A compromised consensus

AFTER 19 months of intense negotiations between the ruling United Progressive Alliance government and opposition parties, the Land Acquisition (Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill of 2011 is close to being passed by Parliament. On April 18, the government claimed that all major political parties have reached a “broad consensus” on the Bill.

Building dreams for homeless

Letters - April 30, 2012

Give coffee a chance

Born at 44

They say home is where the heart is, but that’s not always true. Ask Arakhita Pradhan, resident of Chilipoi village in Odisha’s Ganjam district. On a cold evening some 44 years ago, the authorities forcefully shifted him and his neighbours to a place where no civic amenities existed. Reason: the state had built an irrigation dam that had submerged their village in Khurda district.

Aaj Ka Roadshow

Back in the 20th century, when India had villages, there were several popular films that showed villages in a contemporary light. Well, somewhat. While Indian cinema was urban from its very beginning, there were several films of immense popularity that were, in many ways, a statement of the presence of the Indian village. In these films, the protagonist was often a villager or a city-bred male who headed out to the village. For the city folk, these films were reminders.

Where’s Bhoodan Land?

Government prefers not to talk about the 931,000 ha collected under land-gift movement

A march to highlight land struggles in India

Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, this year is going to witness a new movement. Activists belonging to a non-profit, Ekta Parishad, will undertake a Jan Satyagraha Samwad Yatra to highlight the ongoing land and livelihood struggles across the country.

Letters

Honey, set the limit

Land Titling Bill: silent on rights of tribals and the poor

THE Union government has proposed giving conclusive ownership titles to landholders across India through the Land Titling Bill 2010.

Congress socialist party?

Over the past six years or so, the Congress seems to be undergoing change both with regard to the balance of power within the organization and its ideological orientation.