World migration report 2024
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched the World Migration Report 2024, which reveals significant shifts in global migration patterns, including a record number of displaced people
People
-
Rehab recipe
<font face=arial size=3 color=#CE181E><b>•</b></font> Free houses for displaced people at the rate of 125 sq metres in rural areas, and 63 sq metres in urban areas<br>
-
China reports human bird flu death
A man from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China has died of bird flu, the Health Ministry said Thursday. The ministry said on its website that a 41-year-old man surnamed Liang fell sick on Feb 12 and was hospitalized two days later.
-
Bihar announces gender budget'; agri sector gets maximum allocation
Adding to its list of firsts, the Bihar Government has called this year's budget a "gender budget'. The budget has been planned in a way to focus on schemes launched exclusively for the welfare of women, said Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, after presenting the state's budget on Monday. Since coming to power over two years ago, the Nitish Kumar Government has been focusing on women empowerment, and gender budget is being seen as yet another step in that direction. Bihar is the first state in the country to institute 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayat bodies. Other populist schemes like providing school uniforms and cycles to girl students and monetary help for marriage of girls from poor families have already been started. The highlight of the state budget this year, however, was the focus on the agriculture sector. Allocation for the sector was increased from Rs 133.45 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 191.34 crore in 2008-09, a raise of 43 per cent. The increased allocation is a reflection of the state's realisation that agriculture is the backbone of its economy. Another interesting aspect of the budget was an allocation of Rs 11 crore for more yoga training camps at district and sub-division-level hospitals of the state Government. Modi said that for six months, yoga training camps would be held at 27 district and 22 sub-divisional hospitals in the state. The state's budget, presented in the Assembly on Monday, was pegged at Rs 38,574 crore
-
Govt doubles Ladli scheme amount
The state cabinet on Monday revised the starting amount for the Ladli scheme to Rs 10,000 from the existing 5,000 at the birth of a girl child in a family with an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh. While the move is obviously aimed at wooing Congress's traditional votebank in the slum clusters and unauthorised colonies, the irony is that the rules of the scheme, which is supposed to be effective from January 1, 2008, are yet to be notified three months after the cabinet had given its initial nod to the project. Under the present form of the scheme, every eligible girl child is entitled to Rs 10,000 at the time of birth and then onwards, Rs 5,000 each at the time of admission to classes I, VI, IX, X and XII. The money will be kept as a long term fixed deposit in the name of the child who can encash it when she turns 18 and the money she will thus get in hand will be Rs 1 lakh. Chief minister Sheila Dikshit, after the cabinet meeting said:
-
Highlights: Cash surplus at record high
The Minister for Railways, Mr Lalu Prasad, flanked by the Ministers of State, Mr Naranbhai Rathwa (left), and Mr R.Velu, arriving to present the Rail Budget on Tuesday. Review of Performance: 2007-08
-
Maya announces one lakh jobs for Valmikis
A day after Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram presented a populist Budget and announced Rs 60,000 crore loan waiver package for small and marginal farmers, UP Chief Minister Mayawati announced the
-
Gogoi presents Rs 2,819-cr deficit Budget
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is also holding the Finance portfolio, today placed before the State Assembly a deficit Budget of Rs 2,819.23 crore.
-
SC to take final decision on Narmada rehabilitation
The Supreme Court on Monday lost hope of settling the vexed issue of rehabilitation of Narmada project affected families (PAFs) by thrashing out the differences between the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA
-
SHGs fight over mid-day meal order
MIDNAPORE: The midday meal programme in Murari SC High School in Belpahari block in Midnapore West had to be closed by the school authorities indefinitely a day after it was introduced following an or
-
Cold Comfort (Editorial)
Minister recommends packaged food as mid-day meal in schools