The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report warns that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, driving more extreme weather and posing serious threats to lives, ecosystems, and economies. In 2024, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on …
The microfinance sector in India’s state of Andhra Pradesh was recently marred by a series of mishaps that occurred due to extensive lending, which resulted in over-indebtedness and ultimately, defaults. Lending institutions resorted to coercive measures for loan recovery that led to suicides amongst borrowers. In this paper, we explore …
Akole (Ahmednagar district)/Etapalli (Gadchiroli district): Until a few years ago, farm yields in the tribal areas of Akole tehsil in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district were very low and people found it difficult to make ends meet. Since then, they have had their own little White Revolution, a success story in sustainable …
MUMBAI: Kerala-based, all-women micro-lender Kudumbashree will soon sign a pact for providing consultancy services to the National Rural Livelihood Mission with the objective of scaling up this flagship programme of the Rural Development Ministry. Under the soon-to-be-inked agreement with the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), a flagship programme of the …
In the backdrop of adverse reactions against poverty lines filed by the Planning Commission in the Supreme court this week, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has described the below poverty line (BPL) household identification methodology “approved by the Cabinet” as “least justifiable on political grounds” and a “sure recipe for …
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to appoint 314 junior engineers under the Rural Development Department, one each in 314 blocks of the State, to monitor the provision of drinking water. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved a proposal of the Department in this regard on Tuesday. The junior engineers will …
Govt, Infosys enter into an agreement to build 10,000 toilets designed by software engineer There’s relief in the pipeline for the residents of Gulbarga’s villages. For, their embarrassment of answering the call of nature in the open may soon be flushed down the eco-sanitation dry compost toilets, designed by native …
NEW DELHI, Sep 18 (IANS): Assam has been allocated $2.5 million by a UN body to help improve hygiene in rural areas, stressing on the economic gains that would follow "when people spend less money on preventable sanitation-related diseases". India is among 10 countries - seven African and three Asian …
Bhopal : A new facility has been introduced to facilitate consumers whose rural industrial category connections of ten kilowatt load have been disconnected permanently or temporarily due to non-payment of dues. According to Central Region Power Distribution Company, it has put in place a new facility to reconnect ten kilowatt …
The size of the State's 12th five year plan (2012-17) is expected to touch Rs two lakh crore - double that of the previous plan - with a thrust on agriculture, education, health and infrastructure. The State’s 11th plan (2007-12) size was pegged by the Planning Commission at Rs 1.01 …
The concept of JFM is alluring enough to keep people engaged in conservation for years. But when it comes to sharing the fruits it is a practical joke. For every hundred rupees earned from timber sale a JFM committee usually gets only Rs 17.5 in cash, thanks to the forest …
TOI jury meets to choose between good and good An unknown crusader could finally get her due when an eminent sixmember jury sits together on Thursday to pick the winners of the inaugural Times of India Social Impact Awards. The awards seek to recognize and encourage the noble efforts of …
Some states have invested in land records but the progress has been slow and uneven Frustrated at the tardy progress of digitisation of land records across the country, the centre is set to infuse some urgency into the initiative at the first meeting of the National Council of Land Reforms …
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has acknowledged the need for greater flexibility in the implementation of the rural schemes and demand for support and security to make their delivery more effective in the naxal-affected districts. “It is crucial for policymakers to feel the needs of the people and have a deeper …
PM emphasises on development in tune with needs of the local people Indications of decline in Maoist violence in areas under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) have prompted the government to extend the scheme to 20 more Naxal-hit districts to tackle the “most formidable challenge” staring at it. Since bridging …
The Nitish Kumar government has decided to constitute a Bihar Rural Development Society (BRDS) comprising 32 experts drawn from the open market to help guide the implementation of rural development schemes in the state, telling them ‘Be the Change that You Wish to See’. The state government is expecting to …
The Resource Survey and Management Division of Forest Research Institute organised a day-long brainstorming session on convergence of forestry and agriculture. The Chief Executive Officer of the National Rainfed Area Authority, New Delhi, Dr JS Samra, who was the chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the session along with director …
The government will recast the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, to give it a welfare edge, following criticism that it was disconnected from people’s concern over corruption, high food prices and inflation. The attempt will be to make it more responsive to people’s needs and increase earnings of …
Putting an end to the last several years of squabbling between the NDA government in Bihar and the UPA government at the Centre, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has decided to stop awarding any new work to central government’s agencies under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the …
The Round Table Meeting (RTM) for Bhutan is the most important forum for policy dialogue and aid coordination between the Royal Government and its development partners. Held once every two and a half years, the last RTM for Bhutan, the 10th, was held successfully in Thimphu, Bhutan, from 17th -18th …
