-The Times of India Samarin Bai, a 50-year-old Baiga tribal woman from Mahamai village lives in the dense Achanakmar forests of Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh. A few days back, she decided to see a doctor for the big lump that had developed at the base of her neck and various other problems. Although there is a government sub-centre 6kmsix kilometers away, she knew that there was only one auxiliary nurse cum midwife...

-The Times of India With the introduction of a minimum educational qualification to contest panchayat elections, an overwhelming majority of the rural population in Haryana and Rajasthan rural population has been effectively barred from contesting. In Haryana the minimum qualification is matriculation for unreserved seats while it is class eighth for seats reserved for women and scheduled caste candidates. Census 2011 Data shows that only 16% of the rural population aged 20 or...

-The Hindu Business Line Farm output at stake as rainfall deficit widens Ahmedabad: A continued dry spell in the current monsoon season has driven Gujarat to the brink of drought. The latest weather department Data revealed that till September 9, Gujarat had a deficit of 21 per cent from the normal seasonal rainfall. Even as the kharif sowing is complete on 97 per cent of the area, the water storage conditions are not...

-Livemint.com Low support price, land acquisition bill, short supply of fertilizers among triggers for clashes, shows analysis New Delhi: Security agencies have warned the government of growing farmer unrest across the country as rural distress worsens. There has been a spurt in clashes among farmers and government agencies, particularly in states such as Maharashtra, which is facing acute rural distress. Till June end, 74 incidents were reported nationwide, twice the number recorded...

-PTI NEW DELHI: Monsoon rains have revived in the worst-hit central India and southern peninsula regions that would help boost kharif crops and water level in reservoirs, a top official of Met department said on Wednesday. Monsoon deficit has been at 12 per cent so far this season (June 1 to September 2). However, the rain deficit in the southern peninsula and central India was 22 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively,...