Situation alarming: More than one-third population hit by drought   The country is facing severe drought for the second consecutive year. Conservative estimates from official sources show that over a quarter of rural habitations are facing drinking water scarcity. Although both India Meteorological Department and Skymet have predicted a more than normal rainfall during June-September, 2016, the water storage available in 91 major reservoirs of the country has declined from 22 percent...

-The Hindu Business Line Accumulated stocks of skimmed Milk powder insulate consumers from price hike Ahmedabad/ Bengaluru: The drought and heat wave across many States has impacted Milk production, thereby affecting procurement by dairy co-operatives and private players. In the key Milk-producing States of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the procurement of liquid Milk has dropped 20-50 per cent, which is more than the usual seasonal decline witnessed during summer. Experts blamed it...

-The Asian Age The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and state governments not to hide behind the “smokescreen of lack of funds” and ordered wide-ranging relief for drought-affected people in 12 states. These include mid-day meals during the summer vacation, addition of egg or Milk to the mid-day meal menu, to universalise foodgrain rations and ensure adequate and timely release of funds for NREGA. It also ordered implementation of...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Nearly 11 crore children having midday meals daily can expect more wholesome food in the coming months as the HRD ministry has revised food norms after seven years. In fact, norms for cereals have been revised for the first time since MDM came into force in 1995. A committee headed by Vinod Paul, head of neo-natal department, AIIMS has recommended reduction in cereal intake - 100...

-The Hindu Business Line In Sirsa, Haryana’s westernmost district, the fight to end female foeticide includes tip-offs, thrilling chases and decoys “Chhori hai ! Kal marna tha , aaj mar gayi” (It’s a girl! She’ll have to die tomorrow, she died today). Deputy civil surgeon Viresh Bhushan’s face twists into a grimace as he recalls the incident at Sirsa’s Civil Hospital four years ago. A grandmother in her fifties had strangled to...