Environment ministry is not that ‘green’, reveals RTI

Jan 24, 2011

In an interesting revelation through an RTI, it is learnt that the environment ministry has been approving projects almost at the same rate as it did before environment minister Jairam Ramesh held reins and started his environment activism. The data provided by the

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Innovation rethought, redesigned, and reversed: To sustain and to include

Innovation rethought, redesigned, and reversed: To sustain and to include

Jan 21, 2011

Talking-and-thinking  points from the report ‘Sustainable and inclusive innovation – strategies for  tomorrow’s world’ by CII-ITC CESD – part 1 A hepatitis B vaccine that is 1/40th the cost of traditional  vaccines but meets UNICEF’s quality requirements; cataract surgeries, performed  on 300,000 patients

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Are government offices eco-friendly? Environment ministry not sure

Jan 19, 2011

The environment minister’s office, which is the flagbearer of the eco-friendly norms and has been pulling up the environment code violators, seems to have no clue if the buildings of central government offices in the country are eco-friendly and follow the environment ministry’s

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Donations to be taxed; NGOs demand action against fake organizations

Jan 17, 2011

The Direct Taxes Code Bill, which is scheduled to replace the Income Tax Act from April 1, 2012, proposes that charitable and not-for-profit organizations (NGOs) will be allowed a basic exemption of only one lakh rupees and any income over it will be

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Inflation hits 21,000 kids’ midday meal

Jan 17, 2011

One month from now, nearly 21,000 kids from 30 schools in Chandigarh might not get their midday meal as NGO Swami Shivananda Memorial Institute will withdraw its services and not supply food. The NGO says it is not being able to meet the

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Can and Able

Can and Able

Jan 14, 2011

[dropcap size=big]’T[/dropcap]here are no good jobs for people  with disabilities in a company; but there is a good person with a disability for every job in a company.’ This belief keeps the Ability  organisation going. Over 16 years of facilitating, encouraging and empowering

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CSR for the ‘differently abled’

Jan 14, 2011

In the very beginning of the year, a news story in one of the leading dailies of the country talked about how one wedding matchmaking website was cashing in on the ‘ability matrimony’ platform. BharatMatrimony, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR)

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Finance minister consults NGOs for budget – says grassroots feedback is significant

Jan 14, 2011

‘We are aware that it has been the government’s endeavour to engage this sector (NGOs) in policymaking, to improve the delivery of public goods and services to the people and help in strengthening accountability of public agencies and public officials,’ said Finance Minister

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GoM to find balanced approach towards environmental clearances to mining

Jan 13, 2011

Looking at the the never-ending issue between the ministry of coal and the ministry of environment, the cabinet has decided to form a group of ministers (GoM) to look into the issue of ‘no-go’ mining areas. The GoM is expected to find a

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Last heard: India’s missing stories

Jan 12, 2011

Until a few weeks, or even months, ago, I had dismissed this as random suspicion of a vexed, sunshine-starving mind. Today”in fact, a few minutes ago”the realization, so to speak, dawned that there is a pattern to it. To these missing trails, I

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