-Down to Earth Ministers write protest letters to prime minister and finance minister, saying it would greatly impact ongoing schemes The Congress-led UPA government has been harping on its pro-poor schemes in the run up to the elections early next year. But it has effected a drastic cut in budgetary allocations for social welfare schemes. The move is reportedly prompted by the urgent need to contain current account deficit (CAD) to below...

-The Indian Express After tasting success with its free bicycle scheme for school-going girls, the Bihar government is planning a freebie in tune with the times - a tablet PC - ahead of the 2014 elections. While other state governments have so far targeted the student community with free laptops and tablets, the Nitish Kumar government is working on an ambitious Rs 8,000 crore scheme to provide tablets to digitally illiterate...

-Outlook Berhampur (Odisha): Darkness still grips several rural areas of cyclone-ravaged Ganjam district in Odisha even though exactly a month has passed since Phailin hit the district. While restoration work is yet to be completed in rural areas, almost all the urban areas have got back power supply, power distribution company sources said. Of the 475 gram panchayats, power supply was partially restored in 269 panchayat headquarters so far, but fully restored in...

-Down to Earth Report of health experts deputed by civil society group says infants did not receive timely medical care when they developed serious reaction A team of public health experts who probed the deaths of eight children in Jammu and Kashmir who were administered pentavalent vaccine has said the deaths were related to administrative negligence and inadequate medical facilities. Seven children in GB pant hospital and one in SKIMS Medical College...

-PTI BHUBANESWAR/JAJPUR (ODISHA): People in various parts of Odisha started panic buying of salt on Monday following a rumour that it would disappear from the market, like potato, stretching the price even to Rs 60 a kg. Hit hard by the ongoing potato pinch for the last several days, people made a beeline to grocery shops to buy as much salt as they could, thus leading to mad scenes in the...