The waste conundrum

An experiment of decentralized solid, liquid and energy management in a Delhi colony is unique because the efficient functioning of a well …

New-look farming fumbles to an erratic start

The Planning Commission is embarking on a new approach to agriculture planning. But state governments and the finance ministry are reluctant to …

Community welfare works as a contraceptive

In Pakistan, they are controlling population growth by raising the living standards of local communities through Pasbaan, the social …

Government is a loss-making proposition

Shut it down

US, China count their poor afresh. India looks away

The poverty quibble

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

Blinded by figures

By 2010, the world's population will have gone up to 6 billion. But at the recent New York meeting on population and development, counting heads …

Time for an overhaul

Having served the country for more than a century and a half, the Indian Railways has taken apathy in its stride. Politicians’ whims, and …

Is pregnancy a disease?

The development of birth-control methods that use the body's immune system may be more convenient than condoms and pills. But several groups …

Importing Disaster

Employment schemes fail to ease rural poverty

The government's employment generation schemes, laudable though they may be, have yet to achieve their goals. Not involving intended …

Violent homecoming

10,000 families from Delhi's Yamuna Pushta slums were 'resettled' in Bawana this March. NIDHI JAMWAL went to meet them

Greening a state

Himachal Pradesh chief minister has broken all bureaucratic shackles and initiated eco-friendly programmes in the state

Only plans, no integration

Experiments with truth

Innovative science teaching scheme relegated to supplementary status

Fruits of doing nothing

Two young farmers of Karnataka prosper by overcoming tiller instinct  

Unique identity crisis

Biometric-based unique identity or Aadhaar is leading to huge problems for people working for the rural employment guarantee scheme and for …

Is social sector revenue or capital expenditure?

Transition to pedal

The world is discussing going back to cycling-to-work days. How can we contribute to better environment in 100 km cities?

Another world is possible

Optimism is a great friend but a bad guide. The Asian Social Forum meeting in Hyderabad, India, deliberately avoided this truism while …

Diesel price hike: no scope for roll back

'Not raising diesel prices would harm economy much more'

Money matters

Sonal Matharu finds out how schemes for women and children are all about making money and neglect their health

Working Group on Environment releases report in Kerala

Two for tangle

Development takes backseat in Northeast as two Central agencies try to outcompete each other

People's initiatives

Orissa and UP villages once again prove that people are better managers of natural resources than today's obdurate governments