Ignoring widespread concern over the safety, efficacy and cost of pentavalent vaccines, India’s central health ministry has, this month, approved inclusion of the prophylactic cocktail in the universal immunisation programme in seven of its provinces. Pentavalent vaccine doses, a cocktail of five antigens in a single shot, confers immunity against five paediatric diseases - diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), with the last one considered particularly...

Several Activists have asked the Planning Commission to take into account cultural norms if it wanted to ensure success of minority welfare schemes. To make his point, Shabnam Hashmi, of the NGO Anhad, cited as example the plan panel’s proposal of giving bicycles to girls from the minority community where school attendance is low. “This,” Hashmi said, “shows the complete lack of understanding of cultural norms in Muslim areas.” While bicycles provide mobility...

-PTI President Pratibha Patil today announced she will forego the accommodation allotted to her for use after retirement following reports that the land for the house was given in violation of rules. “Considering the fact that the issue has got linked with the issue of war widows’ accommodation… the President has chosen to forego the aforesaid allotment of accommodation proposed to be made to her as her post-retirement home in Pune,” Rashtrapati...

-Express News Service The Punjab government has decided to include representatives of Home Department, Advocate General’s office and some social Activists, including women, as members of the security review committee for grant of protection to whistle blowers. The committee would be headed by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Security. The state submitted this in the Punjab and Haryana High Court through an affidavit filed by Surinder Pal Singh, SSP Security...

-PTI An RTI Activist here has demanded that the Maharashtra government should cancel the amendments made in the state RTI Act as it may deter people from seeking information. Athak Seva Sangh chairman Anil Galgali said one of the new rules stipulate that any request for information must not exceed 150 words, which may deter people, especially semi-literate and from underprivileged sections who lack concise drafting skills, to file RTI. Amendments like one...