Gram panchayats get more funds for Swachh Bharat activities

Mandatory for lowest tier elected bodies to use half the funds allocated under 15th Finance Commission

Implementing PESA Act in Jharkhand is not an easy task

The Act recognising the right of tribal communities in Scheduled Areas was enacted in 1996. Despite being formed 22 years ago, Jharkhand is yet …

Dhinkia on the boil: Odisha Police turn violent against protestors

The administration in Dhinkia village in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur tried to forcibly acquire betel vineyards January 14 for Jindal Steel’…

The Indian Forest Act’s proposed amendment is dangerous and fanciful

Like other policies in the recent past, this one also shows the complete unwillingness of the forest bureaucracy in accepting a different role

Patnaik seeks truce with anti-POSCO activists

Survey of project-affected villages to continue peacefully BY ASHUTOSH MISHRA Bhubaneswar

Khap panchayat bans paddy

Rice cultivation has led to waterlogging and soil salinity in Haryana’s Jhajjar district

Panchayati Raj institutions in Bihar submitted utilisation certificates for only 42% of grants received: CAG

Staff crunch in PRIs in the state impacted the devolution of functions, the audit highlighted

Study puts MGNREGS in Punjab under scanner

The employment scheme generated 20.23 average working days in the state against the mandated 100 days, according to a Punjabi University report

Land conflicts affect over 3.2 million people in India

Investment worth US$179 billion in over 5,000 projects is also threatened due to these conflicts

Is urbanising rural Odisha sustainable and resilient?

Infrastructure development is necessary and urbanisation is a choice, but not at the cost of sustainability of rural areas

The chase and the change: Let’s look back at 15 years of MGNREGA this World Water Day

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has shown what it can achieve by putting water conservation at its core

Swachh Bharat Mission: Women take the lead in Himachal Pradesh

The state, with almost 60% of panchayats headed by women, tackled open defection by resolving the water crisis. It was declared open-defecation …

Green fund rules notified: Some hits, major misses

The rules of the Compensatory (Afforestation) Fund Act 2016 are better than the draft but not impactful

Karnataka civil society to protest against panchayati raj Bill

Opposition says provisions draconian; gives powers to bureaucrats powers to remove panchayat president and members

Twenty20: Can Kerala’s experiment in corporate-led panchayats be trusted

Twenty20, which established a corporate panchayat in Kerala in 2015, has expanded its reach during the local body polls this year. How …

Panchayat polls in West Bengal in July

Bitter fight between election commission and state government ends; questions over bureaucratic interference in Panchayat matters remain

Let people-centric natural resource governance be the new regime’s agenda

India must strengthen the mechanisms of natural resource management that is people-centric and sustainable to ensure economic and social stability

High court notice to Haryana on new criteria for panchayat elections

The court had earlier stayed the decision to make academic qualifications more stringent

This tribal district has become 'immune to drought' with people's participation

Jhabua continues to flourish and maintain its status as a model district while many others fail

India Biodiversity Awards 2012 go to six pioneers in biodiversity governance

These include three village panchayats, two tiger reserves and informal network of forest protection committees

Political representation of STs can lead to improved forest cover — study establishes link

Enhanced representation of ST communities helps them oppose mining and other large-scale commercial projects

Green fund rules must be withdrawn, Ramesh tells Vardhan

The ex-environment minister writes to the current one saying the new rules make for a fit case to move a privilege motion against Vardhan

Waste plant in Tamil Nadu raises stink

Residents say the project will contaminate drinking water; pollution board gives clean chit

Mystery deaths in Bihar turn controversial

BJP leader says deaths caused by illicit liquor; accuses Nitish Kumar of keeping matter under wraps

'Will fight POSCO till last breath'

Kin of anti-POSCO leader killed in bomb explosion in Gobindapur village resolves to fight on