-PTI Awarded Rs.2 lakh each by Sulabh International Low-cost sanitation organisation Sulabh International on Wednesday awarded Rs.2 lakh each to three brides who revolted against the absence of toilets at their in-laws’ residence. Sulabh founder Bindeshwar Pathak gave away the awards to Priyanka Bharti, Priyanka and Kumari Jyoti at a function organised at Vishnupur village, 30 km from the district headquarters. Modern toilets constructed Sulabh has constructed modern toilets for them. Dr. Pathak announced a “Sulabh...

-The Asian Age   Amidst the high voltage CAMPAign to tom-tom Bihar’s achievements for registering an unprecedented growth rate of 13.13 per cent for the year-2011-12, there exists a dark story. Almost half of the state’s population still lives below poverty line (BPL). According to sources in the Planning Commission, the background note, prepared by the panel for the Plan (2012-13) discussion with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, around 48 per...

-ANI The Centre is in the process of formulating a new law for 'Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation', revising the existing Schemes for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers and Total Sanitation CAMPAign. A new scheme for conversion of insanitary latrines in urban areas is also being formulated.   Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik announced this while addressing the recently held meetings on rehabilitation of manual scavengers. Wasnik called upon...

IRONY RUNS its play every year in India as food grains rot in godowns while 23 crore people go hungry every day. GOI Monitor talks to food and trade policy analyst Devinder Sharma on the issues stalking agriculture and public distribution    One of the reasons for surplus food not reaching the needy is that states are not picking up the grain. Why is this happening? Food grain procurement and distribution is...

The State finds a handy tool in a colonial law to quell dissent Wrong Arm Of The Law   Why ‘sedition’ rings hollow in India 2012 The law Section 124(A) of the Indian Penal Code, 1870; non-bailable offence The definition Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government...