-Al Jazeera Widening wealth gap in Beijing has stoked concerns over its impact on political and social stability. The Chinese government has issued a pledge to narrow the widening income gap between rich and poor, which includes raising its minimum wage and requiring state companies to turn over more profits to pay for social programmes. The pledge on Tuesday promised more spending on health, education and job training but gave few details and...

-New Age Asia’s ability to keep food prices in check and ensure long-term regional food security will require the region’s farm to market supply chains to become more efficient and cost-effective, says a new Asian Development Bank  study. The Study titled ‘The Quiet Revolution in Staple Food Value Chains: Enter the Dragon, the Elephant and the Tiger’, was produced by ADB and the International food Policy Research Institute in response to the...

-The Times of India GUWAHATI: Despite the state government stressing on economic development of rural areas and hailing its achievements on this front from time to time, over 500 cases of poverty-driven suicides were recorded in the state between 2009 and 2011. The records, compiled in the Statistical Year Book of India 2013 by the Union ministry of statistics and programme implementation earlier in January, revealed that the state recorded a constant...

-The Business Standard Spending, workdays generated show falling trend in many states, Centre says reasons unclear The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme ( NREGS) has completed seven years since its launch. And, the number of people it provides jobs to has fallen, as has the number of workdays it has been able to provide. Analysts say this is due to a shortage of funds, especially in the less performing states. The scheme,...

-Outlook A new land acquisition bill readies for budget session. How will it fare? Bill Of Blights     Defines “public purpose” too broadly, allows govt to acquire land for PPPs     Less landowner consent required for PPPs than private-only projects     The bill’s compensation norms likely to face strict challenges in the courts     States have been given R&R powers but could lead to arbitrary outcomes     Doesn’t consider govt projects where compensation, R&R are neglected *** The...