-The Times of India CHANDIGARH: In an attempt to cleanse their image, especially after their opposition to marriages in the name of traditions, the khap panchayats have decided to support inter-caste marriages in Haryana. However, a section of social activists have termed it as a gimmick in view of the continuing honour killings, saying, "The khaps incite villagers in the name of so-called traditions." Apart from same-gotra and same-village marriages, khaps have...

-India Today   The UPA government and the Congress leadership might be patting themselves on the back talking big about the recently passed Food Security Bill, but their promises look far from delivery given the existing state of Public Distribution System (PDS). In a sting operation carried out by Headlines Today special investigation team, hidden cameras caught the pilferage of grain meant for distribution among the national capital's poor people under the PDS....

-The Indian Express Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat - all ruled by non-Congress parties - will be the biggest beneficiaries of the new food security Act, according to data made available to Congress spokespersons for propagation. Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Jharkhand will be the next biggest beneficiaries. The Act passed last month promises subsidised food grains and is touted as the big ticket reform measure by the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha...

-Current Science The developing world faces the tough task of producing adequate food to meet the demands of its burgeoning population, as yield levels of major crops have struck a plateau. Food and nutrition security being the major concerns, agricultural R&D in less-developed countries is at the crossroads. The earlier days, when the benefits from the technological breakthroughs attained by the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research institutes and the public...

-Outlook     India lacks the political will to put an end to manual scavenging   When Meena decided to go to school, her mother identified one quite far from her home. Sharda was a manual scavenger and knew that her occupation could spell trouble for her daughter. Meena went to a government school and struggled to reach class VIII. But her ambition was cut short when teachers and the principal at the school...