The National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP), launched in 2004, identified 50 backward districts, where employment guarantee scheme was to get started. The 150 districts were identified by the Planning Commission on the basis of three criteria, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) population, agricultural productivity per worker, and agricultural wage rate in the district. The author find that the final choice for the NFFWP was not consistent with the methodology mentioned, nor can it be defended by using other measures of backwardness.

Systematic evidence on the patterns of health deprivation among indigenous peoples remains scant in developing countries. The authors investigate the inequalities in mortality and substance use between indigenous and non-indigenous, and within indigenous, groups in India, with an aim to establishing the relative contribution of socioeconomic status in generating health inequalities.

Wasteland maps can help frame poverty alleviation programmes

Notwithstanding the legislative provisions to safeguard their landed interests, tribals are getting driven to circumstances in which retaining hold over the land under their possession is becoming difficult. The quality of land held by them is so poor that, in its present form, it cannot promise them any reasonable returns. The low returns leave little surplus for tribals to plough it back into agriculture to improve the quality of the land.

Largest groundnut cultivation
5,000 traditional water tanks
104 farmer suicides during 2000 02

Sal forest worth: Rs 30,000 crore
85% population dependent on forest
65% people below poverty line

Once rich in forest and grazing land
Now known as 20th century desert
68% population marginal and unemployed

First district for tribal development
Rampant deforestation
Malnutrition and starvation deaths