On February 9, 2010, the then Minister of Environment and Forests, Government of India, Jairam Ramesh, imposed an indefinite moratorium on the introduction of Bt Brinjal in India. It is necessary and desirable to quote the order verbatim. It reads as follows: It is my duty to adopt a cautious, precautionary based approach and impose a moratorium on the release of Bt Brinjals till such time independent scientific studies establish, to...

States to be urged to adopt resolutions for pension to elderly Following up its five-day dharna here, the Pension Parishad has decided to intensify political mobilisation for pressing its demand for universal old age pension. Several political leaders addressed the demonstrators during the dharna and the Parishad leaders called on President Pratibha Patil to elicit her support. On Saturday, a delegation will call on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who is also the chairperson...

-The Pioneer The super-vision mission team of World Bank, with the help of District Poverty Initiatives Project, appreciated the self-confidence, vision and awareness of rural women trying to earn their livelihood. Through innovative initiative of the project, team members spread awareness about the solar energy lantern and mobile charging stations among the rural people. The establishment of solar energy lantern and mobile charging stations is being done through regeneration committee set up...

-The Times of India Gurgaon: The state health department has asked medical officers in the city to keep tabs on the ultrasound centres of the city. In a measure to curb female foeticide, the department has made it mandatory for pregnant women to present their ID proof. The director general of the health department on May 3 directed officials concerned to give guidelines to the hospitals and the private centres to check...

Doctors across India who encounter patients with tuberculosis will have to disclose the identity, age, sex, and address of each patient to local health authorities under an order issued this week by the Union health ministry. The health ministry said today that it is essential to have complete information as part of its efforts to ensure that patients receive proper diagnosis and therapy and to curb the emergence and spread of...