Governance And Institutions
Keshubhai Govt's belated action to solve water problem
Worried over the deteriorating water situation in the sensitive Kutch-Saurashtra region, the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr. Keshubhai Patel, today convened a special meeting of the people's representatives and officials of the districts in the region head-quarters in Rajkot to review the situation.The decisions taken at the meeting to launch new …
NBA dismisses authorities' claim
The Narmada Bachao Andolan on Monday termed as "completely false" remarks of Khargone district administration in Madhya Pradesh that residents of 13 villages, affected by the Maheshwar hydel power project, were ready to settle at new places.
UNESCO prize for National Literacy Mission
The National Literacy Mission has received the prestigious Noma Literacy prize for the the year 1999 for initiating a total literacy campaign in the country, it was announced here on Monday.
Govt move on NGOs
The government had decided to blacklist all non-government organisations that misuse funds alloted for backward and tribal welfare, the Minister of State for Welfare, Mr. Maneka Gandhi, told Rajya Sabha.
Third phase of IBRD aided education project next year
The third phase of the World Bank-assisted project for 'technician' education in the country, is expected to commence in April 2000, according to Dr. Ashoka chandra, Special Secretary for Education in the HRD Ministry.
Half of rural India is illiterate, 40% below poverty line
In rural India, half of the population is illiterate and suffers from capability poverty line, according to a human development report, a study on rural households, by the National Council of Applied Economic Research.The book titled as India: Human Development Report - A profile of Indian States in the 1990s, …
People's initiative triumphs
It appears to be a residents' initiative all the way. The Valasarawakkam Town Panchayat sewer network project set to become a reality with almost all residents welfare associtions agreeing to pay the interest free deposits called for the local body to mobilise the "margin money" sought by the funding agencies …
PIL against illegal tapping of water
The issue of unauthorised groundwater tapping in the city's suburbs has come up before the High Court, in the form of a PIL that sought a direction to the Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram Collectors to act on a representation against the water tapping.
Education project under scrutiny
The Lok Jumbish(LJ) project, aiming at total literacy in Rajasthan, has been much apperciated but the style of functioning of its former chairman has generated controversy. The LJ worked as an autonomous organisation under Mr. Anil Bordia since its launch in 1992 with 50 per cent of Rs 300 crore …
Sushma refuses to sign pledge on child labour
There seems to be no end to trouble for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj refused to sign the anti-child labour pledge letter prepared by a non-governmental organisation - South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude and Bachpan Bachao Andolan. However, chairperson of SACCS Kailash Satyarthi informed that Delhi …
British Council website for NGOs
An astronomical Rs 15 billion is spent every year in India through non govenmental organisations for developmental works. And out of this, only Rs 1 billion is provided by the government, and the rest comes from Unicef and other such organisations. This information, along with other information on developmental work, …
Hazare calls for right to information
for the first time ever, a People's March demanding the right to information law will be taken out from Pune in Maharashtra to New Delhi very soon, according to Gandhian stalwart Anna Hazare. People from all walks of life from anywhere could join this march, he said. Known for his …
Progress through conservation
With nearly half of the country's total geographical area facing degradation hazards, conservation of soil and water by taking a natural watershed as the unit of development is perhaps the only route for ensuring ecological safety and livelihood for the people residing in these areas. The Dehradun-based Central Soil and …
Plan panel favours nodal agency for monitoring NGOs
The Planning Commission has called for setting up a nodal agency at the central level to track the funding pattern, area of expertise and geographical coverage of non-government organisations (NGOs) throughout the country.According to its working group report on the 'Involvement of voluntary organisations in implementation of rural development programmes …
NGO plans to adopt 1,000 villages
The Voluntary Health, Education and Rural Development Society (VHERDS), a non-government organisation based in Chennai, has sought the co-operation of the Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment to adopt 1,000 villages in the country. Mr. T.P. Radhakrishna, the General Secretary of the Society, said that to stat, with, they hoped …
India proposes cess on education
India proposes to promote privatisation of higher education in a big way and is also considering introducing " radical changes" in the examination system. According to the " India country paper" placed at the ongoing UNESCO world conference on higher education, the contribution of the private sector to higher education …
Move to ban pre-90s vehicles
The Environment Pollution Control Authority of National Capital Region will soon recommend phasing out of commercial vehicles manufactured prior to 1990. This was disclosed by Dilip Biswas, Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board and Convener of the Environment Pollution Authority of NCR. Biswas added that transporters should be given adequate fiscal …
Plea to expedite rehabilitation in Tehri
The officials of Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd (THDC) have been asked to expedite the rehabilitation of people displaced from the Tehri region due to the construction of the dam.
