-The Hindu The Provisions of the Bill are aimed at creating "conducive" atmosphere for street vendors, and designated spaces for them to carry out their business. A Bill that provides for protection of livelihoods rights, social security of street vendors and for regulation of urban street vending in the country--the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2014--was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Moving the Bill for...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Delhi government spent Rs 6.33 lakh on Arvind Kejriwal's oath-taking ceremony at Ramlila Maidan while his predecessor Sheila Dikshit's oath ceremony cost Rs 13.04 lakh. In response to a query by Mumbai-based RTI applicant Anil Galgali, the Delhi government's general administration department said it had spent Rs 6.33 lakh on the Ramlila Maidan ceremony. This, however, does not include expenses by other departments including power,...

-CivilSocietyOnline.com More than 50 people, including tribal groups, social activists, water experts, ecologists, wildlife experts and academics, came together for a brainstorming workshop on ‘Dams coming up for Mumbai Region.' The meeting was organised by the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, Shramik Mukti Sangathana, and Jalbiradari. About 12 dams are planned or are under construction to satisfy the increasing thirst of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). All these dams...

-The Telegraph Ranchi: The state will slash the proposed number of security camps at Saranda, indicating a welcome wane in Maoist presence and influence in Asia's largest sal reserve, but the health of the showpiece action plan for 55 forest villages is open to question two years after its launch. Around the start of the Rs 249-crore Saranda Action Plan in December 2011, soon renamed to Saranda Development Plan, 24 security camps...

-Outlook Apparently taking a cue from AAP's policies, the government has asked the civil servants to be empathetic and adopt "people first" approach with special care for the marginalised and disadvantaged section. "Passion for serving people with special care for the marginalised and disadvantaged. Being approachable, welcoming, caring and rising above bias while interacting with people. Understand the need of the people and constantly strive to improve the services," said a competency...