Articles
Jun 01 2008
OPINION
#
Watching the watchdog
The press is expected to play a vanguard role in making the legislature and the executive accountable. But is there a mechanism by which we can correct the errors, biases, and malpractices of newspapers and television channels, asks Ramachandra Guha.
9
May 31 2008
OPINION
They lock on to the NREGA
OPINION : They lock on to the NREGA
The complaints are many and often justified. People are sometimes exasperated by the way the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme works. But there is unanimity on its worth and value, writes P Sainath.
20
May 31 2008
FISHERWOMEN OF MUNDRA
Women warriors of the sea
FISHERWOMEN OF MUNDRA : Women warriors of the sea
Struggling to preserve their livelihood in the face of the rapid expansion of the Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone in Gujarat, the women and men of nearby fishing villages are trying hard to come to terms with a changing world. Geeta Seshu has more.
May 30 2008
WATER USE IN LARGE PROJECTS
#
High growth: In deep waters
Resistance to large projects is founded on many fears and objections. Key among them is loss of access to water. Without proper consideration of the water impacts of development plans, public acceptance of these projects will remain elusive, writes Shripad Dharmadhikary.
2
May 30 2008
TRIPURA: TROUBLED PINEAPPLE GROWERS
Too much fruit, too little bounty
TRIPURA: TROUBLED PINEAPPLE GROWERS : Too much fruit, too little bounty
As the heaps of pineappples grow bigger, prices will go down drastically from Rs.5 to Rs.2 and finally to 50 paise per pineapple, says Priyalal Sharma, a Tripura grower, who has also started rubber plantation in some portion of his land. Ratna Bharali Talukdar reports.
1
May 28 2008
ICTs
Lessons from good telecentres
ICTs : Lessons from good telecentres
While successful efforts are sadly rare, a few telecentre initiatives have done good work in bridging the digital divide and have positively impacted disadvantaged communities, writes Vivek Vaidyanathan.
1
May 26 2008
MINING
Vedanta - the suspense continues
MINING : Vedanta - the suspense continues
The Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court's forest bench has put forward recommendations on how the court's order on Vedanta Alumina's plans for mining in Orissa should proceed. Kanchi Kohli reports on a continuing tale of intrigue, as the locals get one more breather.
1
May 26 2008
VIDARBHA DISTRESS
'Relief' irrigation increasing worries for farmers
VIDARBHA DISTRESS : 'Relief' irrigation increasing worries for farmers

Land acquisition from Vidarbha farmers for irrigation projects is become a case of cure worse than the disease. The new projects are being commissioned over the prime minister's relief package. Jaideep Hardikar digs deeper.
May 24 2008
OPINION
#
The nation and the nation-state
In India, as in no other large country in the world, the nation still has the potential to reign in the hegemony of the nation-state. If this happens, some of the worst forms of violence will be curtailed, writes Rajesh Kasturirangan.
1
May 22 2008
ILLEGAL CENSORSHIP
Whose films are these, anyway?
ILLEGAL CENSORSHIP : Whose films are these, anyway?
West Bengal officials recently called off screenings of various films scheduled to be shown at Kolkata's premiere culture centre, apparently displeased over one of the entries at the film festival. Shoma Chatterji reports on the government's censorship, and the outcry following it.
2
May 21 2008
STUDENT SUICIDES
#
Pushed over the edge
A spate of suicides by students in Lucknow has parents and school administrators equally worried. Puja Awasthi reports on the reasons behind this alarming trend.
5
May 21 2008
AGRICULTURE IN MADHYA PRADESH
From prosperity to a struggle for dignity
AGRICULTURE IN MADHYA PRADESH : From prosperity to a struggle for dignity
A severe drought and acute water and electricity shortage is ending self-sufficient agri-livelihoods in the six districts of Madhya Pradesh's Bundelkhand region. Sachin Kumar Jain and Sumika Rajput ring the warning bells.
2
May 20 2008
OPINION
#
Of loan waivers and tax waivers
An overwhelming majority of Vidharbha's farmers do not gain from the farm loan waiver because they are too 'big.' But the IPL waiver goes to some of India's richest millionaires and billionaires. They aren't too big, writes P Sainath.
1
May 19 2008
PRS LEGISLATIVE BRIEF
New rules for seizing land
PRS LEGISLATIVE BRIEF : New rules for seizing land
Land acquisitions have raised a number of concerns related to fair compensation, valuation of land, definition of 'public purpose' and other issues. As the government moves to amend the Land Acquisition Act, Priya Parker and Sarita Vanka present a legislative brief on the proposed changes.
15
May 19 2008
ENVIRONMENT/BOOK REVIEW
#
Letting Coke off the hook
A new book by authors based at the Thiruvananthapuram-based Centre for Development Studies (CDS) attempts to make the case that the rain-gods, farmers and public institutions were the culprits for Plachimada's water scarcity, and not the beverage major Coca Cola. P N Venugopal analyses the findings.
May 14 2008
AGRICULTURE/WATER
One-man-army greens barren land
AGRICULTURE/WATER : One-man-army greens barren land
This 58-year-old illiterate farm labourer has developed irrigated farming at a hilltop in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. His hard work, vision and never-say-die attitude have turned the land around and he now advises visiting farmers. Shree Padre reports.
18
May 12 2008
CARBON EMISSIONS
#
Furore over EU carbon tax plans
The European Union is determined that even as it makes plans to reduce its own carbon emissions, it must act to curb the polluting actions of other countries too. Developing countries, however, see this as an indirect trade restriction, devoid of justice. Darryl D'Monte reports.
May 10 2008
RELIEF PACKAGE AUDIT
CAG report slams Vidarbha waiver package
RELIEF PACKAGE AUDIT : CAG report slams Vidarbha waiver package

The Comptroller and Auditor General's audit of relief packages for Vidarbha's farmers finds that they were tardy in implementation, mindless in conceptualisation and "inconsistent with local needs." The state government has skirted debate. Jaideep Hardikar on the indictment.
May 10 2008
HEALTH
This monsoon, Assam takes on malaria
HEALTH : This monsoon, Assam takes on malaria
The heavy rains of the south-west monsoon are a few weeks away and malaria usually follows, in Assam. The state has 20 per cent of malaria deaths in India, but this time, doctors say they have taken substantive measures. Ratna Bharali Talukdar reports.
May 10 2008
JOURNALISM
Women join hands for a better media
JOURNALISM : Women join hands for a better media
In an increasingly market-driven media climate, a network that nurtures value-driven journalism among women has proved to be a lifeline for professionals who believe that there's more to the media than news brands. Charumathi Supraja reports.