Marginalized groups such as indigenous communities deserve special attention from policy-makers if the world is to achieve the social and economic targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the annual United Nations conference with civil society groups heard today. Speakers told the 63rd UN Department of Public Information (DPI)/Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Conference in Melbourne, Australia, of the need to overturn entrenched disparities in health and life expectancy between rich...

civil society representatives from more than 70 countries wrapped up a United Nations forum today with an urgent call to action to improve the health of millions of men, women and children worldwide and step up efforts to achieve the globally agreed anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In a wide-ranging declaration adopted at the end of the three-day meeting in Melbourne, Australia, participants stressed that achieving...

The state government has prepared a strategy to provide 100-day job to 10 lakh most deprived families under Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in this fiscal. "These targeted 10 lakh people would include 5 lakh the most poor families and the rest, 5 lakh, would be women," Secretary Rural Development Manoj Singh said here on Sunday. He said to start with the families would be identified and their data...

If the Manmohan Singh government has its way, India will soon adopt a law against torture that will make a mockery of our obligations as a democracy, a civilised society, and a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT). India signed CAT in 1997 and is meant to pass standalone domestic legislation outlawing this barbaric crime. Unfortunately, the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010 falls far, far short in...

The Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) will meet on August 30 to finalise the contours of the National Food Security Bill. The meeting is expected to decide on the beneficiaries for UPA's big-ticket social scheme and their selection procedures. At its last meeting, NAC had drawn part conclusions, including National Food Security Act would be rolled out in a staggered way. For instance, 150 most poor districts are being...