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Women Are Less Likely to Delegate Than Men

Women are less likely to delegate than men and that might hurt their careers. WSJ's Michelle Ma explains why women have a harder time passing off work to others.




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A gigantic investment deficit


We have grossly under-estimated the true cost of urban infrastructure in our country. 20-odd committees have considered this over several decades, and so have the Planning Commission and several Finance Commissions. But we don't really have a legitimate figure for our urban infrastructure needs, says Ramesh Ramanathan.




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India's legal backing for conservation


Governments in India have been using key provisions in environmental regulations to create and protect 'Ecologically Sensitive Areas'. Recently, the Supreme Court also pressed a state government on an ESA commitment. Kanchi Kohli reports on the practice and challenges.




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MoEF fails to act once again


Environment and forest clearances for Jindal Power's proposed thermal power plant in Tamnar have followed the predictably poor course of regulation set by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in recent years. Kanchi Kohli reports on the latest irregularity from the ministry, as a public hearing for the project looms.




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Producers sneak into Indian delegation, endorse DDT


How did two major operators in the POPs manufacturing-sector become part of India's official delegation to a conference which aims to eliminate their production and use? P N Venugopal reports on the embarassing, but unabashed capture of officialdom by a manufacturer.




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Environment clearance: A sham again


Want to build a power plant in an ecologically sensitive area? No problem. Just ask the ministry. Its permissions have become routine, and processes are merely paperwork to facilitate the outcome. Kanchi Kohli reports.




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Can illegal mining be stopped?


The Justice M B Shah Commission set up by the Ministry of Mines may have been prematurely discontinued, but its substantial impact in the early stages and interim findings clearly point to what its final report may hold. Kanchi Kohli reports.




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In Odisha, more tribal voices against mining


Around the country tribal communities are fighting against the mining companies, whose operations have threaten their livelihoods and ecosystem. The Kashipur movement to protect Baphlimali in Odisha is a classic example. Unfortunately, this too, like many other protests, saw merciless suppression and gross violation of human rights, reports Abhijit Mohanty.




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Indira Gandhi’s elite environmentalism : a paler shade of green


Darryl D’Monte reviews Indira Gandhi – A Life in Nature , a new book focussing on Indira Gandhi as a naturalist.




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Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai | “Settling” forest rights in “campaign mode” | For Pakistani Hindus in India, hopes start to sour


In this edition we look at a powerful documentary on the Muzaffarnagar communal riots that shook the nation in September 2013, the plight of Pakistani Hindus refugees in Delhi, the intent behind settling the forest rights claims of tribals, the crime, atrocities and discrimination against Dalits which is on  rise, the sad state of our nation's health care system, the message of Pope Francis’s latest Encyclical, and much more.




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How long before we can address mental health issues humanely | A celluloid tribute to Gandhi


In this edition we celebrate the World Mental Health Day by bringing you stories of some mental illness surviors, we remember the Father of the Nation with a review of film Gour Hari Dastaan inspired by his ideals. We also take a look into why developing Amravati, the capital Andhra Pradhesh, in the land earmarked for it could be a disaster, the pollution caused by chemical factories in Vapi , the corruption that is derailing our Tribal Sub Plan and more.




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Defending the right to legal aid


Convicted of murder without a lawyer to represent him during the trial, a man was finally set free by the Bombay High Court after a human rights lawyer obtained the landmark order that upholds the constitutional right for legal aid in case of indigent and poor undertrials.




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Killing the dead all over again


The recent verdict of the Andhra High Court acquitting all the accused in the horrific killing of eight Dalits in 1991 may be based on legal technicalities, but is an instance of justice denied, argues Venugopalrao Nellutla.




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Srirangapatna: Through prisoners' eyes


Poornima Dasharathi travels back in time to bring alive the adventures, sights and sounds in the erstwhile kingdom of Mysore under Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan, as recounted in the memoirs of two English prisoners of war.




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A celluloid tribute to Gandhi


At a time when we're drifting away from Gandhiji and the values he stood and fought for, a film like Gour Hari Dastaan comes as a reminder of what we've lost and forces us to reflect on why. Shoma Chatterji reviews this film about a Gandhian and his fight to prove that he was indeed a freedom fighter.




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Nagapattinam inching closer to normalcy


"We were pushed out of the queues for food, relief material, an even drinking water", says Bama Rajazhagan, a dalit. But not all is gloomy in Nagapattinam; district machinery, voluntary organisations, and the army are lending support to rebuilding. Krithika Ramalingam reports.




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Make trade fair, say sugarcane farmers


A multi-state campaign to draw attention to the adverse effect of agriculture and trade policies on sugarcane farmers has just ended. Padmalatha Ravi spoke with farmers and campaign coordinators in Tamilnadu, and traces the growth and decline of agricultural families' fortunes around this crop.




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Paddling hard against the flow


Mere participation as labourers is not enough to mainstream women's concerns in water management. Instead, they must be engaged as partners, whose roles are located in larger social and political structures. Sudhirendar Sharma reviews Flowing Upstream, a collection of essays drawing attention to this distinction.




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Inaction on panel findings against beverage major


A Pepsi bottling plant in Kerala is extracting excess groundwater and may be subjecting it to contamination risks, a state government study had reported several months ago. Despite meeting five times, a state assembly committee has not acted. M Suchitra digs deeper.




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The empire flows again


The second coming of the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh thus has opened the doors for total private control of Godavari waters. Sir Arthur Cotton's legacy is likely to continue without critical examination, writes R Uma Maheshwari.




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Grand plans for the Ganga


The World Bank and the Government have developed an extensive program of redevelopment for the Ganga basin, but thus far the scheme remains devoid of people's participation. Shripad Dharmadhikary reports.




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Reviving the Ganga, at the cost of its ecology!


The Rs 6300-crore plans for development of the Ganga waterway from Allahabad to Haldia should be undertaken only after meticulous examination of its impact on various elements of river ecology. Debadityo Sinha explains why.




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The great garbage rush


The belief that slum dwellers convert any structure they are given into another slum is thoroughly disproved in Charkop. There is clearly a sense of community, and each cluster feels proud to maintain the cleanliness of its surroundings, writes Kalpana Sharma.




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Civil litigation? No, thanks.


People are shunning civil litigation in the states where there is no hope of obtaining justice in a reasonable amount of time, where instead of relief from the court all they can expect is a new date for the next court hearing. Kannan Kasturi reports.




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NaMo Narmada: Who gains?


As elections draw closer, state rhetoric over the Sardar Sarovar dam heightening project is slowly reaching a crescendo as evident from various media reports, but who will finally benefit from the moves on the ground? Himanshu Upadhyaya asks some hard questions.




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Preparing the framework for a new Ganga vision


A Consortium of 7 IITs is working on a plan that will form the basis for the long-term vision for the government’s much-talked about Ganga rejuvenation programme. Shripad Dharmadhikary reviews an initial summary released by the Consortium as the framework within which the final plan will be drawn up.




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If the Ganga is so hot, can the Yamuna be far behind?


With the thrust on Ganga rejuvenation, rivers in India have become the focus of attention from several international players. Manoj Misra points out how this may explain some recent statements from the government's partner in Yamuna restoration, JICA.




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Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai : Unique example of solidarity


Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts in western Uttar Pradesh had their long standing communal harmony destroyed by the riots that took place there in September 2013. Shoma Chatterji reviews the powerful documentary Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai which looks closely into the how, why and the aftermath of these riots.




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Ushering in change, the Ningamani way


On learning that she could find out why her widow pension was being delayed, she made her grandson write out an RTI application on her behalf. When she got her pension, I realised how powerful this law could be, writes R Balasubramaniam.




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Struggling against the double whammy of caste and gender


As part of a study on the socio-economic status of women from the ‘Most Backward Castes’, women from the Nayibrahmin or barber community talk of their lives of oppression and deprivation. Akhileshwari Ramagoud recounts their tales.




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NBA's Andre Iguodala on Investing, Kaepernick and Legacy

Former Golden State Warrior Andre Iguodala talks to WSJ's Lee Hawkins about being an active tech investor, his commitment to opening doors for other athletes and people of color, and the benefits of having a "strict" mother.




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J.P. Morgan Knew of Trading Risks

Some top J.P. Morgan executives and directors were alerted to risky practices by a team of London-based traders two years before that group's botched bets cost the bank more than $2 billion. David Reilly has details on The News Hub. Photo: Bloomberg.




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Study: Mortgage Deduction Gives Profits to Lenders

More than $10 billion a year in U.S. taxpayer subsidies meant to assist house buyers may instead be adding to the profits of lenders. Jack Hough reports on Markets Hub. Photo: Reuters.




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Gail Simmons on Learning to Say No

Gail Simmons, food expert and Top Chef judge, tells WSJ's Veronica Dagher how she learned to say no to some opportunities, value her time and follow her passions.




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Leading Your Organization With the Diamond Process

A business is only as strong as its foundation. Retired Gen. Michael Diamond joins Lunch Break's Tanya Rivero to share a process he developed through years of high-level military service that can strengthen any organization. Photo: iStock





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How to Navigate a Business Trip

Many people in their 20s find themselves on the road for work but aren't sure how to behave. Emily Glazer on The News Hub discusses the protocol for work travel. Photo: Getty Images.




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Bengal poll results will sink or save Left Front

Clearly, there are few states as important as West Bengal with 42 seats, and the all-important question in Kidderpore on Saturday and all other nights in the run-up to May 16 is, will the fabled party machinery of the Left Front hold its 35 seats in the Lok Sabha?




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'Muslim factor' in Bengal may surprise complacent CPI-M

There's more to being elected from Calcutta North than the ability to turn a phrase around different consonants at the same time, and Mohammed Salim is keenly aware of this fact.




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'There is no Bengal line or Delhi line'

The Left party workers are keenly aware that the election for the 15th Lok Sabha is the severest test for the party ever since it took power in Bengal 32 years ago.




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Karat's acid test and Left Front's greatest gamble

Karat's magnificent effort to launch a national third alternative may simply fall apart. If the Third Front refuses to hold after May 16 and if the CPI-M fares badly in both Bengal and Kerala, the party will substantially lose its bite. If the CPI-M stands firm, however, Karat's party will roar like a lion in Delhi's concrete jungle.




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Will 'winds of change' blow away CPI-M in rural Bengal?

Bengal's picture-perfect villages have been home to the hammer-and-sickle for an astounding three decades, but now that the rural idyll is cracking, the Left Front is being forced to confront the sight of the three-petalled symbol of the Trinamool Congress and the sounds of rebel voices rising against its perceptible clout.




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'This is the biggest gamble the Third Front has undertaken'

'If the Left can get its plans and policies in place and is able to influence the direction of the new government, then we will join,' says powerful CPI-M leader Biman Bose.




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Telangana by-election hits tobacco warning


At least one controversial issue raging in the Karimnagar by-election race in A.P. has taken its toll. Union Minister Oscar Fernandes has assured the region's beedi workers of modifying a controversial New Delhi order that has mandated a skull-denoted warning on beedi packets. Kondal Rao reports.




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A forgotten Bengali hero


He designed the general elections, India’s greatest gift to itself. It is time the Bengali mathematician-turned-civil servant got his due, writes Ramachandra Guha.




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SC keeps door open on negative voting


A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court has referred the question of whether voters should have the option to declare their lack of confidence in all the candidates on a ballot to a Constitution bench. Kannan Kasturi reports.




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Independents galore in Phase IV

Independents galore in Phase IV




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How Narendra Modi's propaganda won out in Gujarat

The proactive engagement with business and corporate leaders and the reciprocation in turn indicate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's ability to exploit the superficiality and lack of ideological depth on part of those preoccupied with profit and business isolated from a larger world view, feels Jatin Bhatt




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Mr Modi, state politics is not a national game

Invincible as he appears in his western stronghold, can Narendra Modi sweep forth from it and take New Delhi for an insurgent BJP? The good news for Modi's rivals in his party is that these results don't even begin to suggest he can.




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The 'Other' Games in London

For those without a ticket at the London games, there's another option. A game design group, Hide&Seek, has placed 99 "Tiny Games" in each of London's 33 boroughs. They're meant to be happened upon, and as WSJ's Andy Jordan finds out, they can lead to some random and funny situations.