One of the gravest problems ahead of us is the availability of drinking water in rural areas. Public-private partnership (PPP) is the new development mantra. In the area of provision of safe drinking water in rural areas, some notable work has already been carried out.

Using panel data from 14 Indian states between 1990 and 2002, this paper empirically examines how the share of government spending on public goods such as health, education and basic infrastructure affects per capita gross domestic product growth and poverty reduction at the state level.

Not good enough, says WHO 2001: India

cyrus s poonawalla, chairperson and managing director of Serum Institute of India Ltd, a private vaccine manufacturer, says the vaccine shortage is a mess the government created. Edited excerpts: On self-sufficiency: Except for polio vaccine, we can provide all vaccines required for the Universal Immunization Programme. Whatever orders were placed have been completed on time. On

Strengthen public sector The lack of foresight shown by former health minister Anbumani Ramadoss in shutting the public sector without first ensuring alternatives and lack of transparency have put a generation of children at risk. Clearly, the private sector

Studies relating to subsidies, where these could be safely formulated in the context of international trade, often occupy centre-stage. Estimates of subsidies arising out of government policy/expenditure programme are relatively less well understood.