The government’s flagship rural employment scheme is struggling to make an impact as the capacity building in the scheme has slowed down to a crawl. The overall fund utilisation in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act, or MGNREGA, has plummeted to 60%. Most states were unable to utilise even half of the funds slotted for administrative expenses, stalling administrative reforms that are expected to increase the efficiency of the...

Quota for all elected posts in panchayats, mandals, ZPPs Decision by government on the issue to improve representation for women in local bodies Draft amendment to Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act being scrutinised by the Law Department Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said that there would be 50 per cent reservation for women in the next local body elections in the State. Living up to his promise made during the International Women's Day...

The Guwahati high court, Imphal bench has issued a notice of motion returnable within four weeks in response to the writ petition filed by 14 Job card holders of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa Gram Panchayat for non payment of unemployment allowance despite the fact that the Ombudsman, MGNREGS, Imphal West district had issued an award in this regard. A statement issued by the Human Right Law Network (HRLN) in this connection said that...

India's rural innovators have proved that ordinary people are indeed capable of extraordinary inventions. Despite many constraints -- lack of education and severe cash crunch -- most of them have succeeded in using technology cost-effectively to build ingenious products. A washing-cum-exercise machine, hand operated water lifting device, portable smokeless stove, automatic food making machine, solar mosquito killer, shock proof converter, a floating toilet soap are few of the products on display...

The relay hunger strike by women in manipur entered the 935th day on Wednesday. The hunger strike at the office of the Save Sharmila Group here was launched to extend moral support to Irom Sharmila, who has been on a fast-unto-death since November 2, 2000 demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. “We are disappointed by the lack of response to the protracted fasting by Ms. Sharmila. The volunteers...