-Down to Earth   Quota for free treatment of economically weaker sections in private hospitals under-utilised; less than half of the children referred from government hospitals get treatment in these places Children from the economically weaker sections (EWS) in Delhi are unable to avail treatment at private hospitals despite the fact that these hospitals have reserved beds and out-patient department facilities for people from EWS category. This is the finding of a survey conducted...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: A legislation to protect rights of persons with mental illness and ensure people with such disabilities are treated humanely by banning practices like tonsuring or chaining of patients was introduced in Rajya Sabha on Monday. The bill allows adults to make an "advance directive" or decide on a course of action regarding how they wish to be treated in case they develop a mental ailment. The advance...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday gave a last opportunity to the Centre to break its long silence over Election Commission's suggestion to ban those facing trial for heinous offences from contesting elections. Almost eight months after it directed the Centre and the EC to "positively" file its response to a PIL seeking a series of directions to ensure that those with criminal track records do not...

-The Hindustan Times The UPA government faces a key test in Parliament on Tuesday in passing its flagship food security bill, the same day the "game-changing" scheme is launched in three Congress-ruled states - Delhi, Haryana and Uttarakhand. Top ministers, along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on Monday held a strategy meet on how to juggle major amendments, or alterations, proposed by the Opposition. Separately, food minister KV Thomas met Samajwadi Party...

-The Financial Express Amid the government's efforts to curb fiscal deficit, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Tuesday criticised the Centre for cutting down on capital spending, over-stating spending on centrally sponsored schemes and doling out some subsidies without obtaining Parliament approval. UPA's flagship scheme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) also came under the scanner with the CAG questioning whether the entire amount booked for the job scheme...