Churu says yes to hygiene

The district is all set to become the first in Rajasthan to completely stop open defecation. Will others follow?

Forest Advisory Committee gets earnest about implementing forest diversion rules, finally

Clarifies that forest diversions will be allowed only if forest rights of affected people are settled and their consent obtained

Open defecation linked to stunting in Indian children

Research finds 10 per cent increase in open defecation associated with a 0.7 per cent increase in stunting in 112 districts

Amended Forest Rights Act rules notified; more powers to gram sabha

Forest department’s role in managing forest resources curtailed

Measles catch-up campaign falls short of expectation

Health ministry officials say impact of the campaign will show results later

Fate of Lokpal Bill hangs in balance

Opposition parties and ally Trinamool want states to decide on appointing lokayuktas  

MGNREGS won't subsidise rural toilets, says Gadkari

New study shows the small improvement achieved in sanitation between 2001 and 2011 not enough to improve health outcomes

Abandon paddy, build IT hubs: Montek

Planning Commission deputy chairperson gets flak for his advice to Kerala at investors' meet

Tree-planting campaigns can reduce, not improve biodiversity, shows study

Tree plantations can contradict the real purpose of planting trees, according to the study

UK’s obesity epidemic worse than feared, says study

National Obesity Forum recommends hard-hitting public health campaigns to tackle the problem

A march to highlight land struggles in India

Beginning October 2, activists will cover 75,000 km in a year

Wildlife NGO group gets flak for seeking curbs on forest rights of indigenous people

Application moved in Supreme Court by three wildlife NGOs seeks to reverse rights granted under Forest Rights Act, allege tribal rights activists …

India growth story marred by disturbing inequity

68th Round of NSSO makes it amply clear that the wave of economic growth has not percolated down from the 0.003 per cent of population of ruling …

India’s sanitation campaign has not improved health of people: study

Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan did not help reduce exposure to faecal germs and diseases. Will Swachh Bharat Abhiyan fare any better?

E-waste management: Nokia sets example

Firm addresses extended producer responsibility with take-back scheme for mobile phones; phases out hazardous substances from devices

Cigarettes with additives pollute air more: study

Fifteen chemicals increased by 20 per cent or more in air with the cigarettes

Odisha diaries: the struggle for community control over land, forests and natural resources

No matter how much compensation is promised, companies will need ‘a social licence’ to conduct business on the land of the people

Public pressure mounts to check pollution from industrial area in Solan

NGOs organise community meeting to record grievances and demand action against pollution from Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh industrial area

‘Mass media campaigns can curb tobacco consumption significantly’

Tobacco is the leading cause of heart diseases among the young. Nandita Murukutla, country director (India) of non-profit World Lung Foundation, …

Rajasthan belatedly wakes up to health crisis among mine workers

But there is no credible data available on the number of people suffering from silicosis, an incurable disease

Oxford University defers decision on divesting stake in fossil fuels

Alumni occupy office building in protest; 21 international universities have already divested their stakes

Village at POSCO site seeks community forest rights

Reiterates demand against diversion of forestland for industry, under amended Forest Rights Act rules

Buriganga chokes on pollutants

Political will and community participation is needed to revive the dying river that gave life to Dhaka

1.2 million children in Karnataka are malnourished, state tells high court

Civil rights groups blame packaged food supplied to anganwadis 

Mission possible

The Centre gives India just about eight years to free its villages of open defecation. This seems unlikely. But the states of Sikkim, Haryana and …