-TheWire.in New Delhi: Come February 2, representatives of various states will visit Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi for the “Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Sammelan”, the annual ritual that celebrates the one-of-a kind rural employment scheme of the Government of India &NDAsh; the MGNREGA. However, along with sharing good practices for effective implementation of the scheme, it looks like representatives of at least 12 states will also highlight the need for the Centre to...

-The Hindu Rural Development Minister asks Jaitley to release Rs. 5,000 crore more With the demand by States for the release of money under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to clear pending liabilities and dues getting more persistent, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh has written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, urging him to immediately release the additional Rs.5,000 crore as promised. “Since MGNREGS is a demand-driven wage employment programme...

-IndiaSpend.com India accounts for 27% of the world's neonatal deaths and 21% of all child deaths Here are some health statistics for Indian children five years or younger: 38.7% are stunted (below normal height for the age), 19.8% are wasted (underweight and short) and 42.4% are underweight. This in a country that boasts a 40-year-old national child-health programme &NDAsh; now among the world’s largest &NDAsh; and increased spending on child health 200% over...

-The Indian Express Also seek higher allocation for Price Stabilisation Fund in a pre-Budget meet Farmers’ organisations, food and fertiliser companies and agriculture experts on MoNDAy urged finance minister Arun Jaitely to ensure that farmers get  remunerative prices for their produce and make sufficient Budget outlay to create  irrigation facilities in the remaining rain-fed areas. They also sought increase in the outlay for expanding the number of agriculture market yards and higher allocation...

-The Indian Express The farmers are under severe stress, with profitability in farming falling alarmingly. FY17 budget must boldly address the agriculture crisis. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and his team are beginning pre-budget consultations with various stakeholders for the upcoming FY17 budget. Generally, the consultations start with agriculture, slated for January 4. It’s good practice and courteous to invite farm experts and farmers’ representatives. Often, one finds these meetings full of anguish...