Though the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has prioritized enrolling people who have no valid proof of their identity and worked out a mechanism called the "introducer based verification system", it came to light in camps organized in the state that there are few takers for this system. An authorized person with a valid UID number can introduce a person with no documentary evidence. Commissioner NREGA, Ajay Kumar Singh, who...
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Ashok Gulati, chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) interviewed by Ruchira Singh
The chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), Ashok Gulati, is a well-known proponent of reforms and an agricultural economist with diverse experience. Prior to taking charge of CACP, he was the International Food Policy Research Institute director in Asia. In an interview, Gulati spoke about the urgency for initiating reforms in the agricultural sector and made a strong case for intervention to check falling wheat prices either...
More »The other side of food inflation: Farm labour costs rise 50% in two years by Harish Damodaran
Everyone knows how much food prices have risen in the last few years. Not everyone, however, knows how much costs have spiralled for those who produce the food you and I eat. Data on daily wage rates for agricultural operations, compiled by the Labour Bureau at Shimla, show huge increases to have taken place in most States during 2009 and 2010. Andhra Pradesh, for instance, has seen farm wage rates – the...
More »Just A Clever Comma? by Lola Nayar
The GM crops debate rages, but pressure is on to end the moratorium Actively On Hold? Well... * GEAC meets experts in late April, butthrows no light on safety reviews * Second report by national science academies supports limited release * GEAC chairman rejects limited release; assures further discussions * No decision on further tests or studies to justify Bt Brinjal * Civil society groups meet GEAC in May, seek...
More »Over to the MPs
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who scrapped the MLA Local Area Development Fund (MLALAD), has now asked the Centre to make alternative arrangements to implement projects for its parliamentary variant — the MPLAD — in the state. Kumar says the reasons are technical. The MLALAD has been replaced by the Chief Minister’s Local Area Development Scheme, under which a body of engineers will be in charge of executing development works....
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