GUWAHATI: The rural drinking water supply under the Central Government’s flagship Bharat Nirman programme has not proved to be a success in Assam in comparison to other States. This was revealed in the Economic Survey 2011-12 presented by the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Parliament before the presentation of the Budget for the 2012-13 financial year on last Friday.

Despite all tall talks of development, level of poverty in Northeastern states including Meghalaya has increased even though the same has declined in the rest of the country. More alarmingly, poverty level among the rural tribals, who mostly inhabit in North-East, is as high as 47.4 per cent.

This was revealed in the Planning Commission report — Poverty Estimate, released on Monday.

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.

Agartala: While Forest Survey of India (FSI) Report 2009 showed a steady increase of forest cover in the North-East states, the latest report of FSI revealed that the region has lost about 549 sqkm green cover over the years.

FSI Report 2011 stated that Tripura alone had degraded about 96 sqkm of forest cover. The report, however, blamed shifting cultivation (Jhuming), slash and burn method of production in hilly parts of the region for degradation of natural forest and stated,

Show-cause for whistle-blower, Naga Mothers Association

Unhappy with the implementation of the National Rural Health Mission, the Naga Mothers Association (NMA) — an apex body of women of different tribes in Nagaland — has called for a full-fledged inquiry into the scheme to eliminate shortcomings and ensure transparent and effective health delivery service.

Difficult terrain and lack of essential supplies including water, electricity, and communication have virtually derailed the National Rural Health Mission in most parts of Nagaland. Despite this, the infant and maternal mortality rates are low, thanks to the strong community bonding.

Though the State government has made serious efforts to create infrastructure under the Centrally-sponsored National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), access to these facilities is difficult owing to non-existent or bad roads, undependable communication system and acute shortage of water and power supply.

It was a clean sweep for Sikkim, as the state bagged three awards at the National Tourism Awards here today.

Even as there has been uproars on the safety aspects of the 2000-MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP) and the State Government is also maintaining a firm stand on the issue of con

Researchers have discovered a new family of legless amphibians, commonly known as caecilians. After DNA analysis of the specimen, scientists have confirmed that it is an entirely new family.