If someone is a rural male, what occupation would he prefer? A rational person might say that depending on the highest prevailing daily wage rate in a particular occupation (which is subject to seasonal variation) vis-à-vis the rest, he will make his choice.   An exercise undertaken by the Inclusive Media for Change team based on the latest available month-wise wage data of rural men shows that there is a seasonal variation...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar has reportedly struck down a proposal to increase from a paltry Rs 1,000 a month the honorarium for cooks-cum-helpers preparing midday MEAls. A cabinet note moved recently seeking extension of the scheme for three years from 2017 is silent on any increase in the wage of the 25 lakh workers, most of whom are single women or widows. A note prepared by officials...

-The Hindu Small farmers are getting only 30-40% of loans MEAnt for the sector, says RBI report New Delhi: The small and marginal farmers are missing out on the bulk of agricultural credit, as per information provided by the Reserve Bank of India, which showed they are receiving only 30-40% of loans MEAnt for the sector. As per a report submitted by the RBI to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture in response...

-Hindustan Times In the last few days, fuel prices have touched record highs, with petrol costing Rs 76.87 per litre in Delhi and diesel Rs 68.08 a litre. In the last nine days, the price of petrol has risen by Rs 2.24 and diesel by Rs 2.15. New Delhi: Fuel prices are likely to be slashed by Rs 2 to Rs 4 in the next few days and a decision will...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: A panel of doctors has called for changes to the rules banning prenatal sex determination, warning they are depriving rural populations of easy access to the point-of-care ultrasound scans (pocus) needed to diagnose and treat critically ill patients. Doctors associated with the Jan Swasthya Sahyog, which runs a rural hospital in Chhattisgarh, have recommended technology and better policing to improve access to the scans and curb their misuse...