Opposition parties on Wednesday asked Orissa government to hand over the investigation into the rural job scam under MGNREGA to CBI before the Supreme Court issues a direction to that effect as the Panchayati Raj Minister admitted diversion of funds in the scheme. "As the corruption is totally exposed, it is better to hand over the probe to CBI before the Supreme Court issues an order to that effect," Leader...

In Tamil Nadu, untouchability is so deep-rooted that there are separate burial spaces for Dalits and upper castes even in some urban pockets. “Samarasam ulavum idame Nam vaazhvil kaanaa Samarasam ulavum idame… Jaathiyil melor enrum Thaaznthavar keezhor enrum bethamillathu Ellorum mudivil serndhidum kaadu Thollai inriye thoongidum veedu Ulaginile ithuthaan Nam vaazhvil kaanaa Samarasam ulavum idame…” (Here, in this place pervades equality Which one could not have seen ever in one's lifetime! Steering clear of caste discriminations Such as the high, the low and...

THE Tamil Nadu government introduced with much fanfare the samathuva mayanam (common graveyard) concept during the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime with the proclaimed goal of ending all caste-based discrimination at burial-cum-cremation grounds. An official announcement was made that Panchayats which set up samathuva mayanams would get an “incentive grant” of Rs.1 lakh for promoting communal harmony. A few Panchayats had received the incentive when the government appeared to beat a hasty...

Cash award given to full sanitation coverage with defecation-free environment Only 2,808 gram Panchayats, one block Panchayat have been chosen for 2010 award Number of awards peaked in 2008 with 12,144 Panchayats, 112 blocks, 8 zila parishads winning The incentive award the Ministry of Panchayati Raj gives annually to the Panchayati Raj Institutions to take up sanitation promotion schemes somehow doesn't seem to be a motivating factor anymore with the number of Panchayats...

Why are the erstwhile RTI campaigners so alarmed five years after it became law? Why so many dharnas, rallies, conventions and hunger-strikes all over again? Part of the reason is that the silent revolution that the RTI has spawned needs to be defended from surreptitious alterations and manipulations, and partly because the RTI activists are being threatened, harassed and assaulted by the corrupt and the powerful, often with the connivance...