When it comes to paid news, there's silence because, while Ashok Chavan might stand accused, it is the media who are on trial. The year 2010 saw journalists, their associations and unions hold more conferences and seminars on one professional issue than any other. And it wasn't on the Wage Board or the Radia tapes. Hundreds of journalists across the country attended these meetings. Dozens stood up and spoke of their...
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An aam aadmi sarkar fights the poor by Vidya Subrahmaniam
It is tragic that the same government that gives huge corporate concessions and loses money in corruption is fighting over minimum wages. As India's — and by some reckoning the world's — largest rights-based rural safety net programme completes five years, here is a reality check. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) has become the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). But in a monumental affront to the...
More »Wajahat Habibullah to head minorities panel by Vidya Subrahmaniam
India's first Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah is the next chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). Mr. Habibullah, who received his orders on Tuesday, will formally take charge on Thursday. Mr. Habibullah, a 1968-batch IAS officer, will be filling a post that has been lying vacant for the past five months. His predecessor, Mohammad Shafi Quereshi, retired on September 2, 2010. A member of the NCM, who described the chairperson as...
More »The Green Turns Grey by Anuradha Raman
The environment minister promised much, but his flip-flops of late raise concern Mr Compromised * Vedanta In ’09, Jairam said no to mining. Now says yes to refinery expansion though water is scarce. * Polavaram dam Gives forest clearance, then seeks explanation * Posco Under litigation as the ministry says yes to forest clearance for iron ore/steel plant * Lavasa township Ministry report says ecologically sensitive Ghats will be affected....
More »Govt unveils health plan for elderly by Kounteya Sinha
India has finally woken up to the needs of the country's elderly. With the number of people in the 60-plus age group in India expected to increase to 100 million in 2013 and to 198 million in 2030, the health ministry is all set to roll out the National Programme for the Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE). A ministry note, available with TOI, estimates that the elderly population will increase to 12% of...
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