-The Hindu   50 Bodhan villages in pilot project YEDAPALLY (NIZAMABAD DT.): Efforts are on to supply safe and purified drinking water at the rate of 20 paise per litre to every household in over 50 villages in Bodhan Assembly constituency. If this pilot project being undertaken at a cost of Rs. 3-4 lakh for each unit is successful, it will be extended to other villages in course of time. Disclosing this at an...

-The Times of India After the job guarantee scheme played a crucial role in UPA's reelection, the government is working on a plan to reach out to 100 million tribals to ensure remuneration for minor forest produce. The government will unveil an ambitious initiative by June, after the Cabinet clears the policy. The plan is to have a mechanism to fix the minimum support price for a list of 10-15 non-timber forest...

-The Hindu     A computerised database of ration card holders and purchases is a safeguard against diversion of PDS supplies but the process can be disruptive for beneficiaries The government has initiated an interesting pilot for the Public Distribution System (PDS) in East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. When cardholders go to buy their PDS rations, their ration card number and UID (Unique Identification) number are punched into an "e-Point of Sale" (ePOS) machine. If...

-Outlook India has long been the sleeping giant of global agriculture. But its misguided policies while boosting short-term output, yet may transform India into a food importer After decades on the sidelines of international agricultural trade, India was poised last year to become a major food supplier, overtaking traditional exporters of food grain and meat. This could prove to be flash in the pan. The sudden rise and fall of India...

-National Alliance of People’s Movements A historic mobilization of more than 1 lakh farmers, farm workers and agrarian masses belonging to a wide variety of social movements from across India descended upon New Delhi today. Protestors at the 'Kisan Khet Mazdoor Mahapanchayat'  came to show their collective commitment towards getting the government’s attention to reverse the grave agrarian crisis caused by liberalization reforms supporting foreign investors, corporations; reforms that support elite...