 24th foundation day celebrations of the NHRC, the CJI lauded the sustained efforts made by the commission towards promotion and protection of human rights,...

-The Hindu It is crucial to align policy across sectors and upgrade the country’s social infrastructure In India’s highly segmented labour market, one can still discern at least three demographic groups that are in urgent need of jobs: a growing number of better educated youth; uneducated agricultural workers who wish to leave agricultural distress behind; and young women, who too are better educated than ever before. India is indeed the fastest growing large economy...

-The Indian Express This book serves as a timely refresher of current efforts to establish action-based research models that can positively influence public policy Book: Sense And Solidarity – Jholawala Economics for Everyone Author: Jean Drèze Publication: Permanent Black Pages: 354 Price: Rs 795 Beautifully produced, with a catchy and moving introduction, this volume is a collection of Jean Drèze’s op-ed pieces written between 2000-2017. The original pieces are grouped by theme, with a short new...

-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: The country is headed for good rabi season despite below normal monsoon rains, thanks to a surge of rainfall in the last week of September that replenished soil moisture, agriculture secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak has said. The late rains will benefit planting of rabi crops such as wheat and chana, Pattanayak said on Thursday. “We are expecting a very good rabi season, so that should make up...