Rs 1.92-cr grant for rural housing
The Ministry of Rural Development has released Rs 192.3 lakh as the second installment under the Indira Awas Yojana for rural housing to Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal.
WB report stresses on reducing fiscal deficit
The government should reduce primary deficit at the Centre and in states by carrying out tax reforms, reducing power sector losses and phasing out petroleum subsidies, said former World Bank vice-president Mark Baird. Releasing the World Bank's economic report, "India: Sustaining reforms, reducing poverty,' at the Assocham-NCAER forum, Dr Baird …
Rs 100 cr spent on rural schemes every year
Himachal Pradesh Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Sat Mahajan yesterday stated that a total of Rs 100 crores wee spent in the state every year by the Central and the state govenments under different rural development programmes run in the state them.
HP to assess water needs in rural areas
With Himachal faced with perennial problem of drinking water shortage during the summers, the government has decided to conduct a state-wide survey to determine the requirement and supply status of drinking water in the rural areas.
Parliament nod for Freedom of Information Bill
Parliament approved the Freedom of Information Bill, conferring statutory right to the citizens to access information from the Government. The Rajya Sabha today passed the Bill through a voice vote after it negatived amendments suggested by the Congress member, Prithviraj Chavan. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill earlier this …
ADB okays Rs 1,800-crore to State
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today approved its first assistance of Rs 1,800 crore to support the 'Modernizing Govenremtn and Fiscal Reforms Programme' of the UDF Government.
4 states may get World Bank aid
The World Bank is likely to give structural adjustment loans to the Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Tamil Nadu governments. These states have received approvals from the Centre, which will stand guarantee for the loans, as required for World Bank funds. The money will be used to help improve the …
JPC flays health ministry`s move
All members of the joint parliamentary committee(JPC) on standards in beverages and bottled water raised objections over the health ministry's draft notification which has set stringent standards for fruit juices and cola drinks following controversy over pesticides residue in cola drinks.
U.N. says `ozone hole` hits record size
The ozone hole over the Antarctic this year has reached the record size of 10.8 million square miles set three years ago, the United Nations' weather organization said. Measurements over and near Antarctica show that ozone decreased more rapidly this year than in previous years and that the size of …
Festive slash in cola prices
A customer walks into a sweet shop in Bhowanipore, West Bengal and asks for a glass of lassi. "Why buy a lassi for Rs 10, when you can get a Pepsi or Coke for only Rs 7?' suggests the shop owner. But doesn't the price tag on the bottle read …
Half a freedom
We need politicians who recognise that the issues of the 21st century are healthcare, education and the environment and not ideology or mythology. We have had poltitical freedom - if it means anything to an illiterate, destitute populace - but economic totalitarianism. Fifty-six years after independence is a good time …
Monsoon story
A watershed programme frees an Andhra Pradesh village from its dependence on the rains. It was in 1998 that a consortium of institutes led by ICRISAT stepped in to initiate watershed management and change the fortunes of 15,000 people living here. The programme also integrated central and state-run programes such …
Cola godowns raided in City
Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) seized and destroyed over 50,000 bottles of cold drinks of expired dates by conducting raids at different godowns on Saturday.
8% growth to reduce poverty levels to less than 20%
Poverty levels in the country are expected to come down to less than 20% at the end of the 10th plan period. However this is subject to the country growing at projected 8% per annum, and more importantly, each state realising its individual growth targets.
WB workshop for Asian NGOs on Empowerment of the
"Learning Across Borders: Effective Partnerships for Empowering the Poor", the World Bank's capacity building program for Asian NGOs including NGOs from Japan, was held recently in Sri Lanka. During the workshop, the participants engaged with practitioners involved in participatory approaches for empowerment of the poor, learning from each others' experiences, …
Vast potential in Sri Lanka can create greater wealth
While pledging continued assistance towards Sri Lanka's peace, harmony and prosperity, the visiting Thai Prime Minister Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday stressed that there are many tiers of cooperation the two countries could engage in for the mutual benefits of both countries. Making a special address in Parliament, Dr. Shinawatra said …
10,000 houses for poor to be ready soon
The Union Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, H.N. Ananth Kumar said that his ministry would construct an additional 10,000 houses under the Valmiki Ambedkar Awaz Yojana in all taluks in the Karnataka State. Addressing presspersons after laying the foundation stone for houses for the poor, to be constructed …
