In an upstairs classroom at a residential school in Mal, near Lucknow, the girls are revising for their exams. As the light starts to fade at the glassless windows, each girl takes a brightly coloured plastic lamp and carries it to her space on the floor. There is no electricity, but the lamps are solar powered. They have been donated jointly by Swedish company Ikea and the United Nations Children’s...

Ranchi: Another scam involving around Rs.2.5cr in Jharkhand Renewable Energy Department (JREDA) has been unearthed. The alleged scam amount has been siphoned off to various suppliers without obtaining any goods. The State’s Accountant General has submitted a report to the government to this disclosure. The government has immediately ordered a Vigilance enquiry into the scam. JREDA had appointed seven suppliers for supplying Solar Lamps, Domestic lights and street lights which is...

Non-governmental organizations are making a difference to the lives of poor and marginalized people in India. Most work in geographically limited areas. They are idealistic and want change, and hope to enter the lives of those they work with. Funding agencies and NGOs are enthused by any sign of change in the long-failed state of Bihar. A virulent and discriminatory caste system that deprives the lower castes even of government-funded...