In this report, ESCAP explores the future of urbanization in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the dynamic shifts in the region’s urban landscape. It highlights the region’s demographic transformations, including population ageing, and the persistent challenges of urban poverty and inequality. The analysis covers urban areas of all sizes, …
This publication is the result of a joint effort by the FAO and the IFAD to address the linkage between water and rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. It takes stock of past experiences and demonstrates that there are many opportunities to invest in water in support of rural livelihoods. Its …
NAGPUR: A frail looking lady Kalawati Bandurkar from Vidharba, who was referred to by Rahul Gandhi, is facing a tough time as her Jalka village is faced by 12-hour power shortage. Kalawati is so poor that she cannot afford to get power connection in her house. Living in abject poverty, …
The government needs to learn from the hundreds of farmers who, right in the so-called suicide zones of Vidarbha, have initiated efforts for debt-free, low-cost, environment-friendly farming practices, says Bharat Dogra AS A suicide is a very deep, very sad human tragedy, public discussion of suicides is expected to be …
COMMERCE minister Kamal Nath has reiterated that flexibilities for developing countries in the Doha round of talks must be adequate and appropriate for addressing the sensitivities of individual members. There can be no caveats such as number and trade volume limitations as proposed by the US to the usage of …
For the past four years, Badrinath, a landless farmer of Nalai village, has been moving for pillar to post to get his name included in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list, but to no avail. With nine members of his family on the verge of starvation, he approached the authorities …
Rural poverty in Tamil Nadu is concentrated among those with marginal landholdings and dependent on rainfed agriculture. Dry land areas contribute about one half of India's production of coarse grain, cereals, pulses, oilseeds and cotton. Dryland agriculture is characterised by wide spatio-temporal variations in the productivity of crops due to …
Decentralization is broadly defined as transfer of power to the lower level of government (PRIs). It mainly takes three forms, namely political, administrative and fiscal. The legitimacy of the centralized system of governance is on a decline because of various factors including lower participation by people, lack of accountability, weak …
After anomalies in issue of job cards and payments to beneficiaries, it is now money spent on photographs taken for physical verification of works done under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) that is under the scanner in Uttar Pradesh. Reports received at the Department of Rural Development show …
Biofuels can boost incomes and yields for farmers, revitalising impoverished rural areas when they are introduced in countries with secure land ownership, the International Institute for Environment and Development said. By raising the price of crops such as corn and palm oil, biofuels can reduce poverty in countries with a …
KOLKATA : Poor crop productivity and low farm efficiency, owing to financial constraints and other reasons, is a major cause for low self-belief, and high prevalence of depression among the state's farmers. In a study conducted among farmers residing in Dumajoli village in Bhangar area of South 24-Parganas, it was …
Green revolution in India has bypassed the remote places like hills. Farmers who are struggling for survival under unfavorable conditions like hills need focus. In Uttarakhand, only 13.62 per cent is the net cultivated area. Agriculture in Uttarakhand is primarily confined to lower and mid hill regions and is basically …
A serialised initiative has been undertaken by District Poverty Initiative Programme (DPIP) for making employment available to rural youths. Under this scheme, serialised Job Fairs are being organised in the districts covered under DPIP. Large number of rural youths have secured employment through these Job Fairs. The Job Fairs organised …
Land alienation, poverty amongst scheduled tribes and dalits and lack of access to basic forest resources have contributed to the growth of naxalism, says the Planning Commission. Its report, Development challenges in extremist affected areas, indicts Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh. The report also critiques sezs and the complete failure of …
It is heartening to hear that the Government plans to extend the relief in the form of loan waiver to all the farmers in the country. But one may ask: Why farmers only? Why not other sections of society, some of whom are suffering as much or even more. If …
Suicide by over 17,000 farmers in 2006, the latest year for which systematic official data are available, is a huge national tragedy. In fact, the trends revealed by the National Crime Records Buresu (NCRB) on farmers' suicides are appalling. While there have been ups and downs in the annual figure, …
Over 5000 labourers owing allegiance to CPM Kalgachia and Titapani local committees staged a stir on May 15 last on the premises of Rupsoi development block, Kalgachia under Barpeta district protesting against alleged corruption and anomalies by the concerned officers and employees in accomplice with a section of brokers in …
The poverty of an entity is manifest in her deprivation not only in income but also in other dimensions such as health, nutrition and sanitation. Hence, a comprehensive measure of poverty must ideally take into account the performance of an individual across multiple dimensions. Vulnerability to poverty captures the likelihood …
