Sreelatha Menon &Amp; Prasad Nichenametla In New Delhi

Stories by Sreelatha Menon &Amp; Prasad Nichenametla In New Delhi

People above 65 years will double in India by 2050

People above 65 years will double in India by 2050

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2008

The prime minister of India is over 75 and the man driving the nation's Metro revolution, E Sreedharan, is 75. It seems the world is destined to be eternally young.

Govt plans big secondary education spend

Govt plans big secondary education spend

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2008

The ministry aims to enroll 6.6 million additional students in secondary schools during the period. This, sources said, which contribute in taking the gross enrolment rate to 75 per cent by the end of the 11th Plan period and 100 per cent by the end of the 12th Plan period.

Weaving costliest items, but earning nothing

Weaving costliest items, but earning nothing

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2008

Sadly, in India, wages for artisans never take into account their specialised skills.

Pension scheme for mine workers by April

Pension scheme for mine workers by April

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2008

Union Labour Ministry has announced pension scheme for unorganised labour hands like mine and cine workers.

Who invented the Jaipur foot?

Who invented the Jaipur foot?

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2008

Days after he died on January 6, Sethi's legacy is being questioned by the very NGO which is today known for taking the Jaipur foot to the masses. The invention won the doctor a Magsaysay award, which in turn has given him enemies.

Protest planned against the Tata Rs 1-lakh car

Protest planned against the Tata Rs 1-lakh car

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2008

The protests are meant to highlight the plight of the hundreds of sharecroppers of Singur besides the 12,000 landowners whose land was acquired by the Bengal government for the Tata factory which is to make the small car.

Labour reforms in 2008

Labour reforms in 2008

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2008

Small but significant labour reform laws are expected to be introduced in 2008, to benefit both the employees and employers.

You a tribal? Passport, please

You a tribal? Passport, please

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2008

Passports or satellite images are two documents among options for tribals to produce as proof to avail of any entitlements under the ST and Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2007.

A humble stove that can trigger a fuel revolution

A humble stove that can trigger a fuel revolution

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2007

Clean development mechanism (CDM) should be used to make the prices affordable for the poor.

New money centres to bridge banking divide

New money centres to bridge banking divide

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2007

These are the Zipp money centres which are being introduced for the first time in the country by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), a forum formed in 1997 and which has inclusive banking interventions as one of its key projects. The money centres have already brought banking to the doorstep in many villages and far-flung areas in one district in Uganda where CBC started the project.

In search of clean energy

In search of clean energy

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2007

The main "culprit" for CO2 emissions is coal-based energy which has 24 per cent share in India's emissions and 41 per cent worldwide. While coal accounts for 25 per cent of energy, the role of renewables is 13 per cent. Of these, wind, solar and bio masses contribute just 4.1 per cent.

Ogilvy takes sports to villages

Ogilvy takes sports to villages

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2007

Ogilvy has signed on with the Madhya Pradesh sports department to pump up an awareness drive about the sports centres or the Grameen Yuva Kendras among the villagers. But, for Ogilvy, the drive stretches beyond the villages into the ears of the industry.

ITI upgrade plan a non-starter

ITI upgrade plan a non-starter

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2007

Despite strong private sector interest and a Rs 750-crore (Rs 7.5 billion) Budget allocation, not a single agreement has been signed between the government and the private sector to upgrade 300 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to centres of excellence within the target of this fiscal, which has three and a half months to run.

In 13 years, only 3,492 colleges graded by NAAC

In 13 years, only 3,492 colleges graded by NAAC

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2007

It was meant to be an independent body designed to promote institutional excellence in higher education. But 13 years after it was set up, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has been able to grade only 140 out of India's 409 universities and 3,492 out of 20,676 colleges in India.

Only 27% of backward region fund spent in 9 months

Only 27% of backward region fund spent in 9 months

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2007

Only around 27 per cent of the funds allocated to the flagship Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) in the budget has been spent in nine months of the fiscal year.

The laptop schools of Mewat

The laptop schools of Mewat

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2007

These schools bring literacy to women in a one-month course.

Montek blows hot on climate change recipe

Montek blows hot on climate change recipe

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2007

He rejected the recommendation of the report that "major emitters" in developing countries should aim at an emission trajectory that peaks in 2020 and leads to a 20 per cent cut by 2050.

India a new hub for climate change research

India a new hub for climate change research

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2007

The DEFRA project with MoEF is yet to identify a research institute in India and the bidding process is to start now, Coyne added. However some green groups in India look at this rush for climate change research in India as a ruse to promote technologies like genetic engineering.

Unemployment up among the disabled: Study

Unemployment up among the disabled: Study

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2007

The study commissioned by the Government of India and based on a sample of 2,000 households in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh says that employment rate among people with disability (PWD) fell from 42.7 per cent in 1991 down to 37.6 per cent in 2002.

UGC chairman on plans to improve higher education

UGC chairman on plans to improve higher education

Rediff.com   6 Nov 2007

One is to increase the intake capacities in the existing universities and colleges and the second, to increase the number of colleges and universities. But the real focus will be on increasing the enrolment of disadvantaged sections, like the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities and even the poor