-Outlook Karnataka government plans to procure cloth from powerlooms for school uniforms, thus impacting the livelihood of handloom weavers in the state. The Vidya Vikas scheme of the government of Karnataka through which free handloom cloth for a pair of uniforms is provided to students of government schools is under a serious threat. Launched about 25 years ago, this unique scheme was designed to serve a dual purpose. The handloom cloth...

-The Hindu SADASHIVAPET (MEDAK DISTRICT, Telengana): DRDA teams up with Digital Green, an organisation supporting technology, to spread the word on innovative practices being followed by farmers. As the project is supported by battery and video can be played even on a wall, farmers are viewing these videos even in late hours. What can be done with a hand-held projector? Spreading new and innovative systems in farming with semi-literate and illiterate persons...

-Deccan Chronicle Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government is facing fresh problems from agriculture labourers in the 17 villages where the government has decided to pool land for construction of the capital city. Every village has a minimum of 200 labourers and in 17 villages there are about 15,000 agriculture labourers. After the government pools the agriculture land in those villages, all of them will lose their livelihood. They are also not trained to...

-The Indian Express Recent announcements on possible changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and restrictions on its coverage are baffling and worrisome. The passing of the MGNREGA and the Right to Information Act heralded a new vision of citizenship and state responsibility. The former created a safety net for the rural poor. The latter gave taxpayers and voters an opportunity to bridge the gap between state...

-The Hindu Business Line Beefing up input delivery, expanding irrigation facilities & infusing technology are the key India needs rapid economic growth to lift people out of poverty and meet the basic needs of a growing population. It is well recognised that for growth to be inclusive, it must create adequate livelihood opportunities and add to decent employment commensurate with the expectations of a growing workforce. Massive growth in information and communication technologies...