Global megatrends such as income inequality, climate change, demographic shifts, technological progress, and urbanisation are shaping the future of societies. Yet, their quantitative impacts on development
With an aim to ensure survival, health and nutrition as an inalienable right of every child and special care for kids caught in sectarian violence, the government is all set to clear National Policy for Children 2012, which is high on the agenda of the Union Cabinet that will meet on Thursday. Sources in the government confirmed that a proposal on the issue from the ministry of women and child development (WSD) is likely to be taken up for consideration at the meeting of the Union Cabinet, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Rising demands of new middle class will be explosive in emerging nations, says new study India needs to put in place a smart policy to ensure energy efficiency as it urbanises and builds infrastructure rapidly, a top executive of global oil and gas firm Shell says. “A probably biggest social phenomenon of our age is urbanisation, and the way urban centres are structured have huge impact on energy efficiency,” Jeremy Bentham, VP, global business environment, at Royal Dutch Shell, told ET at the launch of Shell’s new study on the future of energy sector.
The numbers are increasing and so is the demand for water. For the city’s water utility, the Delhi Jal Board, this is barely good news. With little possibility of finding newer sources of water for the city’s growing demand, the Jal Board is being pressed to recycle and reuse. Three water recycling plants already adding about 30 MGD of water to the total available quantum, the Jal Board is stepping up efforts to utilise even the last drop. “Three recycling plants at Haiderpur, Wazirabad and Bagirathi water treatment plants are jointly contributing about 30 MGD to the system.
Feels State does not need second airport PANJIM: “Today every Goan is worth Rs one lakh crore, considering the fact that State approximately has two billion tones of iron ore reserves as quoted by Chief Minister,” said Rajendra Kakodkar, a anti mining activist, who has been voicing about the need of sharing the benefits of mining with the people of the state.
BHUBANESWAR: The state government is targeting to spend Rs 2,000 crore under the centrally-sponsored Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in 2013-14. About 5,000 km of roads has been planned to be constructed. As per the new plan, hamlets having more than 250 population in 18 identified Integrated Action Plan (IAP) districts in Odisha will be connected with PMGSY roads. Similarly, in non-IAP villages, villages having more than 500 population will be connected with permanent PMGSY roads.
SHILLONG: UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh has questioned the State Government for failing to take concrete measures to arrest the problem of urban congestion in the State. “Out of the total urban population in the State, 60 per cent of the population is concentrated in Shillong city. The increase in the population in Shillong is a result of huge floating population and also the large migration of people from the rural areas to the city,” Mawthoh said while moving a motion in the Assembly on Tuesday.
The Gurgaon administration on Monday requested the Punjab and Haryana High Court to allow installation of new tubewells for drinking and domestic purpose. An affidavit was filed on Monday by P C Meena, Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon during a hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) highlighting scarcity of drinking water in Gurgaon.
The Centre today formally released the contentious National Water Policy Document-2012 by presenting its first copy to President Pranab Mukherjee who inaugurated India Water Week with a call to make judicious use of the precious natural resource. “Efficient water management: Challenges and opportunities” is the theme of the five-day event. The President underlined the need to find ways to improve management of water resources in the face of increasing occurrence of droughts and floods. The available water must be managed judiciously to meet the twin burden of population growth and economic development, the President said. Water management should get the top priority, he added.
Dengue, the world’s most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease, is taking a far bigger human toll than was believed to be the case. As many as 390 million people across the globe could be falling victim to the virus each year, according to a multinational study published by Nature on Sunday. India emerges in the analysis as the country with the world’s highest dengue burden, with about 34 per cent of all such cases occurring here. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), incidence of dengue has shot up 30 fold in the past 50 years. Its estimate has been that globally there were 50-100 million dengue infections taking place annually.
Jammu and Kashmir is fast emerging as the smoking capital of North India. The monthly spending on tobacco products far outstrips the national average. National statistics say smokers aged 15 years and
