Political and Social Issues

social activist Medha Patkar has declined the Basava Award, citing the failure of the State Government in dealing with issues such as the mining scam.
It carries a citation and a purse of Rs.10 lakh for contribution towards social change and promotion of the principles championed by social reformer Basaveshwara.
Basava] award in the name of revolutionary saint-poet, philosopher Basaveshwara of 12th century, who promoted social change, reform and communal harmony.

The programme to provide subsidised foodgrains to beneficiaries under the proposed National Food Security Act is an agenda over which senior UPA ministers are losing sleep for, they find it difficult to implement within the existing Public Distribution System (PDS), full of loopholes.
The food subsidy bill — when the proposed Act comes into play — is expected to be over Rs. 1 lakh crore. The law seeks to provide legal entitlement to subsidised foodgrains to 75 per cent rural population and 50 per cent urban population.
the subsidised food security programme a “gigantic social responsibility,”
“At this juncture, we have serious limitations on all fronts like capacities of mandis, financial position of State agencies, manpower, quality inspection mechanism, storage and movement. Even at the level of operation, the Railways are finding it difficult to handle the movement.” A massive programme to enhance foodgrains output would require huge investments in irrigation, power and fertilizers, he said.

The future and safety of children are more important than the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) earning revenue out of selling liquor.
This is what the Madras High Court has observed while directing TASMAC to close a liquor shop with bar
By quixotic interpretation to the Prohibition Act and even in the teeth of Article 47 (of the Constitution) wherein the State had undertaken its endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption, except for medicinal purposes, of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health, the State is running liquor shops.

The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday gave the green signal for several concessions for those who have taken loans from cooperative banks, including expanding the scope of the Cooperative Risk Fund and waiver of advances and penal interests.
It also decided to approach the Centre for extending the repayment facility for education loans, currently allowed only to nationalised banks, to advances made by cooperative banks.