Articles
Apr 16 2012
PUBLIC SPACES
Re-imagining public spaces
PUBLIC SPACES : Re-imagining public spaces
An innovative new approach to Mumbai's open spaces is an extensive mapping survey. The same approach can be used in other cities too. Darryl D'Monte reports.
Apr 14 2012
GOVT REPORTS
Nothing secret about Panel reports
GOVT REPORTS : Nothing secret about Panel reports
Central Information Commission asks MoEF to make an environment expert panel's report public, outlining arguments that could be used for disclosure of many other documents. Krishnaraj Rao writes.
Apr 07 2012
RTI RULES
Maharashtra secretly amends RTI Rules
RTI RULES : Maharashtra secretly amends RTI Rules

The State has quietly pushed through a set of changes to the way it treats RTI applications. Activists discovered it quite accidentally, and are shocked. Krishnaraj Rao writes.

1
Apr 05 2012
CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS
Uncivil war in South Block
CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS : Uncivil war in South Block
Perceiving itself as outside the policy making tent, the military tends to dig in on its views. The solution is to remove the distinction between the uniform and the safari suits, writes Firdaus Ahmed.
Apr 04 2012
AADHAAR
UID and the not-so-civil society
AADHAAR : UID and the not-so-civil society

The UIDAI has repeatedly emphasized its pro-poor mission, but it is unlikely to succeed without help from NGOs who work with the poor. For this, senior civil society leaders must endorse the project, writes Raju Rajagopal.

2
Mar 31 2012
COAL BLOCKS
Mera Bharat aur Mahan
COAL BLOCKS : Mera Bharat aur Mahan
The CAG recently suggested that there may be huge losses to the government from improper allocations of coal bocks to companies. All eyes are now on the next set of allocations to be made. Kanchi Kohli reports.
2
Mar 28 2012
MOBILITY PLANNING
Making CMPs more useful
MOBILITY PLANNING : Making CMPs more useful
Making Comprehensive Mobility Plans mandatory for cities has been beneficial, but a lot more is needed to ensure they are effective in achieving the goals of national transport policy, writes Madhav Pai.
Mar 22 2012
GLACIER MELT
Are Himalayan glaciers not melting?
GLACIER MELT : Are Himalayan glaciers not melting?
A new study stirs up an old debate - whether the melting of the Himalayan glaciers is only evident at lower reaches, and the higher altitudes are in fact adding snow. Darryl D'Monte reports.
Mar 19 2012
SC ORDERS
Grand distraction called river-linking
SC ORDERS : Grand distraction called river-linking
The idea of interlinking rivers is appealing because it is so grand. But this is also the reason it is nothing more than a distraction from the business at hand, writes Sunita Narain.
Mar 11 2012
GREEN TRIBUNAL
Do verdicts matter?
GREEN TRIBUNAL : Do verdicts matter?
Despite the number of times a court, tribunal or the Ministry has acted to stop construction of OPG's power plant in Bhadreswar, the project goes on uninterrupted. Kanchi Kohli reports.
Mar 09 2012
HYDEL IN SIKKIM
Tunnels in the hills
HYDEL IN SIKKIM : Tunnels in the hills
The construction of dam-related tunnels in the hills of Sikkim has led to questions about their potential impact on the fragile ecology of the region. Ratna Bharali Talukdar reports.
Mar 08 2012
BENEFIT SCHEMES
A permanent poverty
BENEFIT SCHEMES : A permanent poverty
Are the numerous benefit schemes really helping anyone get out of poverty, or are they merely petty politics that victimises the poor, asks R Balasubramaniam.
2
Feb 26 2012
OBITUARY
Imprinting the women's view
OBITUARY : Imprinting the women's view
Maitreyee Chatterjee was a woman of great grit, and a crusader for the rights of women long before such efforts gained attention or recognition. Shoma Chatterji notes her passing.
Feb 24 2012
TITLETOP
#
Small farms, big worries
Small rain-fed farms are crucial to agriculture turning around. Will India tackle this structural problem? Jaideep Hardikar has more.
Feb 22 2012
URBANISATION
Is Mumbai growing anymore?
URBANISATION : Is Mumbai growing anymore?
Contrary to popular imagination, there are not that many migrants coming to Mumbai in search of jobs anymore. Planners and politicians need to introspect on why, writes Darryl D'Monte.
1
Feb 21 2012
DRUG-RESISTANCE
TB: Dangerous comeback
DRUG-RESISTANCE : TB: Dangerous comeback
It is frightening to think of how the new drug resistant strain of tuberculosis is going to spread in crowded, unhygienic, urban India. Doctors are worried. Ramesh Menon reports.
2
Feb 20 2012
CHILD RIGHTS
Bangalore NGO among Nobel nominees
CHILD RIGHTS : Bangalore NGO among Nobel nominees
For its work on child rights and participation in governance, Bangalore-based Concerned for Working children has received the big nomination this year. Navya P K has more.
Feb 19 2012
CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS
An age-old lesson
CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS : An age-old lesson
The recent fracas was not merely the personal case of an officer exercising his right to grievance redress. It must be seen as a crisis in civil-military relations, writes Firdaus Ahmed.
1
Feb 19 2012
WATER POLICY
Pushing to privatise
WATER POLICY : Pushing to privatise
A noteworthy shift in the new Draft Water Policy is the clear preference of the Government to privatise the water sector. This goes against all the evidence so far, writes Shripad Dharmadhikary.
3
Feb 13 2012
FOREST RIGHTS ACT
Rights Act, not working right
FOREST RIGHTS ACT : Rights Act, not working right
There is wide-spread failure in safeguarding the rights of forest communities protected under the Forest Rights Act. State and Central Governments are complicit in diluting it. Tushar Dash reports.