The Planning Commission on Monday released the latest poverty estimates for the country showing a decline in the incidence of poverty by 7.3 per cent over the past five years and stating that anyone with a daily consumption expenditure of Rs. 28.35 and Rs. 22.42 in urban and rural areas respectively is above the poverty line.

The new poverty estimates for 2011-12 will only add to the furore triggered by the Commission's affidavit in the Supreme Court in October in which the BPL cap was pegged at an expenditure of Rs. 32 and Rs. 26 by an individual in the urban and rural areas respectively at the going rate of inflation in 2010-11.

Rail passengers, who have not experienced much of a fare hike in the past eight years, will be in for a shock when they buy ticket for journeys with effect from April 1, much as the Trinamool Congress has raised the red flag against its own Minister on the issue.

The “rationalisation” of fare is harsh on the short-distance traveller who will have to bear up to a 150 per cent increase, while the higher class passengers will be burdened with a hike by about 30 per cent.

Even while turning down demands for a moratorium on MGNREGS jobs during the agricultural season, the Centre on Wednesday approved new works that aim at boosting the farm sector.

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh released here a report, authored by Planning Commission member Mihir Shah, suggesting revision of the guidelines to strengthen the job entitlement programme that has run into rough weather of late.

The Centre plans to remove the distinction between below poverty line(BPL) and above poverty line (APL) and bring all the needy under the Total Sanitation Scheme (TSC).

The political endeavour under the Saranda Action Plan (SAP) — not just to bring the government closer to the local tribal population but also to give them a stake in the democratic set-up and unfet

The Union government has cleared an external loan to finance part of the programme launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in left wing extremism-affected villages.

State has been directed to set up a separate development authority

Fixing of minimum wages in the States and under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is set to become a poll issue, at least in Uttar Pradesh.

After the Andhra Pradesh government violated the provisions of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act by providing work to households in excess of the legal entitlement of 100 d

Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh is caught in a predicament having to play a dual role in dealing with the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in a bid to protect his

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