Malnutrition or due to socio-economic reasons and backwardness? Ninety-eight children under six died of various causes in Maharashtra's Melghat region in September alone. While confirming this, Amravati district health officer S.K. Yelurkar told The Hindu that there was no outbreak of any illness and the deaths were due to “routine socio-economic reasons and the backwardness of the region.” The forested region, comprising Dharni and Chikhaldara taluks, is largely inhabited by Korku Adivasis...

The Centre should not impose conditions on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme which might block the project's implementation in the State, West Bengal Rural Development Minister Anisur Rahman said here on Tuesday. Talking to reporters at the Secretariat after a meeting with two senior officials of the Union Rural Development Ministry, he said, “No such conditions should be imposed due to which the rural poor are denied the...

Bhaggu, 65, says he can trace his memory back to when he was five. And he remembers the paradox that’s taunted him since: Of his village — Sohras, in northern Uttar Pradesh — being flooded every year and him having no water to drink. “They (government) distribute food, tarpaulin, kerosene, matchboxes but never made any arrangement for water,” says Bhaggu, a farm worker who goes by one name. “I think no...

One day training on MGNREGA and SGSY for Pfutsero and Kikruma Blocks was held on September 20 at Nazareth Higher Secondary School Hall, Pfutsero. The training was sponsored by DRDA, Phek. 96 participants consisting of VDB Secretaries, VCC, VMC Chairmen (MGNREGA), Field workers/GRS from all the 28 villages attended the training on MGNREGA and another 52 participants representing SHGs and selected beneficiaries (swarosgaris) attended Training on SGSY. Japra Swuro, BDO,...

Existing and prospective industry and mining players of Jharkhand are apprehensive about the draft mining bill, which seeks to make them share 26 per cent of profits with locals. A group of ministers (GoM) approved the draft bill on September 17. Speaking to The Telegraph, Jindal Steel & Power Limited’s (JSPL) senior deputy general manager (corporate affairs) V.P. Sharan said: “The proposed clause — sharing profits with local people — sounds...