Madhya Pradesh

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This needs to stop …

In Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India, about 150 dalit and tribal women were subjected to virginity tests during a government-sponsored mass marriage recently.

Ironically the scheme is designed to make marriage less onerous by making it free for its…

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[TC-I Call to Action]: Indicorps August 2009 Fellowship

As some of our readers may know, Prerna and I are both Indicorps alums.  My fellowship with Indicorps is too involved to explain in a short post, but the experience is definitely one of the contributing factors to my continued interest…

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MP Experiments with Accountability to the Public

Do you have a grievance or complaint against the state government, but don’t think anything will ever be done about it?

Well, if you live in Madhya Pradesh, your voice might actually be heard. In an unprecedented move, the government of…

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On Behalf of Exploited Domestic Workers, A Call for Justice

For women like Meena, overworked, abused, and poorly compensated for 11 grueling months of domestic work, avenues for legal recourse against her abusive “employer” are limited, and in some cases completely non-existent. Currently, there are no laws to protect domestic…

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Op-Ed: Parle-G Biscuits or Daal and Rice?

The answer, in terms of nutritional value for children, should be obvious.  However, in terms of government policy, the question is much more complicated.  Even policy-makers responsible for implementing the Mid-day Meal Scheme don’t seem to have any definite answers. …

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Govt. of India partners with ICICI Lombard for a unique health insurance plan

Sify.com reports that Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in partnership with ICICI Lombard General Insurance has launched a health insurance scheme for differently-abled individuals living below the poverty line:

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has awarded the mandate to…

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Evening Edition

Get your daily dose of headlines: 

  • Southern Railway is going to provide 455 automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) in 191 stations for suburban rail commuters.  The facility will service approximately 9 lakh people, and is expected to be scaled up to service a…

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Guns for Vasectomies

Every year, over 15,000 people apply for gun licenses in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, but only 500 are actually granted.  Manish Shrivastav, the administrative chief of Shivpuri, decided to capitalize on this differential by instituting a program that offers “fast-tracked gun…

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India’s Losing Battle Against Malnutrition

In a report entitled, “India’s Malnourished Children: A Call for Reform and Action,” the World Bank warned that malnutrition is a problem with “dire consequences for morbidity, mortality, productivity and economic growth.”  According to a recent Reuters article, this is especially…

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