Paris

Potential Concerns with the Proposed Food Security Bill

On Friday, relevant ministries in the Government of India and the National Advisory council are going to start a round of negotiations to finalize the much awaited food security bill. The key issue up for debate is the question of universalization of the entitlement. The initial draft bill restricted the entitlement to the country’s poorest. … Continue reading "Potential Concerns with the Proposed Food Security Bill"

Paris

Institutionalizing Social Accountability: Considerations for Policy

Social accountability mechanisms can contribute to improved governance, increased development effectiveness through better service delivery, and citizen empowerment. However, critical to the success of Social Accountability initiatives is civil society and state capacities, and the synergy between the two.  Ultimately, the effectiveness and sustainability of social accountability mechanisms is improved when they are institutionalized. This … Continue reading "Institutionalizing Social Accountability: Considerations for Policy"

Paris

Mid Day Meal Scheme – Centralisation is no panacea

The National programme for Nutritional Support for Primary Education commonly referred to as the Mid Meal Scheme (MDM’s) is aimed at providing supplementary nutrition to primary school children with the overall objective of enhancing enrollment, retention and participation of children while simultaneously improving their nutritional status. Under the scheme every child in every government school … Continue reading "Mid Day Meal Scheme – Centralisation is no panacea"

Paris

So Where’s the Debate?

The Budget Session of Parliament has been on from February 22nd and will continue till May 7th , but with a little over a week left of the session, it begs the question – where has been the debate? Rather – what has Parliament been debating ? Nearly every day these last few weeks, we … Continue reading "So Where’s the Debate?"

Paris

From the right to education to the right to food

From the right to education to the right to food, solving our development problems by clothing India’s citizens with new rights seems to be the flavor of our times. What should we make of this rise of rights? Skeptics have argued (and with some conviction) that this expansion of rights serves merely to raise expectations … Continue reading "From the right to education to the right to food"