-The Indian Express Moves to dilute labour-material ratio in MGNREGA and focus exclusively on select backward blocks will adversely impact rural poor. Before the general elections, free-market fundamentalists had lobbied fiercely to reshape so-called wasteful social-sector expenditures. Primary among their targets was the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which, according to them, should become an unconditional cash transfer scheme. Post-elections, the late Gopinath Munde's espousal of the MGNREGA went...
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Economists ask PM not to dilute NREGS, Gadkari says focus on needy areas -Vivek Deshpande and Surabhi
-The Indian Express As leading economists urged the Prime Minister not to dilute the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme saying it provides economic security to millions, Union Minister for Rural Development Nitin Gadkari justified the Centre's decision to restrict the focus of the job scheme to the "most backward and needy" districts and reduce the labour-material ratio from 60:40 to 51:49. Denying any move to reduce compensation for lack of...
More »‘Malnourishment declined sharply among children in India’ -Rukmini S
-The Hindu A new provisional data from a survey conducted by the government and UNICEF shows The proportion of underweight children in India might have declined from 45.1 per cent in 2005-6 to a historic low of 30.7 per cent last year, new provisional data from a survey conducted by the government and UNICEF shows. Since 2005-6, there has been no new data on child and adult weights and heights, key in determining...
More »Changes may limit NREGA to only 60 blocks in Rajasthan -Anindo Dey
-The Times of India JAIPUR: The paradox could not be greater. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which had its genesis in the mass movements launched in Rajasthan, is now facing a dilution in its home state. The Union rural development ministry is likely to amend the provisions of MGNREGA, converting it to just a scheme and thereby threatening to rob it of its es sence. In Rajasthan, such an...
More »Organic agri production rises in State
-The Pioneer Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): As a result of the State Government's tireless efforts to promote organic farming in Madhya Pradesh, organic agriculture production in the State has risen to 5 lakh MT, about 40 per cent of country's total production. Cotton, wheat, foodgrains, fruits and vegetables are mainly produced through organic farming in the State. A study by industry body, Asshocham, said that MP has the potential to produce wealth of `23,000...
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