The good intentions of governments and donors to ensure long-term food security for all may be melting away in the face of the current global financial and economic crisis.

Poverty is a multidimensional concept and cannot be defined unidimensionally. Poverty means non-fulfilment of the human right to a range of basic capabilities, e.g. nourishment, shelter, education, security, justice, earning a livelihood. One of the important components of the right to live with dignity and also a significant constituent of the right to equality is the right to adequate housing.

Effects of climate change on health will affect most populations in the next decades and put the lives and wellbeing of billions of people at increased risk. During this century, earth's average surface temperature rises are likely to exceed the safe threshold of 2

The Census of 2002 to identify the poor in rural areas of India was the third in a quinquennial series. However, it has been appropriately criticised. This paper elaborates on the criticisms, and proposes an alternative set of criteria and methodology for conducting the next (now overdue) census of the rural population to identify the poor.