Articles
Nov 12 2006
AIDS AND THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
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An opportunity to end health care slumber
The HIV epidemic has brought into focus multiple public health issues facing rural India today. In this respect, it presents us with an opportunity to deal with issues that have been neglected and even been actively ignored for too long, writes Supriya Kumar.
Nov 11 2006
WATER POLICY
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Development disconnected from research
The practical management of water systems has become detached from the knowledge gained through research, which has made great progress in the last two or three decades. Because critical elements of research have been externalised, the induction of new inter-disciplinary learning has been greatly limited, writes Jayanta Bandyopadhyay.
Nov 10 2006
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
All theory and no practice
VOCATIONAL TRAINING : All theory and no practice

The government-run vocational training system in India has a total annual training capacity of about 28 lakh (2,800,000) students. But most curricula 'followed' at institutes imparting vocational training have little relevance for wage or self-employment. Varupi Jain reports on the macro-picture.
Nov 09 2006
HEALTH
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TB: gravest danger to India - II
In the last 20 years, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has emerged as an accelerator to Tuberculosis. It helps TB spread rapidly as the HIV patient's immune system is already weak. HIV's ability to fast forward TB has frightening implications, says Ramesh Menon.
Nov 08 2006
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
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Behind closed doors
We can now celebrate the fact that India is one of the few countries around the world that recognises that domestic violence is a violation of the human rights of women. The law alone is not enough, but it surely strengthens the hand of those who want to establish these rights, says Kalpana Sharma.
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Nov 07 2006
ENVIRONMENT
Railways violating forest conservation law
ENVIRONMENT : Railways violating forest conservation law
The proposed Hubli-Ankola railway line in Karnataka originally stirred up criticism because if built, it would pass through the ecologically fragile Western Ghats forests. Matters recently came to a head when evidence emerged of the Railways proceeding to construct a part of the line without forest clearance. Kanchi Kohli has more.
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Nov 06 2006
HEALTH
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TB: gravest danger to India
Tuberculosis has emerged as the greatest danger to India threatening the health of millions. More than 4,500 people die everyday unable to battle the disease. It is not AIDS that will be India's greatest threat, as most of us believe, warns Ramesh Menon.
Nov 05 2006
WOMEN AND SOCIAL WORK
An opportunity and a necessity
WOMEN AND SOCIAL WORK : An opportunity and a necessity
At the receiving end of society's expectations and demands, many women find social work a natural calling. While their engagement of society's deepest problems may begin for very personal reasons, it often transcends these beginnings, and has much larger impacts, writes Puja Awasthi.
Nov 03 2006
AGRICULTURE/WATER
He grew a forest only to harvest water
AGRICULTURE/WATER : He grew a forest only to harvest water
Running short of water, and with the rains playing truant, Wayanad coffee planter M P Chandranath sacrificed six acres of his prime coffee plantation to develop a forest. That helped increase his water sources and today, he has no regrets. Shree Padre reports.
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Nov 01 2006
ENVIRONMENT
India's pro-asbestos position sets back international treaty
ENVIRONMENT : India's pro-asbestos position sets back international treaty
Held in Geneva last month, the Rotterdam Convention was attended by 500 participants from 140 governments, UN organisations, and NGOs. India sided with Canada and few other nations to prevent the listing of chrysotile asbestos, a known carcinogen. R Sridhar has more.
Oct 31 2006
EDUCATION / WOMEN
A mother's touch at school
EDUCATION / WOMEN : A mother's touch at school
An innovative program of education for young children achieves the twin objectives of encouraging more families to send their girls to school, as well as giving the teachers a greater sense of autonomy over their own lives. Malvika Kaul reports on the Mother-Teacher Programme.
Oct 30 2006
PRICED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT
Pioneering school faces new obstacles
PRICED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT : Pioneering school faces new obstacles

This 15-year-old school in Rajasthan has been providing quality education accessible to poor children. But going against the spirit of a High Court order, the Jaipur Development Authority has asked the Bandhyali school to pay a prohibitive sum for its allotted land. Deepa A reports.
Oct 29 2006
PRS LEGISLATIVE BRIEF
Immoral Traffic (Amendment) Bill
PRS LEGISLATIVE BRIEF : Immoral Traffic (Amendment) Bill
New provisions in law would make sexual exploitation of trafficked persons punishable. While well-intended, the draft bill is vague; the term 'sexual exploitation' is not clearly defined. Without this, the bill's provisions could lead to greater harassment of prostitutes and their clients. Kaushiki Sanyal presents a legislative brief.
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Oct 28 2006
COMMUNITY RADIO POLICY
Between the cup and the lip
COMMUNITY RADIO POLICY : Between the cup and the lip

The Government of India's draft community radio policy proposes to allow NGOs and other non-profit organisations to run low power radio stations with limited advertising. The policy is expected to go to the Cabinet for approval soon, but CR advocates and broadcasters are keeping their fingers crossed, notes Surekha Sule.

Oct 27 2006
URBAN SPACES
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RG/PG - new twist to land grabs
Recreation and play grounds in the nation's commercial capital may soon be handed over to 'caretakers' with liberal concessions for builders and developers. Meanwhile, bona fide caretakers of public spaces, who've been doing the corporation's job for it for years, find new hurdles. Darryl D'Monte reports.
Oct 26 2006
ENVIRONMENT
Wake up call on reservoir siltation nationwide
ENVIRONMENT : Wake up call on reservoir siltation nationwide
Siltation studies of 27 dam-created reservoirs spanning the nation, obtained using the RTI law indicate that all is not well. Storage capacities of the reservoirs have been dropping and the loss is alarming; what's worse, little is being to done to stop the wastage, find Himanshu Thakkar & Swarup Bhattacharyya.
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Oct 25 2006
DEBT RELIEF
Moneylenders harassing Warangal farmers
DEBT RELIEF : Moneylenders harassing Warangal farmers

A moratorium on loan recoveries is supposed to bring distressed farmers a bit of relief. But in the Parakal region of Warangal district, the Andhra Pradesh government's directive has taken farmers from the fire to the frying pan, says one farmer. Kondal Rao has more.
Oct 24 2006
WISDOM SONG
A life of conviction
WISDOM SONG : A life of conviction
The book serves a felt need, as also the purpose of getting Baba Amte under the reader's skin. But the author does not tease out historical and sociological connections, and ask questions of broader relevance. The definitive interpretation of Amte's life and its significance is still awaited. Neeta Deshpande reviews Wisdom Song: The life of Baba Amte.
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Oct 22 2006
REPORTING ON CHILD LABOUR
Missing links - II
REPORTING ON CHILD LABOUR : Missing links - II

Only a systematic review of past policies and efforts can shed light on why child labour continues unabated in the country. Without such analysis, it will be impossible to call the official bluff, and we will continue to witness grandstanding that relies on the short attention span of the media and the public, writes Ammu Joseph.

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Oct 21 2006
REPORTING ON CHILD LABOUR
Missing links
REPORTING ON CHILD LABOUR : Missing links

Few of the reports that appeared in the press in the two-week survey period told readers anything they did not already know. Ammu Joseph surveys media reports of child labour as the Centre's widened ban on employing children in hazardous occupations comes into effect.

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