-TheWire.in RTI activist Commodore (Retd.) Lokesh K. Batra says he was provided details on the appointment of information commissioners during the Manmohan Singh era, but under the Modi government, there has been a marked change. New Delhi: Over the last 12 years, deliberate attempts have been made to dilute and lessen the effectiveness of the Right to Information Act, according to RTI activist Commodore (Retd.) Lokesh K. Batra. On the basis of the...

-The Indian Express To suggest that demonetisation improved rural wages on the basis of rise in income of some workers is misleading. It halted the recovery of the rural economy, which had begun after the 2016 monsoon. There is now a consensus that the economy has been slowing down and is headed for a hard landing. Many who matter have spoken out and as Yashwant Sinha points out (‘I need to speak...

-Newsclick.in Report from the nerve-centre of the massive farmers' movement in Sikar, Rajasthan, which has won the support of people from all sections of society. The Sikar district of Rajasthan has seen various mass movements in different times in the past. But nothing like what is happening today. Unlike many other cases where the middle class starts complaining whenever there is a mass agitation, this farmers’ movement, with its eleven genuine...

-News18.com Nearly every section that constitutes the socio-political economy of Sikar district has turned up to lend support to the farmers' protest, be it students, anganwadi workers, the city bus union, the autorickshaw union, the small traders association or the pump set workers. Sikar: Something unusual is happening in Sikar. For the past 10 days, an agitation is being held at the farmer mandi of the district headquarters here. But what is...

-Press release from NREGA Sangharsh Morcha For the past five days, hundreds of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) workers and their supporters from across the country have gathered at Jantar Mantar to demand the implementation of the employment guarantee act in letter and spirit. They are demanding a substantial increase in the NREGA wages, timely payment of wages, implementation of local plans, expansion of existing entitlements and adequate budget for...