-Right to Food Campaign and NCPRI Press Release: With the Parliament unable to function for weeks on end, critical social legislations are being held up. As political parties blame each other for this stalemate, the Indian people - especially the poor - are paying the price. Casualties of this blame game include the Food Security Bill, the Grievance Redressal Bill, and more.   6 May (Delhi): Speaking at a press conference organized to...

-The Times of India The National Advisory Council (NAC) on Friday approved mandatory public consultation on new laws and rules before they are brought to Parliament. This will for the first time provide an institutional structure for civil society representatives to express their views. The "pre-legislative process'' was brought in the wake of increasing dissatisfaction over legislations piloted by the government, especially the Lokpal Bill. The move was initiated by NAC...

-PTI Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh unit of the NCP, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) and the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) have decided to jointly fight the ensuing panchayat and municipal elections in the State slated for May 16 next. All the parties in a meeting yesterday decided to put up joint candidates for municipal and panchayat elections and also reached a seat sharing agreement in the 30-member municipality in Itanagar and...

-The Times of India With over 16 activists killed and thousands under attack or threatened, RTI activists have demanded a stronger whistleblower law, including provisions for accountability and compensation for victims. The Whistleblowers Protection Bill is likely to come up in Parliament in the budget session starting next week. But activists feel that the Bill in its present form is not strong enough to prevent deaths. National Campaign for People's Right to...

-Live Mint The NCPRI has also suggested a list of amendments to the Bill, including a clearer definition of victimization The activist group National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) has demanded that the Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2011, be discussed and approved by Parliament in the budget session that resumes on Monday. The NCPRI has also suggested a list of amendments to the Bill, including a clearer definition of victimization, protection...