Some 350 million people living in rural areas being lifted out of extreme poverty in the past decade, according to The Rural Poverty Report, published by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a United Nations (UN) agency. However, in spite of this, more than a billion people around the world still continue to suffer. The UN describes extreme poverty as living on less than $1.25 (80p) a day. But factors such as...
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Decoding Right to Education Act by Siddharth Kelkar
he Right to Education Act has been in place from April 1, 2010 but many schools in the city and parents of students still do not have much clarity on the provisions. There are misconceptions on the nature of examination and evaluation. Here is an attempt to answer some frequently asked questions“As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, though students from class I to VIII cannot be held back,...
More »Surge in Food Insecurity by J George
Every passing day makes it clear that the proposed food security law may not come by for a while. One report quoting the Planning Commission even suggested that it can be expected only in 2012. This Twelfth Plan (2012-17) launch has support from the concerned dual Ministry of Agriculture as well as Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution. In that eventuality it does mean a surge in food insecurity.A dispassionate...
More »Despite gains, bulk of world’s poor live in rural areas, UN report finds
Despite the fact that over 350 million rural people have escaped poverty over the past ten years, the bulk of the world’s poor are still found in rural areas, says a new United Nations report, which calls for greater investment in agriculture and efforts to boost livelihoods. The Rural Poverty Report 2011, released today by the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), found an overall decline of extreme poverty –...
More »House panel seal likely for 11.5cr BPL count by Rajeev Deshpande
The Manmohan Singh government's options on keeping a check on the bill for the proposed National Food Security Act (NFSA) may shrink further with Parliament's standing committee on finance likely to endorse the states' tally of BPL families pegged at 11.5 crore. The highly contentious issue of enumerating the poor has seen the government differ with the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC), which originally considered universal PDS but later curtailed...
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