Governance And Institutions
Genuine NGOs struggle with credibility as scams are unearthed
NGOs who came forward to shoulder several social responsibilities, are facing a credibility crisis with a number of cases of embezzlement and scandals involving some of them coming to the fore.Recently, the Dutch government, funding a multicrore water supply and sanitation project in Uttar Pradesh, terminated its contract with an …
Ants already a nuisance at dinosaur's picnics
Researchers have unearthed fossilized ants dating back 92 million years, which means the omnipresent insects have been on the Earth more than twice as long as previously thought. Each find is important, said David Grimaldi, head of the museum's department of entomology and a coauthor of the new report.
As the sand runs out
Mr. P R Kuppusamy, convener of the Committee for Protection of the Cauvery, based in Karur in Central Tamil Nadu, agonises that all his work of years now stand imperilled. In his latest missive dashed off to the Chief Election Commissioner, he has urged him to direct the Government of …
Panchayat bodies working dismal
Study : Detailed field studies conducted by the Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment have found that even two years after the legislation imbued panchayat raj institutions (PRIs) with responsibility for developmental functions, no substantive changes have occured. According to senior officials, these studies have found no evidence of gram …
Avenue for green dreams
In Hulikal, Karnataka, 284 sturdy banyan trees that line a 5 km stretch owe their existence to Thimmaka and her late husband, Chikkayya. This simple village woman is today hailed by environmentalists as an exemplary 'green icon'.
Love in the time of want
The winner of this year's prestigious G.D. Madgulkar award, Sadhanatai Amte, wife of social activist Baba Amte, is a remarkable person in her own right : a report.
High Court restrains NGO from incurring expenditure
The Action for Welfare and Awakening in Rural Environment (AWARE), a Hyderabad based non-governmental organisation, received a serious setback when the Delhi High Court restrained it from disposing of any of its property and incurring expenditure during the normal course of functioning till further orders. The court was acting on …
From waste to wonder
The Indian Grasslands and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) an affiliate of ICAR has demonstrated to farmers at Sarkar and Ambabai villages in Jhansi and in Awas village of Shivpuri district in MP , for over three years, how their wastelands can be put to productive use.
Dutch Govt terminates contract with NGO
NGOs are once again under a cloud. This time, the Dutch Government --funding multi-crore water supply and sanitation projects in Uttar Pradesh - has terminated its contract with an NGO, Programme Support Unit Foundation, accusing it of financial mismanagement.
Hazare will battle for law to prove corruption
The Maharashtra government's decision to release anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare barely two weeks after he was imprisoned on charges of defamation has again focussed attention on the scourage of corruption in the country.
Astronomers discover 2 planets with notable orbits
Astronomers aided by a precocious amateur have discovered two more planets orbiting sun like stars, including one with the most Earth like orbit of any of the new worlds detected so far. The discovery brings the total number of confirmed extrasolar planets to a dozen. But, until now, all the …
Anna Hazare released from jail
Anti corruption crusader Anna Hazare was released from Pune's Yeravada jail on Wednesday evening after chief minister Manohar Joshi passed an order remitting the remainder of his three-month jail term. The order came close on the heels of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's request to the government to remit the …
Waste not, want not
In Khaksitola village of Bihar, the villagers have taken the initiative in protecting and renewing the reviewing the area's vast acreage of Government-owned forest land.Most notably this has been accomplished without any financial assitance from the Government.
Hazare not to seek reduction in sentence
The anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare, who has been sentenced to three months simple imprisonment, said he is not seeking release on bail or reduction in sentence through a revision application filed before a sessions court here.
Emergency WWF aid for Kaziranga
The World Wide Fund for Nature has sent emergency aid to India after rhinoceros, tigers and other animals living in Kaziranga National Park in Assam were threatened by floods, the fund said on Friday.
Law on anvil to put CFCs into thin air
A law formally banning and penalising production and use of CFCs, the chemicals marked as ozone eaters, is likely to be in place in a few months. The regulations will be enforced under the Environment Protection Act.
Hazare moves Mumbai court
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Thursday filed a revision application in the sessions court challenging his conviction by a lower court for defaming Maharashtra's social welfare minister Babanrao Gholap.Mr Hazare challenged the legality and propriety of the order of additional chief metropolitan magistrate K.H. Holambe-Patil who, on September 9, sentenced …
Hazare's anti-graft drive lands him in jail
Imprisonment of social activist Anna, Mr. Hazare, on a defamation charge has brought to the fore the hazards of launching campaigns against alleged ministerial corruption without proof. The Padmashree and Magsaysay Award winner, Mr. Hazare was promptly taken into custody after the pronouncement of the judgement by Metropolitian Magistrate, Mr. …
Petition aginst Hazare detention
A petition challenging the detention of social activist Anna Hazare has been filed in the Bombay High Court, raising some important points on whether a citizen of India has the right to criticise a public servant or not.
