A recent statistical study by Indian researchers suggest that the MNREGA program in rural Andhra Pradesh might be having a positive effect on school enrolment and grades by improving the bargaining power of women within their household, as a consequence of earning wages in the rural job security program. The study is based on data from rural households in 5 districts in Andhra Pradesh and comprised of 3006 children, comparing...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Here is a pointer why industry groans about the lack of skilled manpower. Just 2% of India's youth and only about 7% of the whole working age population have received vocational training, a recently released survey report reveals. As in the past, hereditary learning or learning on the job continue to generate more skills than the whole formal vocational training set up of the country which...

-The Indian Express New Delhi: In 2008, the Delhi government completed the construction of around 14,000 flats that were to be allotted to people belonging to the economically weaker sections. Five years later, the flats are empty and have fallen into disrepair. No allotment has been made till now, though government received thousands of applications over the years. The reason: The government is still working on the definition of EWS and, therefore, cannot...

-The Hindu Madurai: Tempers ran high at the Collectorate on Tuesday when a majority of the farmers, who participated at a public hearing, opposed acquisition of land for the proposed SIPCOT industrial estate at Sivarakottai near Tirumangalam in the district. Farmers from Sami Mallampatti, Sivarakottai and Karisalkalanpatti participated in the public hearing organised by the district administration. Collector Anshul Mishra said industries had to be established to provide jobs to the unemployed youth...

-The Hindustan Times Real Heroes, a CNN-IBN initiative in partnership with Hindustan Times, celebrates the extraordinary service of India's ordinary citizens every year. This year, the awards will felicitate 13 women who fought hard and conquered all obstacles to make a difference. Today we share four such stories. * Bhanwari Devi It's a name that's synonymous with the women's movement in India. And yet justice continues to elude Bhanwari Devi. Brutally raped in 1992 for reporting...