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A monthly Review of clippings on Critical Issues & Concerns for NGOs, Activists
and others concerned with Justice & Social Change
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November 2007


Back in the News

Nandigram dominated the print and electronic media for the most part of November, but the question that begs an answer remains: what is really happening there?

SEZ


Last call on Climate

Three reports, the Human development Report and two by independent NGO's take the last call on climate change - the verdict - impending disaster, especially for the world's poor. The defining challenge of the 21st century - combating climate change.

Climate Change
Children of the Future

Another children's day and it is time to remind ourselves that Nov 19th is observed as
Prevention of Child Abuse Day.

Children

Health for All

Only half the women in our country have access to medical care during pregnancy and delivery, and half the population does not have access to toilets and safe drinking water.

HEALTH


Labour Rights

Labour lawyers have expressed concern over the growing trend of
Supreme Court decisions going against labour.

LABOUR

The Right to Mine

A Recent Supreme Court judgment in the Vedanta case brings to the fore the State's responsibility in protecting marginalised communities and rights to natural resources

MINES & PEOPLE


A Market friendly turn?

The Indo-US Knowledge Initiative signed in 2005 is seeking to make changes in the fields of GMOs, contract farming and the food retail sector.

AGRICULTURE



The Wages of Employment

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme costs less than the subsidies given to the rich: less then one percent of the GDP

RURAL EMPLOYMENT

Forests for the People

The Forests Right is not a land distribution measure, but a measure to address the failure to record peoples' rights during the process of declaring government forests.

FORESTS & PEOPLE

Place for the Homeless

The new policy on Resettlement and Rehabilitation addresses the critical issue of minimising
displacement, but only in passing

Displacement

Life in the Metro

Redevelopment in metro-lingo, means several things at the same time, for the most part it means land grab, builder friendly laws, displacement and loss of livelihoods for the many.

URBANISATION


A Dumping Ground

Is India turning out to be a major dumping ground for the world's most toxic wastes?

POLLUTION


In the Red Zone

Anti-Naxal operations by armed vigilant groups have resulted in the displacement of one lakh people in just one district in the state of Chattisgarh.

NAXALITES

A place in the Sun

Corporate India, it appears, would rather march on without offering the Dalits and Muslims a share.

SUBALTERN CONCERNS

The Ugly Face

Not only the truth about post-Godhra carnage in Gujarat, but also the recent violent protests in Communist bastion Bengal, reveals the ugly face of communalism in the country.

COMMUNALISM


More on the Janaadesh

The recently concluded Janaadesh in Delhi has put the issue of land reform back on the national agenda.

CIVIL SOCIETY


Many Unheard of Voices

Little known and lesser heard individuals are showing alternate ways to reach out to the
vulnerable, and establish justice.

ALTERNATIVES

Backlash in Assam

Recent violence unleashed by local people on adivasi settlers in Gahati and retaliation by adivasis, is just the tip of the iceberg of social tensions in Assam.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE