Articles
Oct 20 2006
RELIGION
Dalit Christians: SC or not?
RELIGION : Dalit Christians: SC or not?
Are they members of a Church without caste hierarchy, or are they still Dalits, with all that it implies in Hinduism? Dalit Christians find that despite being a numerical majority in the faith in India, the promise of equality is as distant as before. They're taking their protests to Parliament this winter, reports Padmalatha Ravi.
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Oct 19 2006
ENVIRONMENT PLANNING
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An undemocratic environment
Why is the world's largest democracy hesitant to apply the core principles of democracy in its environment regulatory processes? Sunita Dubey traces this to its many origins in colonialism, the role of the state, international treaties, and a strong nexus between industry and government.
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Oct 18 2006
WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY
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Making menopause easier
As the world marks World Menopause Day on 18 October, millions of Indian women over 45 are finding it difficult to smile through it - thanks to the lack of information and misunderstanding among them about this rather rough phase of life. Neeta Lal reports on the Delhi-based Indian Menopause Society.
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Oct 17 2006
OPINION/WOMEN
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A suggestion for Munnabhai
As Munnabhai has already tackled the callousness of our health system, and the greed of real estate sharks, how about tackling the one Indian tradition that refuses to die — that of dowry? I could imagine that such a film could work very well, says Kalpana Sharma.
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Oct 16 2006
RELIEF/VIDARBHA CRISIS
Sermons for the distressed souls
RELIEF/VIDARBHA CRISIS : Sermons for the distressed souls

In response to the mass farmer suicides in Vidarbha, the state government is organising spiritual and counselling sessions, even as there are no signs that the economic roots of the crisis are being tackled. Jaideep Hardikar reports.
Oct 14 2006
URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
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A gigantic investment deficit
We have grossly under-estimated the true cost of urban infrastructure in our country. 20-odd committees have considered this over several decades, and so have the Planning Commission and several Finance Commissions. But we don't really have a legitimate figure for our urban infrastructure needs, says Ramesh Ramanathan.
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Oct 13 2006
LENS ON EDUCATION
Not by mainstream schools alone
LENS ON EDUCATION : Not by mainstream schools alone
Do alternative schools work? After all, every child has to ultimately face a society that puts a premium on competitiveness and commodification. Or are alternatives only an option for children of parents from a certain class of society? Deepa A finds out.
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Oct 12 2006
MANDATORY TESTING
Playing politics with AIDS
MANDATORY TESTING : Playing politics with AIDS
The Goan government wants to make HIV testing mandatory for marrying couples. But mandatory testing will drive some people, who are already sceptical about the health care system, further away from it. It is also unlikely to cause the changes in behaviour necessary to prevent the spread of HIV, writes Neerja Vaidya-Yadav.
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Oct 11 2006
WOMEN
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Morning-after pills seized in Chennai
In what was seen as a major step forward for the reproductive rights of women, emergency contraceptives became available over the counter from September 2005. But last month, the Tamilnadu government's drug controller seized stocks from Chennai's pharmacies responding to protests. Krithika Ramalingam reports.
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Oct 10 2006
PUBLIC HEALTH
Universal care - still miles to go
PUBLIC HEALTH : Universal care - still miles to go
Public expenditure on health care today is a dismal 0.9% of GDP; the overwhelming majority of health costs are paid by patients out of pocket. For many, even minor illnesses can cause big financial setbacks, and hospitalisation is out of the question. As a result, the promise of the Bhore Committee's vision is in shambles, writes Arati Rao.
Oct 09 2006
PESTICIDE RESIDUES
Fiery debate back, but standards scuttled
PESTICIDE RESIDUES : Fiery debate back, but standards scuttled
Once again, a study by the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment found alarming levels of pesticide residues in soft drinks and stirred up a public debate. However, the larger issue of how pesticides have invaded the ground water and gotten into the food chain must not be missed, notes Ramesh Menon.
Oct 07 2006
OPINION/AGRICULTURE
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Has the Bt cotton bubble burst?
Cotton farmers around the country are following Andhra Pradesh's lead in skipping both pesticides and Bt seeds. And there are no pests. Why? There are 28 predators of the American bollworm, cotton's main enemy. If you stop spraying pesticides, these beneficial insects devour the bollworm, notes Devinder Sharma.
Oct 06 2006
STATUS OF EDUCATION
ASER shows measurement matters
STATUS OF EDUCATION : ASER shows measurement matters
The government is moving in the direction of greater focus and emphasis on the improving learning levels of school children. There are debates on how this is to be done, strategies to be used, and the measurements to be used. Last year's annual survey of education was an important in put to this process, writes Rukmini Banerjee.
Oct 05 2006
EDUCATION
Textbooks for change
EDUCATION : Textbooks for change

A number of new NCERT textbooks for class I to class XII have been designed to encourage children to question social prejudices, discrimination and inequalities. This is a conscious reversal of the earlier trend where textbooks reinforced prevailing stereotypes, notes Deepti Priya Mehrotra.

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Oct 04 2006
WASTE MANAGEMENT/OPINION
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Burning biomass is not green - II
Keeping in mind the characteristics of Indian municipal solid waste, a Supreme Court committee had recommended composting and recycling. Still, in our cities and towns, on an average, only 60 per cent of solid wastes are even collected. Gopal Krishna on what is holding better waste management back.
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Oct 03 2006
KERALA: BAN ON COLAS
Soft-pedalling the cola ban
KERALA: BAN ON COLAS : Soft-pedalling the cola ban
While the LDF government was quick to ban colas in Kerala, it mounted only a mild defense when this was challenged in court by the manufacturers of the drinks. Ignoring evidence of groundwater depletion and contamination, it argued only that the drinks were unsafe for consumption. M Suchitra and P N Venugopal report.
Oct 02 2006
PUBLIC FUNDS
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Drains that dewater the state exchequer
Monies allocated for rehabilitation of persons affected by the Narmada dams have traveled a different path than to the people. A recent audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General has confirmed significant corruption in rehabilitation works in Madhya Pradesh and a culture of impunity amongst state officials, finds Himanshu Upadhyaya.
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Sep 30 2006
HEALTH
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'Yours or mine, either is fine'
In India, paid sex fuels the spread of HIV, its skewed power equation making it impossible for women to negotiate their own safety. Women in sex work in Mumbai now have an additional means to protect themselves – the female condom. Sumita Thapar and Akhila Sivadas report.
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Sep 29 2006
THE POLAVARAM PROJECT
Less than half a voice
THE POLAVARAM PROJECT : Less than half a voice
Among those whose livelihoods will be displaced by the Indira Sagar dam, women far outnumber men. But there is virtually no voice representing women's views, whether for or against the project, in all the talk of displacement here. Instead, nearly all their choices are handed down to them. R Uma Maheshwari reports.
Sep 28 2006
ECONOMY
Tender coconuts break into corporate offices
ECONOMY : Tender coconuts break into corporate offices
It's 'ready to serve' and like a soft drink bottle or tetra pack, you can take it inside any office, drink and then dispose. Sold with the brand name Tender Fresh, 1500 – 2000 tender coconuts every day are reaching a clientele that reads like the who's who of Bangalore's software companies. Shree Padre reports.
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