-The New Indian Express Odisha has recorded significant decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the last six years but still has a long way to go to catch up with the National average. BHUBANESWAR: Odisha has recorded significant decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the last six years but still has a long way to go to catch up with the National average. The MMR has declined from 222 (per...

-Down to Earth Although the actual amount of fines charged was not available; farmers continue to burn residues every season Crop residue burning in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh has been known, but nowadays it's spreading more frequently in other parts of country. Wheat stubble burning is a relatively new issue which started with mechanised harvesting using combine harvesters. In the last four to five years, farmers from UP’s Ghazipur district, especially...

-Hindustan Times In last 12 months, 3 million people in Rajasthan haven’t turn up to claim ration from Fair Price Shops for two months in a row Jaipur: Rajasthan government is looking for answers. Its food department has begun an exercise to look for those people eligible for procuring food grains from fair price shops (FPSs) but have not turned up for two consecutive months. In last 12 months, around three million people...

-Livemint.com * A field report from the agriculturally prosperous heartland reveals a lacklustre festival of lights * Delay in farm loan waivers has worsened farmers’ credit score. So, financiers are unwilling to advance new loans to them for buying farm equipment SRI GANGANAGAR: "How are you going to celebrate Diwali?" My question gets Roopa Ram, an elderly farmer, so amused that he thinks it’s important to do some explaining to a reporter from...

Sporadic natural events like floods and droughts have made headlines in recent times. An official report, which was released in April this year, among other things, shows that extreme weather events have taken a huge toll on both human and cattle lives, personal property and crops grown by farmers and farm workers. A chapter on extreme weather events and natural disasters in the report entitled EnviStats India 2019, Vol. I: Environment...