-Economic and Political Weekly Direct benefi t transfers in the form of cash cannot replace the supply of food through the public distribution system. Though it is claimed otherwise, DBT does not address the problems of identifying the poor ("targeting") and DBT in place of the PDS will expose the vulnerable to additional price fluctuation. Further, if the PDS is dismantled, there will also be no need or incentive for procurement...

-IPS News NEW DELHI: Vinita Panikker, 26, considers herself “the world’s most unfortunate woman”. Three years ago, a jealous husband, WHO suspected her of having an affair with her boss at a software company, poured a WHOle bottle of hydrochloric acid on her face while she was asleep. The fiery liquid seared her flesh, blighting her face almost entirely while blinding her in one eye. What remains today of a once pretty visage...

-AFP KANJHAWALA: Farmer Tarachand Mathur was one of millions of Indians WHO voted Narendra Modi into power last year, but the government's push to make it easier for big business to forcibly acquire land means he won't be backing the premier again. Mathur, 64, believes Modi has turned his back on the plight of farmers, many of WHOm have seen their crops devastated by unseasonal rains since the start of this year. "I...

-Press Information Bureau/ Ministry of Home Affairs The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh today visited the rain-hit areas of Uttar Pradesh to assess the crop loss to the farmers. Interacting with farmers in Saharanpur, Badaun and Kanpur districts, Shri Rajnath Singh said he was not visiting the rain-hit areas for the sake of doing politics but that he is really concerned about their problems. "The Prime Minister is very concerned with...

-The Hindu So far, 2.11 lakh children across the State enrolled in private schools under the quota Bengaluru: Those ‘big’ schools in the neighbourhood have for long been a dream for many students from the economically weaker sections. The RTE quota that reserves 25 per cent of the seats to such children has come as a boon, though several issues continue to nag the implementation of the Act, which came into force...