Of all the words that have been coupled with innovation, “frugal” must rank as the most intriguing—and it is an Indian invention. “Frugal innovation” is a term coined by the Planning Commission, which proffers it as a radical solution to finding more appropriate processes and products to tackle the development …
About five years ago, European media described the imminent possibility of a US strike against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. It seemed plausible at the time, given the Iranian regime’s declaration of war against the US, Israel, and the UK. About the same time, Iran’s top military strategist, Hassan Abbasi, publicly declared …
Those who believe aerated drinks do nothing other than send adipose tissues into overdrive, spare a thought for the country’s excise department. An ad issued by the department on February 21 exhorted: “Drink aerated dr-inks and do social service.” It explained this unlikely way of doing social good: “Excise duty …
Julian Assange, who shot to global fame after publishing colossal amounts of classified-yet-humdrum US government data, has applied for a UK trademark on his own name. The application submitted in the last week of February by the founder of the WikiLeaks, covers “public speaking services, news reporter services, journalism, publication …
The microblogging site Twitter has become the setting for a battle of wits between the police and residents of Rio de Janeiro evading a drunk-driving campaign, Operation Lei Seca. Anyone who has had too many beers but wants to drive home can turn to a page on Twitter where citizens …
UNTIL recently, no system of power seemed more invincible than corporate media. A century ago, industrialisation handed a monopoly of mass communication to a tiny elite with the money to buy and run printing presses and, later, TV studios. Yet through a further twist of technological fate, the digital revolution …
India’s maiden planned hill city that made news for bending rules and undertaking unauthorised construction may get the Centre’s nod, after all. The buzz is the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) may give conditional clearance to Lavasa, which is being developed in the Western Ghats, 65 km from …
Read this special report by Down To Earth on the iconic Paan losing its appeal. Its trade has dipped 40-50 per cent in the past decade, while consumption of chewing tobacco, especially gutkha, increased during the period. Farmers now prefer other crops. Iconic paan no more appeals to farmers, traders …
A LOOMING food crisis in the world and high food inflation rates at home made Pranab Mukherjee’s proposals to boost agriculture in his 2011 budget more keenly watched than usual. These are factors that clearly weighed with the finance minister who repeatedly said that his principal concern this year has …
THE Union budget has announced its usual palliative for inclusive growth and aam aadmi. But the urban aam aadmi loses all. Despite loud protests this year, especially from the environment minister who condemned the misuse of under-taxed diesel in cars and SUVs, the finance minister could not summon courage to …
THE Union budget’s approach to the renewable energy sector remains scattershot. The only mention the sector gets in the 2011-12 budget is when it talks about the duty cuts on the energyefficient LED lights, solar lanterns and solar cells. “Except for the small concession of withdrawing customs duty on inputs …
AN EXPERT committee, formed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, has recommended that trade control of tendu leaves, critical for forest dwellers’ income, should vest in the state. The panel, headed by agriculture economist T Haque, was set up to ensure ownership rights of forest dwellers over minor forest produce …
MENDHA Lekha village in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra staged a novel protest on February 15. It organised a bamboo sale in the village to highlight the forest department’s refusal to grant transit passes to transport bamboo out of the village for sale. Mendha Lekha was one of the first two …
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has withdrawn its latest guidelines for creating inviolate space for wildlife. The decision to withdraw the critical wildlife habitat (CWH) guidelines followed a March 4 meeting between environment minister Jairam Ramesh, non-profits working on tribal rights, wildlife activists and the chief wildlife wardens …
THE Union ministry of panchayati raj has suggested amendments to streamline local governance in the tribal areas of north-eastern states. The draft amendments to existing laws governing local bodies in the Sixth Schedule areas would help fight insurgency prevailing in the region and effectively implement Central government programmes, such as …
LICENCES of public-sector, vaccine-manufacturing units were restored more than a year ago. But the units are yet to resume supply of vaccines to the Centre’s Universal Immunisation Programme, and it will not happen any time soon if one were to believe activists. The Central Research Institute (CRI) at Kasauli in …
JUST before the Kerala Assembly was dissolved for elections, the state’s Left Democratic Front government passed a law to secure compensation for people affected by Coca-Cola’s bottling operations at Plachimada in Palakkad district. The law, passed unopposed on February 24, provides for a three-member tribunal which will adjudicate on claims …
I suspect Indian scientists have retired hurt to the pavilion. They were exposed to nasty public scrutiny on a deal made by a premier science research establishment, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with Devas, a private company, on the allocation of spectrum. The public’s verdict was that the arrangement was …
CSE strongly supports the bold decision of the Delhi government to increase the tax on diesel-run vehicles by 25 per cent at the time of registration, appreciates waiving off the VAT on bicycles, and calls for other states to follow the capital city's example. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) …
The Union environment ministry's decision to ask states to treat bamboo as a minor forest produce (MFP) has given millions of poor tribals and forest dwellers hope for a new source of income. In a letter to the chief ministers of all states on March 21, environment minister Jairam Ramesh, …
