-PSainath.org The revenues foregone in 2013-14 could fund the rural jobs scheme for three decades or the PDS for four and a half years. It was business as usual in 2013-14. Business with a capital B. This year's budget document says we gave away another Rs. 5.32 lakh crores to the corporate needy and the under-nourished rich in that year. Well, it says Rs. 5.72 lakh crores but I'm...
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Human Development to be Taken into Account in Formulating and Implementing Social Sector Programmes: Economic Survey 2013-14
-Press Information Bureau/ Ministry of Finance The Economic Survey 2013-14 presented by the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely as precursor to the General Budget in the Lok Sabha today shows some interesting results of inter-state comparisons of socio-economic development of select states based on available indicators from various sources and furnish some clear policy pointers. While some states have done very well in terms of growth indicators, they are poor performers...
More »India turns greener, but its dense forest cover shrinks -Chetan Chauhan
-The Hindustan Times A Government report on Tuesday said India's green cover has increased by over 5,800 sq km (or 0.18%) between 2010 and 2012 taking into account plantations and commercial species having no ecological value. In fact, just 31 sq km increase has been recorded in dense forests. The moderately dense forests - where most developmental projects have been allowed - has witnessed a decline in cover of around 2,000 sq...
More »Budget 2014 will show government's will to reform food security system -Ashok Gulati
-The Economic Times Think for a moment that you are a small or marginal farmer of wheat or rice, and the government promises to give to your family wheat at Rs 2 per kg and rice at Rs 3 per kg (5 kg per person per month). What would you do? You would rush to sell your produce to the government at the minimum support price (MSP), which is currently Rs...
More »For a better MGNREGA -Rita Sharma
-The Indian Express The scheme should be refocused towards creating durable assets in agriculture. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has a significant influence on agricultural operations and cultivation costs. If its present focus on community works can be reoriented to proactively promote improvements on the landholdings of small and marginal farmers through the creation of durable assets, it will be beneficial for agricultural productivity and incomes. Critics say that...
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