Articles
Nov 19 2013
RURAL GREENING
Women lead the way in eco-conservation
RURAL GREENING : Women lead the way in eco-conservation

Women in the Sunderbans region of West Bengal are setting a trend in climate change mitigation through projects under the "Common Property Resource" initiative, and carving new frontiers in livelihood security in the process. Ajitha Menon reports.

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Nov 19 2013
POLITICS AND SECURITY
The relevance of Vanzara's letter
POLITICS AND SECURITY : The relevance of Vanzara's letter
In his resignation, Vanzara gave no indication that obeying illegal orders bothered him. Instead, his lament is that he was used and thrown. In right-shifting India, it may next be the military's turn if the shift from Gandhinagar takes place, writes Firdaus Ahmed.
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Nov 19 2013
NOBEL DEBATE
Should there be a Nobel for economists?
NOBEL DEBATE : Should there be a Nobel for economists?
Winner of the 2013 Economics Nobel, Robert J Shiller adds the latest perspective to a long-standing, heated debate on whether Economics can be called a science at all, and if it merits the prestigious award. Shankar Jaganathan recounts the many points of view on the subject.
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Nov 19 2013
GENE CAMPAIGN CHARTER
What could make our farmers more prosperous?
GENE CAMPAIGN CHARTER : What could make our farmers more prosperous?
Despite India's reliance on the agrarian sector, a serious farming and food crisis persists due to lack of government action and policy indifference. On its 20th anniversary, Gene Campaign releases a Charter of Demands to form the basis of an advocacy programme for bountiful farming, prosperous farmers and healthy food.
Nov 18 2013
TRIBAL REALITIES
Helping Pardhi children aim for the sun
TRIBAL REALITIES : Helping Pardhi children aim for the sun
While state atrocities against Pardhi communities show few signs of abatement, a small school in Mahadev Basti in Usmanabad, Maharashtra brings a ray of hope. Shirish Khare reports.
Nov 18 2013
UID DEBATE
"Compelling citizens to take an Aadhaar card is unconstitutional"
UID DEBATE : "Compelling citizens to take an Aadhaar card is unconstitutional"

In December 2012, retired Justice K S Puttaswamy filed a PIL that recently culminated in the Supreme Court passing an interim order, forbidding authorities to make Aadhaar mandatory for provision of essential services. Bosky Khanna finds out what his key objections to this ambitious project are.

Nov 18 2013
TRADE OR HUNGER
US-EU spanner in the works of India's food security programme
TRADE OR HUNGER : US-EU spanner in the works of India's food security programme
India's food security bill is on top of the negotiating agenda for the forthcoming WTO Conference at Bali. Devinder Sharma explains why the likely compromise in the face of posturing from developed countries could have serious ramifications for food security and self-sufficiency.
Nov 15 2013
DISASTER AFTERMATH
For distraught Phailin survivors, life is little consolation
DISASTER AFTERMATH : For distraught Phailin survivors, life is little consolation

Their shelters and livelihoods ravaged by the deadly recent cyclone, many women along Odisha's coastline are are so bereft of any hope for the future that they feel it would have been better to be among the dead. Sarada Lahangir meets some of them.

Nov 14 2013
CASH CROPS
A new fast-yielding jackfruit
CASH CROPS : A new fast-yielding jackfruit
Jackfruit from the farm of Maharashtra's Prakash Sawanth yielded fruit in a record two years, an unheard of agricultural phenomenon in the country. Shrikrishna D reports on the many specialities of the new variety.
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Nov 14 2013
ANTI-ADDICTION CAMPAIGN
Lone crusader warns school-goers against substance abuse
ANTI-ADDICTION CAMPAIGN : Lone crusader warns school-goers against substance abuse

Moved by a personal tragedy, young Bengali engineer-turned-actor Bobby Chakraborty has launched a singular campaign to educate schoolchildren about the impact of alcohol and other addiction and deter them from the path. Shoma A Chatterji brings us his story.

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Nov 06 2013
LIVELIHOODS
Char dwellers turn to sugarcane, but will it be enough?
LIVELIHOODS : Char dwellers turn to sugarcane, but will it be enough?

A number of families residing in the char areas of Assam have apparently staved off misfortune by taking up sugarcane cultivation, but it may require more than just that to stem the trend of migration and improve living conditions in the region. Ratna Bharali Talukdar reports.

Nov 04 2013
NREGS IN U.P.
Nothing to audit
NREGS IN U.P. : Nothing to audit
Inadequate training, shortfall in personnel, weak monitoring systems and unconvincing responses from the government to the CAG.s objections regarding the same reveal the flaws in implementation of the NREGS scheme in Uttar Pradesh. Himanshu Upadhyaya reports.
Nov 03 2013
POKKALI FARMING
Farmers take the long-term view, with long stalk rice
POKKALI FARMING : Farmers take the long-term view, with long stalk rice
A group of committed individuals in Alappuzha, Kerala are battling odds to revive cultivation of the unique Pokkali variety of paddy that had given way to the more lucrative business of shrimp farming. P N Venugopal reports.
Oct 30 2013
CCI VS ENVIRONMENT
Is CCI a bypass lane for the laws?
CCI VS ENVIRONMENT : Is CCI a bypass lane for the laws?
The Cabinet Commitee on Investment, set up with the express aim of expediting projects considered critical to economic growth, has passed several orders overturning regulatory mandates instituted earlier. Kanchi Kohli on where that leaves the environmental laws of the land.
Oct 30 2013
RURAL EXPLOITATION
Cutting sugar: The bitter reality
RURAL EXPLOITATION : Cutting sugar: The bitter reality
Thousands of landless villagers in Maharashtra's Marathwada region are forced to take up sugarcane harvesting for lack of better livelihood alternatives. Shirish Khare visits the region and uncovers the rampant exploitation and hardships for workers that these contracts entail.
Oct 29 2013
TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY
Have you overstepped the Sustainable Consumption Line?
TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY : Have you overstepped the Sustainable Consumption Line?
Humanity has collectively crossed the limits necessary for ecological sustainability. Ashish Kothari argues for a sustainable consumption line that would ensure individuals and communities do not partake of resources in a way that deprives others or endangers the environment further.
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Oct 29 2013
REMEMBRANCE
The Indian feminist who took on Oxford
REMEMBRANCE : The Indian feminist who took on Oxford
At a time when the position of women in India and their struggles in society are at the centre of public attention, it seems apt to invoke the legacy of one who was truly the pioneer of women's studies and activism in the country. Shoma A Chatterji pays tribute to Vina Mazumdar.
Oct 29 2013
DAMS AND ECOLOGY
Hydropower: Will new committee break new ground?
DAMS AND ECOLOGY : Hydropower: Will new committee break new ground?

An expert committee set up by the MoEF to study the impact of hydropower projects in the Alaknanda-Bhagirathi basin raises hope, but can it break the mould of the past to bring about the measures so critically needed? Shripad Dharmadhikary explores.

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Oct 25 2013
SUICIDE RATES
Why are so many elderly men killing themselves?
SUICIDE RATES : Why are so many elderly men killing themselves?

While any act of self-killing is tragic and worthy of attention, one cannot help wonder why the proportion of male suicides in the country steadily rises with age. Take a look at the stark and sustained picture revealed by the data published by the NCRB.

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Oct 24 2013
URBANISATION
Building towns to save our cities
URBANISATION : Building towns to save our cities
Some of the most populous cities in the country are the ones that suffer most from liveability issues due to crumbling infrastructure, congestion, pollution and associated problems. Sujaya Rathi, Anantha Lakshmi discuss a potential solution.
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