-The Economic Times   Chhattisgarh will set up seven Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Maoist-hit districts in a bid to stop youths from joining the rebels, officials said Saturday. "The central government has approved a proposal of the state government for setting up seven ITIs in districts worst hit by Maoist militancy. Each ITI will cost Rs.3.72 crore, which includes the cost of constructing the building and a 100-student capacity hostel," a...

Allegation that Ansari was killed by Naxalites is a ploy: report NEW DELHI: Debunking claims of the Jharkhand government, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has called for a CBI inquiry into the murder of whistle-blower Niyamat Ansari charging that there was an attempt to cover up the murder. It called for “serious action” against Latehar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rahul Purwar for alleged dereliction of duty and failure to prevent funds...

-The Indian Express   With Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee resigning from the Union Cabinet to take over as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) today completely sidelined her objections against government role in land acquisition — even for private industry. “The government will be acquiring 100 per cent of the land for public purpose by offering very good compensation to landowners. If the public purpose...

The land acquisition for the proposed mega steel project of Posco in Orissa's Jagatsinghpur district has been postponed following stiff resistance from villagers supporting as well as opposing the venture. The State Government had to stop the land acquisition work on Friday after the villagers supporting the venture protested, demanding that the process be completely stopped till their six-point demands are met. As many as 33 members of the United Action Committee...

If the problems are macro, think micro. That seems to have been the guiding principle for Lekha-Mendha, the Maharashtra village that last month became the first in India to win the right to grow, harvest and sell bamboo. Such rights are the key goal of a five-year-old central law which aims to give tribal communities control over some resources of the jungles they live in. “There is no point in looking out...