Montek advocates new parameters for human development index

October 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A senior government official Monday questioned the veracity of the latest United Nations' Human Development Index, where India has been ranked 134. I would suggest the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) to also look at how the report is perceived around the world.

October 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's economy will grow at 6.3 percent this fiscal as per prediction, while inflation would remain under 5 percent, according to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. "The GDP (gross domestic product) would be at 6.3 percent by the end of this fiscal, as predicted, but could be even better given the signs of economic recovery," Ahluwalia said here Monday.

October 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Remittances from Indian migrant workers, which are about 1.5 times more than the total foreign investments in the country, have far-reaching benefits such as pushing up school enrolment, according to a United Nations report. Additionally, remittances help reduce fertility and empower women, said the Human Development Report prepared by the United Nations Development Programme, released globally Monday.

October 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The quality of life in India continues to be appalling with the country ranked poorly at 134 among 182 countries on the Human Development Index of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that was released globally Monday. The ranking clearly shows India has slipped in comparative terms in ensuring a better quality of life for its citizens as in the previous index, published for 2007 and 2008 together, it ranked 128, while the position the year before was 126.

August 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission on Tuesday said that India's growth projection could be trimmed due to a poor monsoon. Yet the country has adequate food stocks to counter inflationary pressures, he said while addressing an international meet on key inputs for accelerated development of Indian power sector for the XII Plan held here.

August 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was set up by the Centre on Thursday to tackle drought situation in nearly one-fourth of the country. EgoM includes Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and Power Minister Sushil Shinde.

August 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government Thursday set up a group of ministers (GoM), headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, to monitor the drought situation and the price rise front. The GoM includes Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Home Minister P.

August 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Eleven members of a council constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to advise the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) met here on Wednesday. The council is expected to advise the UIDAI on the program, methodology and implementation to ensure coordination between ministries, departments, stakeholders and partners.

July 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Central Government is proposing to rationalize the parameters for the Mid-day Meal Scheme, as a step towards further benefiting the children covered under this scheme, according to Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) Kapil Sibal. Inaugurating the conference of State Education Secretaries and Project Directors being held to review matters related to school education and literacy here today, Sibal said that while the mid-day scheme has been seen, through studies, to improve enrolment of children in school substantially, a rationalization of its parameters is now required.

July 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Friday said the government was considering allowing new autonomous colleges to be set up independent of universities but with stringent quality parameters. Addressing a meeting of principal secretaries and secretaries of higher education from various states here, Sibal said: "The government is thinking in terms of allowing the setting up of autonomous colleges." Elaborating on his idea, Sibal told IANS: "Right now, there is no institution that starts as an autonomous college.

July 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) has been constituted under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

July 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Tuesday said that Rajya Sabha member Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan will be appointed as a member of the commission. "Dr K Kasturirangan has to be appointed as member of the Planning Commission but he has not been appointed formally so far because he has to resign as Rajya Sabha member for the purpose," said Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

June 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The reappointed Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, on Saturday said the commission would focus on infrastructure development and inclusive growth. "President's address has given much emphasis on infrastructure...

June 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Montek Singh Ahluwalia is back at Planning Commission as its deputy chairman along with three new members - economists Saumitra Chaudhuri and Mihir Shah, and honorary vice chancellor of Pune University Narendra Jadhav. Human rights activist Syeda Hameed, economist Abhijit Sen, and former cabinet secretary B.K.

March 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Gender development and empowerment indices have not improved in India particularly in low-income states, said a report by the women and child development ministry released Sunday. The report - Gendering Human Development Indices: Recasting the Gender Development Index and Gender Empowerment Measure for India - is an initiative of the ministry in association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) compiled by the Indian Institute of Public Administration here.