An estimated 41 million people have been cured of tuberculosis (TB) over the past 15 years through a treatment strategy recommended by the United Nations health agency, according to a new report, but success remains fragile and governments must strengthen their determination to combat the disease. “With 1.7 million people dying from tuberculosis last year – including 380,000 women, many of whom were young mothers – these successes are far too...

The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to restore the tribal land allegedly encroached by a windmill company at Attappady in Palakkad district. Those who fabricated documents for facilitating the encroachment would be prosecuted. The Cabinet also decided to institute a comprehensive Vigilance inquiry into the alleged involvement of officials of various departments in the alienation of the tribal land. Briefing the media on the Cabinet decisions, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said the inquiry...

Nearly 10% of Indians are without jobs, a new study of the country's labour force has found. The study by the federal labour ministry was conducted in some 46,000 households in 28 states all over the country. It also found that over 85% of Indians had no access to social security. Various surveys have pegged India's unemployment rate between 2.8 to more than 10%. Analysts say the actual figure is much higher. They say...

Can we afford to leave MG-NREGA alone? Why is the civil society crying foul? Are the rural activists demanding too much? Is the UPA-II trying to take back what UPA-I gave before the elections? Let us face it, the MG-NREGA is in a big crisis. NAC members like Aruna Roy and Jean Dreze have alleged (See links below) that the present remuneration of rural workers is declining by the day and it...

The government on Tuesday said employment has risen in the khadi and village industries, particularly in agro-units, on account of rise in agricultural production and processing. "The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, the Ministry of Agriculture has reported that employment in agro- industries is growing with an increase in agricultural production, processing...," Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Dinsha Patel said in a written reply...