Stocks exceed the buffer norm despite dip in production ‘FCI machinery should be geared up’ The Union government on Wednesday ruled out the likelihood of rice imports on its account, as stocks were more than the buffer norm despite an expected dip in production due to drought in the kharif season. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Union Agriculture and Food...

The National Alliance of Peoples’ movement (NAPM), an organization of dozens of grassroots movements and civil society groups all over India, has expressed full solidarity with noted Gandhian Himanshu Kumar of Vanvasi Chetna Ashram demanding restoration of peace and just governance in Chhattisgarh. Himanshu Kumar has gone on an indefinite hunger strike at Dantewada in Chhattisgarh from Saturday December 26 amidst reports of government’s preparation to launch an all out...

PRIMARY SCHOOLING: I Pratichi Trust (India) was established a decade ago, along with its sister across the border, Pratichi Trust (Bangladesh) [1]. The Bangladesh centre has been concentrating on the social progress of girls and young women there (it has worked particularly on supporting and training young women journalists reporting from rural Bangladesh), whereas here in India, the work of the Trust has been mainly focused on advancing primary education...

A report card from Pratichi Trust on the primary schooling scene in West Bengal Pratichi Trust (India) was established a decade ago, along with Pratichi Trust (Bangladesh). The latter has been concentrating on the social progress of girls and young women: it has worked particularly on supporting and training young women journalists reporting from rural Bangladesh. In India, the work has mainly focussed on advancing primary education and elementary health care,...

Unrelenting protests against price rise by a united Opposition forced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha today after MPs accusing the government of inaction disrupted scheduled discussions. MPs from all non-UPA parties, including the Left, BJP, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (United), Biju Janata Dal, Akali Dal and the Shiv Sena, started raising slogans against the government in the House. Opposition MPs also marched in front of Parliament House — inside the complex...