The Countdown to 2015 for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Survival initiative monitors coverage of priority interventions to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for reduction of maternal and child mortality. We aimed to report on 68 countries which have 97% of maternal and child deaths worldwide, and on 22 interventions that have been proven to improve maternal, newborn, and child survival.

Growing human population, rising per capital income and increasing urbanization are fuelling rapid growth in the demand for food and animal origin in developing countries. India possesses of the largest livestock populations in the world. Contrary to the large population of livestock in India productivity of Indian livestock is low compared to many developing countries.

In India, thirty-five million people have diabetes—a number expected to more than double by 2025, disproportionately affecting working-age people. The economic impact of this increase could be devastating to India’s emerging economy. In this paper we discuss drivers of the epidemic, analyze current policies and practices in India, and conclude with recommendations, focusing on multisectoral and international collaboration. We see these recommendations as providing a blueprint for addressing diabetes in India by illuminating opportunities and barriers for policymakers and others.

Rice is known as the grain of life, and is synonymous with food for Asians. In addition to being a staple food and an integral part of social rites, rituals and festivals in almost all Asian countries, it has a medicinal value too, which was clearly recognized by the medicine systems of the region centuries ago. Rice is the main constituent of life-saving oral rehydration solutions (ORS) and has been used for this purpose since time immemorial.