The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed writer Pinky Virani's euthanasia plea for comatose sodomy victim Aruna Shanbaug but laid down certain guidelines for mercy killing which it said will hold till the Parliament formulates a law. The court dismissed Virani's plea because it held she is not the 'next friend' of the victim but the staff of KEM Hospital in Mumbai were. The staff of KEM Hospital were opposed to allowing...

This article documents and then examines the various benefits that, it is claimed, will flow from linking the Unique Identity number with the public distribution system and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. It filters the unfounded claims, which arise from a poor understanding of how the PDS and NREGS function, from the genuine ones. On the latter, there are several demanding conditions that need to be met in order...

It appears there are few rural poor left in Maharashtra. How else would one explain that while the central government’s flagship rural employment initiative, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), is a big hit across the country with states utilising more than 80% of funds allocated by the Centre, state spent only 50% of its share last year. The Union ministry of rural development is headed by a...

Ban futures trading in essential commodities, says Modi report As chairman of the working group on consumer affairs, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has recommended that futures trading in essential commodities be banned and that organised retail in agri-produce be encouraged to make a dent in food inflation. The working group, comprising the Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, was set up in April last. Mr. Modi...

Three ostensibly disparate recent events have left me pondering about a lurking common thread among them: the Egypt uprising, PM’s appointment of a Cabinet-rank advisor for skills development and the fifth anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). What could be common among unrest in the Arab world, a seemingly inconspicuous government appointment and a fifth anniversary of a social welfare programme? The answer is youth,...