-The Hindu 20-litre mineral water cans to be supplied at Rs.2 to each household Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh): The Cabinet sub-committee on NTR Sujala Sravanthi scheme to provide packaged drinking water to every habitation in Andhra Pradesh has tentatively decided to launch the first phase of the scheme from October. Of 47,190 habitations in the State, about 5,200 villages were identified for supply in the first phase where at present the drinking water supply...

-The Hindu   Report establishes the nature of socio-economic disparities Kolkata: A report on the status of Muslims in West Bengal released on Saturday gives startling information on the socio-economic status of the community. The report suggests that only 17 per cent of Muslims in the State live in urban settlements as against the national average of 28 per cent. The report underscores the fact that the condition of Muslims has not improved much...

-DNA   Workshop showcases benefit of SRI technique that requires less water and input, but provides better yield Ahmedabad: Paddy cultivators in Navsari and Dangs reap fortune in their fields with the new system of rice intensification (SRI), a Methodology of crop cultivation has yielded rich dividends. Experts who spoke about the unique technique compared it with other techniques that require a initial high input cost, and said this method of cultivation on...

-Down to Earth   Poverty line figures hide people's aspirations There are lies, damn lies and statistics, American author Mark Twain once wrote echoing a similar statement by the British statesman Benjamin Disraeli. Statistics aim to reveal a lot, but they conceal vital information. This concealing tendency of statistics explains much of the flak received by the Planning Commission when it released figures on the poverty line. In 2012, the commission announced that...

-Live Mint   Building toilets holds the key to reducing India's malnutrition burden Commenting on the Indian elections in his satire show, British humorist John Oliver remarked, "(Narendra) Modi has managed to inspire people with his populist platform including a pledge to put a toilet in every home. That's a bold move, coming out as pro-toilet." Oliver's wisecrack may have deliberately exaggerated Narendra Modi's pitch on toilets but the focus on sanitation has been...