-The Telegraph Bhubaneswar (Odisha): The Centre-sponsored Jan Aushadhi scheme is suffering from shortage of medicines and reluctance of doctors to prescribe drugs by their generic names. The scheme, which is being run by the Odisha branch of the Indian Red Cross Society in 22 districts of the state, was launched to sell quality generic medicines at subsidised prices. Though the city has two Jan Aushadhi stores, chances are that you will have to...

-The Times of India Unnao, a district in Uttar Pradesh, rarely hits headlines except when its rabble-rousing MP Sakshi Maharaj says something. Now, though, it is making news for all the right reasons, and aren't the women in the region tickled pink about it. From the district magistrate to the superintendent of police, the chief development officer to the chief medical officer, from the zila panchayat president to the sub-divisional magistrate,...

-The Indian Express As it completes 10 years, there is enough evidence to show that India needs the MGNREGA Nearly a year ago, the prime minister made a statement in Parliament about the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He said: “My political understanding tells me, don’t ever stop MNREGA… because MNREGA is a living monument to your [the Congress’s] failures. After 60 years of independence, you had to...

-The Hindu Business Line Registration committee favours review of each pesticide in 10-year intervals New Delhi: The Anupam Verma Committee, set up to review the continued use of 66 pesticides that have been barred/restricted for use in farming in other countries, has recommended a ban on 13 ‘extremely hazardous’ pesticides, phasing out of six ‘moderately hazardous’ ones by 2020, and review of 27 pesticides in 2018. The six pesticides suggested for phasing out...

-The Times of India CHENNAI: In a rare initiative, the Tamil Nadu government has taken up waste management and conservancy in villages using the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to employ conservancy workers. The scheme is being implemented in 9,000 of 12,000 panchayats and more than 60,000 `Thuimai Kavalars` (sanitation workers) have been appointed so far. All workers are paid Rs.183 as daily wages. The Union rural development department...