The South Asian

Transparency, Democracy and the UPA Government

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:13:20 -0600

New bills being proposed by the UPA government smacks of attempts to clamp down on democratic processes and transparency that enables these processes. It attempts to sustain the conditions that breed corruption. For all of Dr. Manmohan Singh's 'clean' image, the government must be called on abetting corruption.

New Policy Affects Independent Railway Caterers

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:15:35 -0600

The Delhi Solidarity Group points to new railways policy affecting caterers. The policy has resulted in termination of employment and livelihoods for thousands of small caterers while monopolizing these services in favor of few businessmen.

MCD OfficialsThreaten RTI Seeker with Death

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:04:11 -0600

Senior officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) came to the house of an RTI activist seeking information about illegal construction and threatened to have him murdered.

Kerala Panel Verdict: Coke Must Pay Damages

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:40:48 -0600

In what might be a landmark development, a state panel (headed by an Additional Chief Secretary in Kerala) has decided that Coca Cola must pay Rs. 200 Crores in damages for its operations in Plachimada. A report in The Hindu.

Opposing RTI

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:53:26 -0600

While the Right to Information has been one of the strongest laws empowering democracy in India, it faces serious threats - especially from the government.

Problems With A Communal Violence Bill

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:02:26 -0600

This is an urgent call to all democrats and responsible citizens to register their protest to the government of India for not having taken into consideration widespread demands since 2005 by independent legal experts, human rights defenders and secular activists for a much needed proper legislation on Communal Violence. Despite repeated efforts from civil society groups seeking specific changes in the proposed communal violence, the government has turned a deaf ear.

Saudi Arabia Patronizes Hafiz Sayeed

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:36:39 -0600

On one hand, Saudi Arabia rolls out the red carpet for the Indian PM. On the other hand it continues to patronise extremist militants in Pakistan. Is the Indian effort at better relationships with Saudi Arabia strategic or futile? Article by Tanveer Jafri.

Oppositiom to Civil Nuclear Liability Bill

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:20:34 -0600

Various civic society groups in India are opposing the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill - it places the liability of a nuclear accident on the tax-payers; private vendors who built it go free.

Waste Disposal in Union Carbide unit a Farce?

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:39:21 -0600

Despite Supreme Court orders, waste from the Union Carbide facility in Bhopal continues to go nowhere with incinerator not meeting environmental regulations.

Attempt to Scuttle RTI

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:24:26 -0600

A new bill by the Indian Government attempts to scuttle RTI.

Obama's Fear About Competition from India

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:02:03 -0600

Obama said US must worry about engineering students from India. Really? And does that mean engineering education in India is doing well?

The Growing Slums of Mumbai

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:32:26 -0600

Shirish Khare believes that the current approach by Mumbai administrators with regards to shantytowns in the city could in fact result in increasing number of communities living in slum conditions. Translated from the original article in Hindi.

Scientists Opine on Genetic Modification of Foods

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:02:25 -0600

Independent Scientists Write to the Prime Minister of India With Reference to The PMO Letter of July 2009 to Dr A Ramadoss which is Scientifically untenable

Moratorium on Bt Brinjal

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:51:00 -0600

Leading environmental and farmer groups have welcomed the decision by the Environment Minister to place a moratorium on bt Brinjal in India while sounding cautious that the language used sounds sketchy and allows for a quick turnaround if needed.

A Judgment for Slum Dwellers

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:25:30 -0600

After several years, a land mark judgment has come in favor of slum dwellers. A pro poor judgment has been delivered by the judiciary on the basis of existing legislation and policies, which were denied to them earlier in several cases. A note my Ramendra from Delhi Shramik Sangathan.