The poverty quibble

Government claims a huge drop in poverty numbers but critical indicators—health, malnutrition and wages—continue to be grim. So how …

Matter of life and death

Cradles of hope

A recent health survey throws up figures that defy logic. Some districts in India’s nine most backward states have curbed infant mortality …

Simply Put: COVID-19 and students

New UN report gives recommendations to improve human development in Asia-Pacific

Proposes green growth approach, among others

New Religion

The saffron-clad sadhus and former dacoits now find a ritual for social restructuring and acceptance: water harvesting. They are building "…

Can India be ‘atmanirbhar’ by cutting budget for children

While total allocations to Union budget 2021-22 saw an increase of 14.5%, the share for children declined by 10.8% compared to 2020

Poverty high in Ghana, but so is school enrollment

Households claim improvement in living conditions over last 10 years

Out of favour

Focus on Alphonso has resulted in neglect of native mango varieties grown in the Western Ghats, some of which are on the brink of extinction

A mixed bag

The Bangladesh government sends thin plastic bags packing, but has Dhaka seen the last of them? Pinaki Roy on the ban's efficacy

Why Bihar serves poor quality meals to school kids

There are no guidelines for hygienic preparation and handling of mid-day meals for children; monitoring at local level virtually non-existent

As told to Parliament (March 15, 2023): Only 16% of India’s researchers are women

The total number of women researchers in the country is 56,747

COVID-19, war and hunger: Yemen’s humanitarian crisis is becoming worse

Over 10 million are on the brink of famine; as many as 400,000 children are at the risk of dying, according to UN  

How effective are environmental PILs

Judiciary's pro-development tilt is making activists seek recourse at the societal level

Bihar slashes spending on education and social welfare

Coal-based power receives a major boost in the state budget presented on March 12

Punjab, cancer capital of India

Government survey shows cancer cases in the state exceed national average

The beacon

Several social groups are trying to restore the link between Hinduism and the environment

Erosion of values

...and how it leads to environmental degradation

Defiling the sacred

How the environment --- sacred to Hindus --- is bearing the brunt of pollution in the name of religion

Count the natural debt, too

Of electronic revolution and sustainability

50 years of international aid: World’s richest countries owe $5.7 trillion debt to poor, says OXFAM

Substantial debt owed to world’s poorest people 9 times more than sub-Saharan Africa’s stock of external debt at 2019-end

Degree without honours

Parliamentary committee turns down a proposed three-year course in rural health

Innovative administrator

IAS officer R Gopalakrishnan made development work for people

Pollution of Hinduisim

Simply put it is an amazing gap between theory and practice. Yet it is one of the main reasons why India's environment is as degraded as it is …