-The Times of India   NEW DELHI: The government is ready with a contingency plan to deal with below normal rains this monsoon with a series of steps including diesel subsidy for farmers in the rain-deficient districts, crop loans at lower rates and release of foodgrains to deal with a possible shortage. Amid reports of below normal rains, the agriculture ministry presented the plan for 500 districts during a meeting called by Prime...

-The Hindu   Udupi (Karnataka): The Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) will promote agricultural cultivation in barren lands in Udupi district. Dugge Gowda, Director of district unit of SKDRDP, said that in the present year, the SKDRDP had selected 571 families and provided them with 1,059 acres of barren lands in the district. These families were being encouraged to cultivate paddy and vegetables in these barren lands. They were also being provided...

-Down to Earth   Most severely and consistently excluded groups are women, Adivasis, Muslims and the disabled, report confirms A recent report by a Delhi NGO undermines government claims on reaching welfare schemes to the needy and disadvantaged sections of society. The report, titled The India Exclusion Report 2013-14, says the government has failed miserably in providing equal access to public goods to the most disadvantaged groups. The report, prepared by Delhi-based Centre for...

-Down to Earth   Ministry of panchayati raj plans to develop model panchayats in different states through integrated development President Pranab Mukherjee's address to parliamentarians on Monday and the brain-storming sessions carried out by the new prime minister, Narendra Modi, with officials of different ministries indicate changes in the way Rural Development schemes will be implemented in the country. Each department in the Rural Development ministry has organised workshops with states to evolve the...

Inclusive Media for Change invites applications from journalists in English and Hindi for Inclusive Media - UNDP Fellowships 2014. The Fellowships are given to increase and sharpen media coverage of rural distress/ development and the issues of the marginalized people. The fellowships are aimed at promoting democratic social change, particularly through empowerment, participation and good governance. The ideal candidates would be willing to take time off from routine journalism and spend...