-Down to Earth More than 70 per cent of ailments were treated at private facilities in both rural and urban areas Data published by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) seems to confirm the concerns that public health experts have been raising so far. The report shows a steady decline in people availing health services at government-run centres and a corresponding increase in the use of private healthcare. Data for the report—Key Indicators...

-Asian Age Children born in India are, on average, shorter than those born in sub-Saharan Africa. Even worse, 255 million Indians remain food insecure, eating less than 2,100 calories daily. Jharkhand reports the lowest per capita calorie intake (1,900 Kcal) in rural areas, while West Bengal hovers similarly (1,851 Kcal) in urban areas. We have attempted to meet this challenge through legislation. Aside from the Right to Food Bill, the landmark...

-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: The government's plan to get the joint house panel to process the contentious land acquisition bill and submit its report on the opening day of monsoon session of Parliament on July 21 faces a fresh hurdle. Bowing to demands from the Opposition members, the panel's term was on Monday extended by a week to July 28. This means the government will now have a window of just...

-Daily Pioneer Contrary to a growing trend, many farmers in Tamil Nadu are now opting for organic farming as it is a low-cost affair. Moreover, the products are sold at a higher price in the market for they are good for health and environment Jayappa and Sharadamma, a husband-wife farmer duo from a non-descript village in Tamil Nadu have earned a name for themselves in the field of organic farming. Today they...

-The Financial Express It is clear from global experience that crop insurance is not economically viable and, in a country like India which is dominated by small landholders, it does not even seem to be feasible The demand for crop insurance stems from two ‘risky’ situations that often erode farmers’ income and make them vulnerable to economic distress. These include unpredictable weather and volatile prices. Although vulnerability of Indian agriculTure on weather-related...