Governance And Institutions
Of the poor, by the poor, and for the poor
When Mohammed Younus of Bangladesh was given the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 1998, Kerala had something to cheer about. For Prabhakar Puthiyaveedu, a professor from Washington DC and a native of Kannur, has been implementing Younus's ideas in Kollengode, a backward hamlet in Palakkad …
State climbs in literacy rate
The Rajasthan State has achieved a spectacular increase in literacy rate since 1991 not only surpassing the national average but also achieved a total literacy of 55 per cent which it was expected to reach only in 2001.
Rising population pulls down literacy levels
The rising population of non-literates has posed a major challenge to the Human Resource development ministry with efforts mounted through the National Literacy Mission programme being nuetralised by growing population. According to official reports, the number of illiterates has increased from 300 million in 1951 to 328 million in 1991.Whereas, …
Malaysian co signs MoU for water treatment in Kerala
The public sector Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and Biwater Harthasuma Consortium, a contracting firm of the ARA Corporation of Kuala Lumper, have signed a memorandum of understanding for developing a Rs. 450-crore water treatment project at Kalamassery, the industrial hub near Kochi.
Quality of Indian village schools criticised
A new study of Indian states with high illiteracy rates found that most impoverished villagers want their children to be educated but are deeply discouraged by the poor quality of their local government schools, which lack the necessary teachers or educational materials for meaningful instruction. The Public Report on Basic …
Orissa to stop funding some NGOs
The Orissa Government has decided to stop funding some of the non-governmental organisations which were allegedly acting against the interest of the state and stalling major industrial projects. Perturbed over reports that some of the NGOs working in tribal areas of Korapur, Rayagada and other places had misguided villagers and …
World Bank praises Kerala for People's Plan
While the People's Plan is drawing criticism from the Opposition as well as the constituents of the ruling LDF, a World Bank team which visited Kerala recently found the achievements under the plan in the last two years remarkable.
Maneka liberalises rules for NGOs
To debureaucratise the social welfare sector, Union social justice and empowerment minister Maneka Gandhi has simplified procedures for easy access to state support for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working for those with physical and mental disabilities. "This is my New Year Gift to NGOs so that they can address the unmet …
Co-op banks to aid hydel projects in HP
The Himachal Pradesh State Co- operative Bank and Kangra Central Co-operative Bank would provide loans up to Rs. 250 crores for hydro power development in the State at an interest rate of less than one per cent of the prevalent interest rates, the Chief Minister, Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal, said …
Meghalaya literacy rate touches 62%
If the estimates of the 52nd round of the National Sample Survey, 1995-56, are to be believed, there is every reason for the people of Meghalaya to rejoice as its literacy rate now stands at a creditable 62 per cent. Accordign to the survey, the urban literacy rate was 64 …
Medha reiterates her resolve for 'jal samarpan'
Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar reiterated her resolve for a 'jal samarpan' if the government continued work on the Sardar Sarovar project, an NBA press statement said. Ms Patkar, now in Dhule jail, declared this at a meeting with a senior Central Government officer, deputed by the Prime Minister's …
BJP concerned over NGO fund utilisation
The BJP has demanded a high-level inquiry into the funding of some non-governmental organisations, which it alleged were using foreign funds to launch political propaganda against the party.
Aditya project suspended as NGOs block land acquisition
Kumarmangalam Birla's Rs 10,000-crore Aditya Aluminium greenfield project has come to grinding halt. All investments have been put on hold as the agitating non-government organisations have stalled the land acquisition process. The NGOs want the project be abandoned. They are now planning a programme to scuttle every aluminium project in …
4.5 lakh students enrol in Rajiv Gandhi Pathsalas
The Rajiv Gandhi Swarna Jayanti Pathsalas, unique one-teacher learning centres for the rural areas launched in Rajasthan in May last, have achieved an enrollment of 4.5 lakh students indicating the publci acceptance of the programme.
Govt blows the whistle on 'money-making NGOs'
Finally, the government has decided to check the mushrooming of such non governmental organisations (NGOs) which are formed to make money. A stringent 25-point set of guidelines has been reportedly issued recently to all ministries for selection, funding and monitoring of all NGOs. The guidelines, issued by the department of …
For right over a river, villagers rise in revolt
Quite flows the river Arvari in the middle of the Aravallis in Thana Gazi tehsil of Alwar district in Rajasthan. The river was created by the people of the area. There was only a dry river bed most of the year. The river, or the poor apology of it, appeared …
Worldwide NGOs to meet in Seoul to chart course for new millennium
The 1999 Seoul International Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations will be held Oct. 10 through 15 at the Olympic Gymnasium with about 5,000 participants from 100 countries around the world. Under the theme, "Inspire, Empower and Act: The Role of NGOs in the 21st Century," a massive congregation of international non-governmental …
India's literacy rate rises to 61%
The indian literacy now stands at 61 per cent, according to the National Readership Survey 1999 which was released in Mumbai on Friday.Though literacy has gone up, univesity education is available to a fortunate few in urban areas 14 per cent and just three per cent in rural areas, the …
