The Flash Statistics: Elementary Education in India: Progress towards UEE is based on the data received from all the States & UTs of the country for the year 2009-10.

Besides an Educational Development Index, the publication presents not only state-specific indicators but also brings in many new dimensions of elementary education into focus. It incorporates key indicators on all aspects of universalisation of elementary education in case of all the States & UTs of the country.

The Indian economy, on the eve of the Twelfth Plan, is characterised by strong macro fundamentals, and a very good performance over the Eleventh Plan period, though clouded by some slowdown in growth in the current year, continuing concern about inflation and a sudden increase in uncertainty about the global economy. The objective of the Eleventh Plan was faster and inclusive growth and the initiatives taken in the Eleventh Plan period have resulted in substantial progress towards both objectives.

August 29, 2011: Due to rapid growth in population and urbanization, the demand of water in the country has increased significantly, creating a water stress situation. Therefore, Government of India has undertaken review of National Water Policy to ensure sustainable and equitable development.

Union Minister for Rural Development Shri Jairam Ramesh said, delay in the payment of wages to workers is the biggest problem facing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MGNREGA. Addressing a meeting of Parliamentary Consultative Committee on MGNREGA attached to his Ministry here last evening, he said, complaints have come mainly from states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where wages were not paid in some areas ranging from nine months to a year.

The vision of the Ministry is “To facilitate creation of economically vibrant, inclusive, efficient and sustainable urban habitats”.
Consistent with the vision, the Mission is to “promote cities as engines of economic growth through improvement in the quality of urban life by facilitating creation of quality urban infrastructure, with assured service levels and efficient governance”.
1.6 The objectives of the Ministry are to:
• Facilitate creation of basic urban infrastructure relating to water supply, sanitation and urban transport to improve service levels and coverage by 2017.

Bharat Nirman, a programme to build rural infrastructure, was launched by the Government of India in 2005. Phase I of the programme was implemented in the period 2005-06 to 2008-09. Phase II is being implemented from 2009-10 to 2011-12. Rural drinking water is one of the six components of Bharat Nirman.

The latest drinking-water guidelines are now available for download or book order following their global launch at the Singapore International Water Week on 4 July 2011. These Guidelines are the product of systematic revisions over more than five years of extensive consultation with hundreds of experts. This 4th edition expands on key concepts like health-based targets and water safety planning; presents new risk assessments on microbial, chemical and radiological hazards, and addresses emerging issues of public concern like pharmaceuticals in drinking-water.

With a vision to ensure that all Indian cities and towns become totally sanitized, healthy and livable, ensure and sustain public health and environmental outcomes for all their citizens, the policy aims at development of state sanitation strategies and city sanitation plans, creation of open defecation free cities & sanitary and safe disposal of all human and liquid wastes.

The Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) was introduced in 1972-73 by the Government of India (GOI), to assist the States and Union Territories to accelerate the pace of coverage of drinking water supply. To ensure maximum inflow of scientific and technical input into the rural water supply sector to improve the performance, cost
effectiveness of the on-going programmes and ensure adequate supply of safe drinking water, the entire programme was given a Mission approach. The Technology Mission on drinking water and related water management was launched in 1986.

Recognizing the importance of Health in the process of economic and social development and improving the quality of life of our citizens, the Government of India has resolved to launch the National Rural Health Mission to carry out necessary architectural correction in the basic health care delivery system. The Mission adopts a synergistic approach by relating health to determinants of good health viz. segments of nutrition, sanitation, hygiene and safe drinking water. It also aims at mainstreaming the Indian systems of medicine to facilitate health care.