The lush green Indian state of Kerala, advertised in travel brochures as "God’s Own Country", is at the center of a continuing battle in the country to secure an early ban on the use of the pesticide endosulfan. The Kerala government and activists say the pesticide has caused 4,000 victims in the state, through cancer, crippled limbs and babies born with deformities; 496 related deaths have been officially recorded. No scientist,...
More »SEARCH RESULT
Total Matching Records found : 2842
People back at Jantar Mantar, it's war on corruption by Manisha Jha
“We will not let the anti-corruption movement die or allow it to be put on the back burner,” say rallyists Supporters of Anna Hazare took out a march here on Sunday extending their support to civil society members of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee. Armed with banners, placards, posters and flags, the supporters, after assembling at Jantar Mantar, started their march towards India Gate where a programme of songs and street...
More »Year-long job scheme for urban poor on the cards by Clara Lewis
In a bid to eradicate unemployment from the state, a large part of which has gradually been urbanized over the years, the government plans to introduce an employment scheme that will guarantee jobs for the city poor throughout the year. "Nearly 50% of the state has been urbanized and a large proportion of the population does not have a job. The government plans to introduce an employment guarantee scheme (EGS) for...
More »Watts in it for me? by Tusha Mittal
A LEAFY VILLAGE in Kerala, Pathanpara, never found access to India’s electricity grid. That is why for the last several years, this village has been generating its own electricity. Raju, a dhoti-clad cashew nut farmer, operates Pathanpara’s five kilowatt (KW) micro hydropower plant. He lives in the village and earns a salary of Rs 2,250, paid by the People’s Electricity Committee (PEC). The power generated is shared equally by the village,...
More »A Tough School by Lola Nayar
A Delhi survey paints a disturbing picture Roofless childhood * There are 51,000 street children in Delhi; 20% are girls. * 70% are on the street despite having a home in Delhi * 50.5% are illiterate. 87% earn a living—20% as ragpickers, 15.8% as street vendors, 15% by begging * Over 50% have suffered verbal, physical or sexual abuse * Fewer than 20% have ID cards or birth certificates, and...
More »
