Madhya Pradesh is betting cash incentives will curb population growth and improve the ‘life cycle’ of the girl child, but experts question the efficacy of such policies in addressing deep-rooted social prejudices Visitors trudging down the dusty village road are greeted by a giant billboard featuring a smiling Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, hugging two young girls. The tagline in Hindi reads: Gaon ki beti, kisse chhoti...

-Bar and Bench   The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) currently holding a status of participant (A status) is likely to be downgraded to the position of an observer (B status) when its accreditation renewal comes up for consideration before the United Nations (UN). There are various reasons for this, including the corruption charges raised against Chairman, K.G. Balakrishnan, former Chief Justice of India. Other reasons that are expected to go against...

Endosulfan, the pesticide which is widely believed to be responsible for thousands of deaths, diseases and devastation, was able to save its own life largely because of India’s questionable efforts at global forums. The controversial pesticide has been in news for a long time because of its harmful effects on humans, wild life and the environment. Obviously the $100 million industry is going out of the way to defend the...

Even as the formation of the 13-member regulatory body to monitor television content in channels is in its final stages, the government is keen to retain the final say as far as content goes. "The regulatory body, the Broadcast Content Complaints Council (BCCC), will be ready by the first week of May. It will get 21 days to act on any complaint. The information  and broadcasting ministry will wait-and-watch over...

Jury issues recommendations to State on developing safety and health policies for schools NCPCR to conduct investigation into accident in school; school asked to maintain records In addition to instances of gross violation of the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, like fee/fund collection and corporal punishment, a large number of complaints lodged with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) pertain to...