-The Hindu   MGNREGS workers to be roped in for planting mangroves Malappuram (Kerala): The district administration and the civic authorities here seem to have woken up to the realization of conserving mangroves. Beginning this Thursday, which will mark the World Environment Day celebrations, mangroves in some coastal panchayats of Tirur block will be protected and conserved with the help of the Mahatma Gandhi National rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers. MGNREGS workers will celebrate...

-The Hindu   Nabard's low-key financing scheme helps farmers reap a rich harvest Puducherry: A low-key financing scheme with a few innovations thrown in is driving big changes in the lives of several rural dairy farmers. One of the beneficiaries, Poongudi from Andayarpalayam, Thirubuvanai, is a happy woman. Her milch cows are healthier and milk production has improved in quantity and quality. "The cows do not fall ill often now. I have 10 cows and the...

-Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)     Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, has asked for thorough streamlining of systems in the distribution of free generic drugs to government health institutions at all levels throughout the country. The Free Drug Programme's formal launch would be preceded by working out all logistical details with respect to procurement and distribution in consultation with the state governments. The...

-The Diplomat   Climate change is stressing an already struggling farm sector, but there is a way forward. Over the last decade, India's official position in global climate negotiations has been one of opposition to agricultural mitigation. At Doha (COP18), India joined other developing countries in demanding that any talk about agriculture must be in the realm of adaptation, not mitigation. India considers the farm sector out of bounds with respect to emissions...

-The Telegraph   June 23, 2013: Ranchi is honoured at the e-India Governance Summit in Hyderabad for best use of information and communication technology in rural development June 2, 2014: The capital district is grappling with a backlog of more than 4,500 applications for online services such as issuing of birth, death and caste certificates The abysmal sign of regression has taken Ranchi district authorities, hitherto engrossed with one of the country's most historic...