-Frontline Members of denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, treated as criminal tribes by the colonial rulers, have no place to call their own and no land, no rights, and no support from the government.  Emaciated, eyes sunken deep into sockets, skin hanging loose, almost gasping for breath, Indro Devi and Sarvnath, a couple in their eighties, lie on polythene sheets in an 8×10 square-foot tent made of rags, by a stinking nullah...

-The Economic Times "Are we knowledge-proof?" asked the late Prof Raj Krishna. As memorable as his other coinage, the Hindu rate of growth, this question is relevant, given our current growth strategy. The SME sector is a vibrant part of the economy, accounting for 40% of manufacturing and generating jobson a scale second only to agriculture. The figures are similarly significant for Handicrafts and handlooms. According to the Tenth Plan, GDP from Handicrafts...

Export Import Bank of India has sanctioned a Libor-linked foreign currency loan to artisans in Bihar for bulk purchases of tasar silk, their raw material. Libor is London inter-bank offer rate which is being used as a benchmark for short term rates in the international capital market. Exim Bank has given the working capital loan for three months to Ecotasar Silk Pvt Ltd, an enterprise manufacturing off-the-loom tasar silk products in...

NEW DELHI: It could be a second innings for special economic zones, especially those held up for years, with the commerce department proposing fresh tax concessions and a cut in the minimum area requirement to a quarter of the present specifications. The department has suggested that any zone that is not built around the identified 40 million-plus cities and state capitals would be eligible for duty benefits on capital investment for...

-The Telegraph   The National Skill Development Corporation today said youths of the region need to be given the opportunity to develop skills for employment to stop migration in search of jobs. At a conclave on skill development in the Northeast here today, the corporation pointed out that between 2011 and 2021 over 14 million people would be potentially available for migration. The region will generate employment for 2.6 million persons while the supply...