-The Business Standard   HC issues notices to Centre, state govt and Posco India on PILs filed by affected villagers Land acquisition work for the Posco project suffered a setback on the third day today due to non-cooperation of the villagers who backed out of the process as a mark of protest over the arrest of 32 activists of United Action Committee (UAC), a pro-Posco outfit on Thursday. Faced with the resistance of...

-The Business Standard   After a smooth beginning to the Posco land acquisition work on Wednesday, the Jagatsinghpur district Administration today faced a roadblock in the process as many villagers did not turn up for identification of betel vines following the arrest of 32 activists of United Action Committee, a pro-Posco outfit. UAC had boycotted the land acquisition work as it was aggrieved over the non-fulfillment of its demands. On the wee hours...

Around 20 people were arrested on Thursday for allegedly trying to obstruct the process of land acquisition for the Rs 52,000 crore Posco steel plant near Paradip. Activists of United Action Committee (UAC), who earlier backed the mega project, were taken into custody as they blocked the entry route to Gada Kujanga opposing land acquisition work, resumed after nine months on Wednesday, police said. "About 20 people were arrested after effort to persuade...

Attempts by the Indian government to combat poverty are not working, according to the World Bank. The governing coalition spends billions of dollars - more than 2% of its gross domestic product - on helping the poor. But a new World Bank report says aid programmes are beset by corruption, bad Administration and under-payments. As an example, the report cites grain: only 40% of grain handed out for the poor reaches its intended...

-BBC   India's cabinet has approved a proposal for a survey to identify people living below the poverty line, which also redefines what constitutes poverty. It will classify the rural poor into "destitutes, manual scavengers and primitive tribal groups". Urban poor will be defined as those in vulnerable shelters, low-paid jobs and homes headed by women or children. The survey, to be conducted alongside a caste census later this year, will help identify those...