-The Times of India National Advisory Council chairperson Sonia Gandhi has agreed to discuss the cash transfer scheme at a meeting of the UPA's think tank after some members raised concerns about its efficacy and consequences for other social security schemes run by the government, especially the National Food security Bill. The scheme is likely to be deliberated upon at the next meeting of the council on February 26. It will also...
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Tribals flee village after Reds kill teacher -Riyan Ramanath V
-The Times of India BHUBANESWAR: Villagers of Pathpani, where Maoists killed a Sikhya Sahayak three days ago, have appealed to chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Nuapada SP and collector to relocate them at some other village. Maoists had killed Dunguripali primary school teacher Chaitanya Majhi (32), accusing him of being a police informer, and thrown his body in Pathpani forest. After the incident about 250 villagers deserted the village fearing more attacks by...
More »Food security Bill: Union Minister KV Thomas meets state officials -Ashish Mukherjee
-NDTV Union Food Minister KV Thomas and representatives of states met today to discuss the National Food security Bill and the recommendations of Parliament Standing Committee. "We intend to present the revised bill in Parliament in the budget session, so this is the last opportunity for consultations before finalising the bill," Mr Thomas said at the beginning of the meeting. The bill is one of the most ambitious legislations of the UPA government...
More »Centre seeks states' consensus on contentious Food Bill issues
-PTI He was addressing the consultation meet of state food ministers on Food Bill here. With Centre planning to present Food Bill in the Budget session of Parliament, Food Minister K V Thomas today urged states to evolve a consensus on contentious issues like coverage and identification of beneficiaries. The Food Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2011, aims to give legal right over subsidised foodgrains to two-third of...
More »Protests, the Justice Verma Committee and the Government Ordinance-Albeena Shakil
-Economic and Political Weekly The government’s response to the protests led by the youth against the gang rape incident in New Delhi, in the form of an ordinance has not met the aspirations of the many protestors and the woman rights’ organisations. It can in fact be accused of being vindictive, having ignored the thoroughgoing recommendations of the government appointed justice Verma committee's report. Albeena Shakil (albeenashakil@gmail.com) is a women rights’ activist...
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