Counterview

Prasad Chacko By  A  Representative The recent attack on a well-known NGO functioning within Ahmedabad's St Xavier's College campus, Human Development Research Centre (HDRC), allegedly by saffron youths in “protest” against the advertisement for a sweeper's post to be chosen preferably from among among dominant castes, is all set to acquire a fresh spin.

By  A  Representative The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that despite India’s “fast lane for global economic growth” it has been in “the slower lane for child mortality reduction”, insisting, countries like India and Nigeria should learn that the crucial “policy lesson: economic growth can help but does not guarantee improved child survival, and a country’s income need not hinder progress.”

By  A  Representative A new report by World Economic Forum (WEF) has said that despite “improvements” in India’s political and regulatory environment as also business and innovation environment, India has slipped down two positions to 91st rank in Network Readiness Index (NRI) – a term used for identifying information and communication technology (ICT) penetration.

Jayant Sinha By Jag Jivan   In a sharply-worded commentary, the influential British weekly, “The Economist” (June 9) has said that the latest Cabinet expansion by the Prime Minister is likely to affect his reforms agenda. The heading of the commentary, published under the Indian politics section, is significant: “Modi-fication: A swelling cabinet suggests that politics trumps reform”.

By A Representative In a move which is being described as a massive effort to bail out top private telecom giants, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance, Idea, Tata and Aircel, the Government of India has “set aside” a crucial Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) finding which talked of “understatement/underreporting” of income by them to the tune of Rs 46,045.75 crore.

By Venkatesh Nayak* Thanks to the manner in which Parliament was pushed to pass The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act (Lokpal Act) in 2013, all NGOs receiving more than Rs. 1 crore funds from the Government and all foreign funded NGOs receiving foreign contribution of Rs. 10 lakhs or more, annually, are now covered by this Act. The problems that the Lokpal Act creates than seeks to solve in relation to the social sector are outlined below. The manner of coverage of NGOs under the Lokpal Act Under Section 14(1)(g) and (h) a director, manager, secretary or officer of any association or trust whether registered or not, receiving government funding or foreign funding will be a “public servant” for the purpose of: Prosecution of offences of corruption identified under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 ; and declaring movable and immovable assets for self, spouses and dependent children every year under Section 44 of the Lokpal Act. In June, 2016, the limit of Rs. 1 crore on government funding...

By  A  Representative Sample Registration Survey (SRS) data, recently released by the Census of India, have shown Gujarat in poor light with regard to health facilities, especially in the state’s rural areas. The data show that as many as 12 major states of India out of 20 have a higher proportion of primary health centres (PHCs) than Gujarat in rural areas.