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The National Family Planning Programme (FPP) was promoted to restrict the increasing population by reducing the high birth rates in India. It was also encouraged for its potential to reduce poverty, hunger and avert maternal and childhood deaths. Several studies have found a positive association between women empowerment and lower fertility, longer birth intervals and lower rates of unintended pregnancy. Family planning (FP) services gave a sense of autonomy to women to decide when to have children and how many. However, the available services were so womencentric that it puts the burden of FP almost entirely on them, whether it was in the use of contraceptive methods, sterilization or abortions. Despite half a century of efforts to reduce population growth, India still faces challenges in delivering a FPP to help couples delay and space out their children that goes beyond female sterilization. Sharing of FP responsibilities by men during these years has been dismal. The burden of FP also seems to have a negative impact on the economic empowerment of women. This article examines the FPP in India through a women's perspective. It uses empirical evidence to show how burden of FP is mainly borne by women. It recommends shifting the focus on men and making FP a shared responsibility between men and women, if gender equality has to be achieved in FPPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusive development must involve women since poverty is particularly acute for women living in rural households. There is a need to empower these poor women through science and technology (S&T). Discussions on the recently announced Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, 2013, however, have not deliberated what the policy entails not only for women involved in S&T but also what S&T has to offer to the poor rural women and improve their lives. This is not a new phenomenon in India as S&T policies have not been particularly favourable to women in S&T since the inception of the Five-Year Plans. The foundation set up during the Nehruvian era continued during later years as well. To understand this the present article attempts to explore how the concerns of women were addressed during the initial Five-Year Plans to the current phase with particular focus on bringing socio-economic empowerment of women through S&T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azospirillum bio-fertilisers as a source of nutrients bring multifarious advantages for the poor farmers including affordability, environmental safety and sustainability of agriculture systems. Researchers, manufacturers and farmers have also benefited from this bio-innovation. An innovation systems approach has been used for analysing organisations along with the institutions and policies specific to this bio-innovation to understand their poverty alleviation focus. The main research question explored was: In what way do the poor participate and how their needs are expressed and represented in policies and programmes for bio-fertilisers? Though, Azospirillum bio-innovation system is very vibrant with diverse actors and linkages, poverty focus did not get reflected in the agenda of these actors and organisations. This paper while analysing the Azospirillum bio-innovation system brings out positive lessons from some local efforts in the State which can be helpful in bringing a pro-poor focus to the public sector R&D in the State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian agriculture has been successful in increasing foodgrains production in the past, guided by the goals of 'self-sufficiency' in the country. The mission of increasing foodgrains production somehow stands achieved, however, accompanied by series of problems related to the environment and natural resources. We have reached a situation where we must look for new directions, learning from our past. Conservation agriculture can be seen as a new way forward for conserving resources and enhancing productivity to achieve the goals of sustainable agriculture, which demands a strong knowledge base and a combination of institutional and technological innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses how agricultural policy and science deal with the problem of increasing exploitation of low quality irrigation water and consequent deterioration of water quality in the States of Punjab and Haryana in India. In these cereal growing tracts the policy objective of food security is translated into production technologies, price protection and subsidies. Deterioration of water quality is countered with technocentric solutions. The paper argues that the response of science to the complexities involved in natural resource problems or in the scientific understanding of farmers partial response to technological solutions recommended to improve degraded resources, is due to the existing "administrative rationalism" of natural resource bureaucracies. This administrative rationalism, "the problem-solving discourse which emphasizes the role of the expert rather than the citizen" allows policy and science to maintain their hierarchy in determining policy goals and technological solutions with scant ecological or democratic concerns. Sustainable use of water demands institutional reform in agricultural policy and the agricultural sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a training course "Empowering Women through Family Planning and Economic Development Interventions" held on May 15-19, 2017 in Bali, Indonesia. Topics discussed includes repositioning of family planning as a health and development issue, government programs providing training and skill improvement for the midwives, and establishing partnerships to increase participation of couples of child-bearing age.

In this article, the author discusses Government of India release of the Draft National Health Policy, 2015, which aims to improve the overall health care delivery system in the country. Topics discussed include adoption of policies to reduce gender-based inequalities in health, differences in the conditions experienced by women and men, and an increase in the life expectancy for women.

The article offers information on the status of women in relation to their employment in India. It states that despite 48.4 percent of the Indian population are women, female labour force participation rate remains less than half of that of males in the country. It further highlights the National Policy on Skill Development launched in 2009, which emphasized on equal access to skill development among all social groups, particularly women employment.

Information about several topics discussed at the International Nitrogen Conference held December 3-7, 2010 organized by the Indian Nitrogen Group on nitrogen management for sustainable development is presented. Topics include nitrogen in food security, energy security and industry and management of reactive nitrogen. The symposium featured several delegates including Satish Chander, Shailesh Nayak and N. Raghuram.

Information about the World Day to Combat Desertification by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held on June 17, 2008 in India is presented. The convention aimed to bring concerned professionals together and promote the cause of Professional Alliance for Conservation Agriculture (PACA). Sanjeev Vasudev welcomed the delegates on behalf of PACA during the opening session while R. B. Singh talked about reforms in agriculture to meet the needs of climate change.

A letter to the editor is presented about professional associations and proactive scientists.

The article discusses the issue of depeasantization in Punjab, India of small farmer families and the effect on women. Topics mentioned include the agricultural crisis experienced in the country, cases of farmer suicides, and the responsibility of women in the absence of their husbands. It also mentioned the problems faced by women such as poor job opportunities, discrimination in the workforce, and the vulnerability to sexual harassment.

The author comments on an editorial about achieving goals of ecological and economic sustainability. The editorial advocated for evergreen revolution which served as the best option in meeting the goals of sustainability. The need for knowledge base has also been highlighted in achieving these goals.