The two day 43rd Session of the Indian Labour Conference (ILC), the apex national tripartite body that discusses key issues affecting labour and employment and provides policy perspectives and recommendations, concluded in New Delhi today. The Conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday 23rd November 2010. Senior level representatives of the three pillars of the tripartism, Trade Unions, Employers’ Associations and Government, participated in the deliberations...

After months of debating the issue and seeking the law ministry's opinion, the HRD ministry on Tuesday finally issued guidelines about screening of children at the time of admission under the Right to Education Act. HRD minister Kapil Sibal said, "We have taken the law ministry's clearance to issue the guidelines on screening. The RTE Act will be amended later. Had we gone in for an Amendment on screening now admissions...

An Amendment to the Land Acquisition Act is being formulated to ensure minimum displacement of people and assess compensation on a scientific basis, Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla said on Monday. Speaking at a one-day Infrastructure Financing Conference jointly organised by the High Commission of India and the City of London at Mansion House here, the Finance Secretary said, "The Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2010, is under preparation, based on the principles...

Activist Medha Patkar addressing a rally in New Delhi on Monday against the land acquisition policy of the UPA government. “Sangharsh,” a collective platform of social movements and people's organisations fighting displacement and forcible land acquisition, began a five-day dharna at Jantar Mantar here on Monday. Representatives of people's movements from Assam to Tamil Nadu participated in the “Sansad Gherao” dharna. Among the struggles highlighted was the Assam-based Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti's...

The National Advisory Council under Sonia Gandhi is likely to discuss the crucial issue of land acquisition and the related problem of relief and rehabilitation at its next meeting on November 26. This was disclosed by social activist Medha Patkar, after she submitted a petition by various organisations under the banner of Sangharsh, spearheading the agitation against the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill and the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill in their current...