-Newsclick.in The initiatives by Odisha and Rajasthan governments have prompted political leaders from other states to raise demands for similar action from their state governments. Kolkata: The recent decisions by two state governments – Odisha and Rajasthan – abolishing contractual engagement of people for government jobs have come as a morale booster for trade unions. The unions have been agitating for several years demanding contract workers' regularisation. The General Administration and Public...

-The Hindu Apex court says mitigating investigators need to be given access to the prisoners to dig out any circumstances which may help the court when it hears the appeal In a significant order, the Supreme Court has made it clear that the psychological evaluation of condemned prisoners by expert doctors, and access to them by mitigating investigators, are essential before the hearing begins on their appeals against the death penalty. A Bench...

-The Hindu Brisker Puja sales may not implicate a better economic climate in West Bengal There is added enthusiasm in the celebration of Kolkata’s Durga Puja after its inclusion as the 14th entry from India in UNESCO’s ‘Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ last December. But like most major festivals, Durga Puja is not just a cultural extravaganza; it is an economic lifeline for West Bengal. But do we have reasons...

-The Telegraph Matter comes to light after pramukh’s surprise visit to state institution Jamshedpur: Students of a state-owned school in a rebel-hit block of West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand have been deprived of mid-day meal for over three months. The mid-day meal also known as PM-POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) is covered by the National Food Security Act 2013 making it legal entitlement while the federal government is committed to yielding “adequate...

-The Telegraph Villagers from far-flung blocks take part in agitation organised under the aegis of Khadya Suraksha Jan Adhikar Manch Jamshedpur: Nearly 2,000 villagers from different blocks of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district staged a dharna at the district headquarters to protest the “theft” of foodgrains in violation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Villagers from far-flung blocks like Sadar, Tonto, Khuntpani, Tantnagar, Chakradharpur, Sonua, Hatgamharia, Kumardungi and Manoharpur took part in the...