-The Hindu MANSINGH THANDA (KRISHNA): Barothu Gandhi, 38, one among dozens of patients diagnosed with kidney ailments reportedly due to consumption of fluoride water in Lambada tribal habitations in Krishna district, had already sold his two-acre of land to meet his monthly medical expenses since 2011. Bed-ridden for most of the day at his house in a sleepy tribal hamlet of Mansing Thanda in A. Konduru mandal, Mr. Gandhi was still...

-The Indian Express India needs a national effort to speed up human development. That India was ranked 135 out of 187 countries on UNDP's human development index is perhaps the greatest concern for a nation with global ambition. In order to sustain our growth momentum and translate the gains of growth into wellbeing at a faster pace, India needs to rejig its strategy for accelerated human development. The performance in education and health...

-The Hindustan Times Greater Noida: An RTI activist was abducted from Dankaur town in Gautam Budh Nagar district on December 13, burnt with cigarette butts on his private parts and beaten with iron rods before being dumped near a petrol pump in a neighbouring district four days later. A medical report of the Dankaur government hospital notes Anoop Singh, 29, has 40 burn injuries all over his body, including on his face,...

-The Times of India PURNIA: With 11 more people drowning, nine in Katihar's extremely flood-prone Barsoi sub-division and two in Baisi sub-division in Purnia, the death toll in the current floods has gone up to 38 in Purnia and Kosi divisions of north-east Bihar. In Katihar division, four people drowned at Shivanandnagar, Bansgaon, Abadpur and Bitwapur under Barsoi block, two more casualties took place at Kumaripur, one at Chunwa under Kadwa block...

-Live Mint Lack of decentralization means municipalities lack power, resources to meet rising aspirations of ‘middle' India Othakadai, Madurai (Tamil Nadu)/Hubli (Karnataka): S. Paramasivam , president of the Othakadai panchayat, has big plans for his area. "Rainwater harvesting, removal of encroachments on roads, waste recycling, covered drainage, bigger primary health care centres and community parks," lists the 58-year-old, who has spent 30 years in the stainless steel business that dominates industry...