Articles
Nov 10 2008
PUBLIC POLICY
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Water sector reforms: Time for a new model
It is important to remove the distortions from the political process, rather than attempt to remove politics itself from decisions in the water sector. The World Bank's model has failed, and it is time to heed other voices, writes Shripad Dharmadhikary.
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Nov 09 2008
PUBLIC AUDIT
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CAG conference: Caged tiger, much ado
From wanting CBI-like and CIC-like powers to not being able to push Ministries to learning lessons and more, India's top auditor has time and again rung the bells. Who is listening? Himanshu Upadhyaya on a recent conference.
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Nov 09 2008
CURRICULA POLITICS
Kerala revises controversial school textbook
CURRICULA POLITICS : Kerala revises controversial school textbook
The K N Panikkar committee recommended a change in a controversial chapter of a social sciences textbook that triggered violent agitation on the grounds that it promoted atheism and communism. P N Venugopal has more.
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Nov 08 2008
UNIVERSITIES
Higher education: The underbelly of privatisation
UNIVERSITIES : Higher education: The underbelly of privatisation
Too many new self-financing private institutions present a dismal face, offering poor quality at high cost to millions of students, but going scot-free as the bureaucracy looks away and politicians cash in. Kannan Kasturi reports.
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Nov 04 2008
OPEN DEFECATION
In Kurukshetra, a new victory
OPEN DEFECATION : In Kurukshetra, a new victory
The villages of Khanpur Kholiya, Masana and Sawla in Haryana have received the central government's Nirmal Gram Puruskar for ensuring that no one, not even a child, defecates in the open. Darryl D'Monte reports.
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Nov 04 2008
PROTECTING WILDLIFE
Winning the battle against poaching
PROTECTING WILDLIFE : Winning the battle against poaching
India’s forest staff operate in appalling conditions: open toed footwear, lack of simple facilities like torches, jeeps, wireless sets or guns. How is the fight against poaching to be won? Malini Shankar has more.
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Oct 31 2008
ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Lessons up the hill
ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS : Lessons up the hill
An empowered committee of the Supreme Court calls for the blacklisting a construction firm in Himachal Pradesh, after noting that state officials probably connived with the developer in violating conservation and development laws. Kanchi Kohli reports.
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Oct 31 2008
INTERVIEW: AUTHOR C K MEENA
"Just let a woman be"
INTERVIEW: AUTHOR C K MEENA : "Just let a woman be"
Journalist, teacher and author of Black Lentil Doughnuts and Dreams for the Dying, C K Meena decimates stereotypes in her writing. A free-wheeling conversation with Charumathi Supraja.
Oct 30 2008
RECLAIMING GOVERNMENT
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For the people, by the government?
These are unusual times - when even the most capitalist and free market proponents of the world see an important role for governments. But it is not a time to to look at government challenges through ideological prisms alone, writes C V Madhukar.
Oct 27 2008
AUTO DEALER GOES ECO
Softening hard water with rain
AUTO DEALER GOES ECO : Softening hard water with rain
Rainwater harvesting need not be limited to household purposes. It can be successfully implemented to solve water problems in commercial establishments too, as demonstrated by an automobile dealer agency in Mangalore. Shree Padre has more.
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Oct 27 2008
RULING ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT
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Breaking the silence
A recent ruling by the Bombay High Court on a case of sexual harassment against a private sector company offers encouragement for women are afraid to talk about the problem. Kalpana Sharma has more.
Oct 26 2008
GEO-POLITICS
Military cooperation with the US: A mixed bag
GEO-POLITICS : Military cooperation with the US: A mixed bag

A future government that is without the check of a strong opposition could strike out on a course that is markedly divergent from India's past record of abstinence from geo-political conflicts, writes Firdaus Ahmed.

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Oct 23 2008
VIOLENCE IN NANDIGRAM
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Children in the crossfire
A CRY report from Nandigram finds that children's experience of the violence there is intensely personal. Their vocabulary now includes words like shilpo, santrash and proshashon. Shoma Chatterji reports.
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Oct 22 2008
TIGER CONSERVATION
Consent under duress
TIGER CONSERVATION : Consent under duress

Consent for relocation given by Jamni village in the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra was obtained under duress. Villagers protest against the manner in which the gram sabha had proceeded. Aparna Pallavi investigates.
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Oct 19 2008
CITYSCAPES
Mumbai's eye in the sky
CITYSCAPES : Mumbai's eye in the sky
The ruling son-of-the-soil party in the city council is putting the finishing touches to a plan to erect a huge Ferris wheel-like structure at Land's End. Whether any real Mumbaikars want this, or can afford it, is very doubtful, says Darryl D'Monte.
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Oct 19 2008
FORESTS AND CONFLICT
Tribals, forest interdependence, and integration
FORESTS AND CONFLICT : Tribals, forest interdependence, and integration
Defining a clear land-use policy, integrating indigenous people along with their skills, encouraging mutual exchange between tribals and the outside world can help make the process of change easier for the indigenous folk. Malini Shankar digs deeper.
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Oct 16 2008
TERRORISM
Despair and defensiveness in Azamgarh
TERRORISM : Despair and defensiveness in Azamgarh
The bomb blasts in Delhi and elsewhere have brought this UP district uncomfortably into the national spotlight. The 'terrorist' label is widely resented, but that doesn't mean residents have answers to all the new questions. Puja Awasthi reports.
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Oct 16 2008
BOOK REVIEW: SMOKE AND MIRRORS
An argumentative Indian look at China
BOOK REVIEW: SMOKE AND MIRRORS : An argumentative Indian look at China
Pallavi Aiyar's five years in China have produced a good read for those who are intrigued by the enigma of China. Why, for instance, does its authoritarian government enjoy so much legitimacy? Kannan Kasturi reviews Smoke and Mirrors.
Oct 15 2008
POLITICS
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The Hindu Jinnah?
L K Advani's Somnath to Ayodhya yatra in September 1990 promoted discord among different groups just as Jinnah's Direct Action Day in August 1946, which fomented violence between Hindus and Muslims. Yet, comparing Advani to Jinnah may be unfair to the latter, says Ramachandra Guha.
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Oct 15 2008
A NEW 'DOMINANT' CASTE?
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Praja Rajyam: Caste-ing a political net
Actor Chiranjeevi's entry into politics is seen primarily through a caste lens. But what are his party's chances, given the arithmetic and the socio-economic realities of Andhra Pradesh? Veeraiah Konduri takes a look.
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