Finally, there's some good news for the United Progressive Alliance government. Consumption numbers for the past six years show that real incomes have grown much faster under the Congress-led coalition than during the National Democratic Alliance era. What's more, poverty is trending down and rural wages are growing smartly. The 2009-10 survey by the National Statistical Survey Organisation (NSSO) shows real spending by each person in rural India rose 6.3%...

-The Indian Express   Aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality, the Janani Suraksha Yojana is a scheme unflinching in its ambition and creativeness. Launched more than five years ago, it supplements incentives like free transport with conditional cash transfer to encourage “institutional delivery”. In the years since, the data has been encouraging, but regional variations are evident — as are, unfortunately, indications that the poorest women may not necessarily be...

-The Telegraph   Digvijay Singh today once again called the Centre’s counter-Maoist policy to question, saying there was no need to ask for a review of the Supreme Court order that said the Salwa Judum vigilante force was unconstitutional and tribal youths appointed as special police officers should be disarmed. “I think there is no need for a review petition,” the Congress leader said when asked why the government was seeking a...

-The Telegraph   The brother of Prabhat Nayek, an East Midnapore native killed in Wednesday’s blasts in Mumbai, today alleged he had to pay Rs 9,000 to police to get the body out of the J.J. Hospital morgue. “I had to pay the police Rs 9,000 to get my elder brother’s body out of the hospital morgue,” Gurupada said at his home in Brajalalpur village, Patashpur, this evening. He said the police again...

-The Business Standard   The All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi today said he would back the Posco project if the steel major provided proper rehabilitation else he would throw his weight behind the agitating people. “Posco project will bring development. We are not against development. If Posco provides proper rehabilitation, we will be with Posco. If it fails, we will be with the agitating people,” he said while...