-The Economic Times KOLKATA: In the wake of the just-enacted National Food Security Act, the Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution, Prof KV Thomas recently reviewed the operations of Food Corporation of India (FCI), especially from the point of view of its preparedness for implementing the law. Expressing satisfaction after the review, Prof. Thomas said the FCI had been undertaking various steps in the last one year towards increasing the storage...

Bihar Government's programme of distributing bicycles to school girls may be a modest intervention but is leading to big changes. A new research-based paper, brought out in August 2013, corroborates the success of the programme and testifies that it is leading to improved school enrollment of girls and arresting their dropout rates (See links below to read full paper and earlier studies on the subject).   Based on econometric and statistical models,...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) chairperson, Wajahat Habibullah, today said he would urge the Prime Minister to ensure speedy rehabilitation of Muzaffarnagar riot victims at Monday's National Integration Council (NIC) meeting. "According to official figures, nearly 44,500 Muslims have been displaced from their villages and have taken shelter in nearby schools and mosques in Muslim-dominated villages. I will urge the Prime Minister to take up the matter...

-PTI NEW DELHI: FCI, the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains, has sufficient stock to ensure smooth implementation of the landmark food security law, Food Minister K V Thomas said today. After a review of Food Corporation of India, he expressed satisfaction that it has been taking steps to modernise the public distribution system and said that it has sufficient stock to meet the requirement under the new food law,...

-Outlook Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today launched Rajiv Gandhi Ann Yojana under the Food Security Scheme in the state. Of the state's 68 lakh population, about 37 lakh would be benefited by the scheme, Singh said after handing over ration bags to 104-year-old Mast Ram and Vidya Devi (70) of Sunni area of the district at a function at Ridge maidan here. Beneficiaries under the scheme would get three kgs...