IT was a power dinner. But it was soon to become a power-hungry one. Early September, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar hosted a dinner for Intel chairman Craig Barrett during his ninth visit to India. A few high-profile cabinet ministers like FM P. Chidambaram and aviation minister Praful Patel were present on the occasion.
The supply of power is highly erratic in India. Even in a state like Maharashtra that claims to be one of the most progressive states, electricity supply is inconsistent. The Union government has promised to supply electricity to all the villages in India by 2012. Will the government be able to keep up its promise, is a moot point.
Devrao Atram, a Kolam tribal from Maharashtra, got his land back two years ago. He had given 5 hectare (ha) on contract to a non-tribal banjara family 25 years ago. When he wanted to claim his land
