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The last Census in 2001 had estimated that out of a total Indian population of 1028 odd million, more than 285 million persons lived in urban areas, comprising 27.82% of total population. Further, the Registrar General of India had estimated in the year 2006 that by the next Census in 2011, urban population was expected to increase by about 72 million persons, and that 67% of total population growth in India in the next 25 years is expected to take place in urban areas alone.

Rural electrification has been regarded as a vital programme for the development of rural areas. It is now well accepted that electricity has become one of the basic human needs and every household must have access to electricity. In rural India, supply of electricity is needed for broad based economic and human development. In accordance with the Census 2001, about 1.2 lakh villages were un-electrified in the country and about 7.8 Crore rural households had no electricity.

With a large number of people living on subsistence level of income, the government has to safeguard their interest by ensuring availability of food grains at an affordable price. Success of any policy or programme to this effect depends on growth in agriculture production and procurement of wheat and rice, the main staple foodgrains.

New Delhi: The United Nations has noted that economic liberalization across the world since 1980s has slowed down growth and poverty reduction and increased inequality and vulnerability in most countries. The growth slowdown was market in all the years except the period 2003-08.

New Delhi: The data on Food Processing Industries/units in the country, is not centrally maintained. Since financial assistance is project oriented, no funds have been allocated State-wise. This shows the level of government's commitment regarding saving food-articles from decay.

New Delhi: A target of 32,950 has been fixed for training women from the Minority communities under the 'Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women' during the remaining months of the current financial year. For this an outlay of Rs. 8 crore has been made.

Why do the political parties give mere lip service to the common man on the increasing burden of price rise? They know that millions of those who live below the poverty line suffer from lack of jobs and inadequate supply of food grains. Their search for food, clothing and shelter continues to haunt them. It is a bizarre situation that they are unable to buy even essential commodities like wheat, rice, milk and pulses at reasonable prices.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) last week launched its inaugural New Zealand dollar Kauri issue with the pricing of a NZD225 million four-year bond. The proceeds will be part of ADB's ordinary capital resources and used in its non-concessional operations.

New York: As Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon prepares to attend the African Union (AU) summit this weekend in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, he stressed that the gathering comes at a crucial time for the continent with national polls looming in Sudan and both climate change and under-development posing serious threats to progress.

New York: Members of the international community agreed at a United Nations-backed meeting to boost their support for Yemen in its efforts to combat the threat posed by Al-Qaida and other terrorist or radical elements operating in the Arab country.