THE definition of poverty has been at the core of discussions and commitments at the international level to address it and, by a logical conclusion, to eradicate it. This intent is the basis for the lofty Millennium Development Goals adopted by the UN member-states and international organisations at the beginning of this century. Now, 10 years later, the UN Summit on MDGs in New York last month was meant to...

Himachal Pradesh has expressed reservation over the provision of ‘minimum five hectares of land for granting mining lease’ under the proposed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill that has already got the nod of Group of Ministers. The existing Act, which will be replaced, did not have any such regulation. The government has already represented to the Centre that such large tracts of land for mining activities in Himachal, where...

Prepares a model amendment draft for Goa Panchayati Raj Draft amendments to be debated Clear division of functions, assets proposed Right to Information activist Arvind Kejriwal has suggested a series of powers to strengthen the Gram Sabhas including decision making powers about village affairs and a right to recall Sarpanch for failing to function according to decisions of the Gram Sabha. In a model amendment draft for the Goa Panchayati Raj already put in...

Outgoing state chief information commissioner (CIC) Suresh Joshi holds the privilege of being the first state CIC under the Right to Information Act. He has upped the ante with his retirement, five years down the line. At the time of his exit, Maharashtra holds the distinction of having disposed off the maximum number of appeals in the country — 54,000 as of June, as compared to the Centre’s 50,000, and with fewer...

After the Niyamgiri ban, a controversy is brewing in Chhattisgarh over bauxite mining by Vedanta Resources, the UK-based mining conglomerate, in the Maikal hill ranges in Kawardha district with the opposition Congress demanding a probe into alleged large-scale infringement of green and tribal areas and violation of panchayat laws. "The devastation in Kawardha caused by mining activities of Vedanta Group is greater and worse than Orissa. Vedanta Group has managed to...