-The Business Standard NGOs have been asked to run MGNREGS in the country's 184 most backward blocks Will handing over the management of the Mahatma Gandhi National rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) ensure the scheme works? The rural development ministry seems to think so, at least in Naxal-hit areas. Under the Mahatma Gandhi National rural Employment Guarantee Act, NGOs are allowed to run the scheme, provided gram panchayats run...

-Outlook The state elections rolled out smoothly, but it's money power which ruled on the ground As we celebrate the smooth working of a massive electoral exercise-simplistically dubbed by many as the semi-final to the greatest show on earth, General Elections 2014-a realisation has dawned that the role of ‘money power' is reaching alarming proportions. Sure, elections are more fool-proof today than in the past, and most (rightly) salute the EC...

-The Hindu Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu): After free and cashless deliveries, newborn babies and mothers were transported back home free of cost by the Government Headquarters hospital here, thanks to the implementation of Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) scheme. The scheme rolled out by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is being implemented in the hospital since October 15, making available a host of benefits to the young mothers free of cost. After delivery and...

-GlobalPost.com Opinion: The Obama administration's objection to India's newly approved Food Security Act is an act of hypocrisy. BALI, Indonesia - In the lead-up to this week's World Trade Organization negotiations, the Obama administration has tried to block the implementation of a new program approved by the Indian government that could help feed its 830 million hungry people in a cost-effective way. The Obama administration's objection to the program is a direct attack...

-Down to Earth CAG audit may be sought if states fail to disclose correct information, says secretary for drinking water and sanitation The secretary of Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) has set up a high-level committee to look into the huge discrepancy between its data on toilets built under its sanitation programme and what exists on ground. The discrepancy came to light following the 2011 Census findings that...