Huge population at fluorosis risk / SMRITI KAK RAMACHANDRAN

With drinking water in 14,132 habitations in 19 States still containing fluoride above the permissible levels, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry fears that a huge population is at risk of serious health conditions such as skeletal fluorosis.

The Ministry has now urged the Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry to ensure the supply of safe drinking water in these habitations.

Data collated by the latter say Rajasthan has the highest number of such habitations (7,670), affecting 48,84,613 people. Telangana has 1,174 such districts with 19,22,783 affected people. Karnataka has 1,122 such districts and Madhya Pradesh 1,055. Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh too face the problem.

The World Health Organization guideline value for fluoride is 1.5 mg per litre, with a target of between 0.8 and 1.2 mg per litre to maximise benefits and minimise harmful effects. Fluoride levels in the body depend on climate and intake of the chemical from drinking water and other sources, the WHO says.

Fluoride contamination affects the teeth and bones and long-term excessive exposure causes abdominal pain, excessive saliva, nausea, vomiting, seizures and muscle spasms.

The WHO says fluroide levels above 1.5 mg per litre causes pitting of tooth enamel and deposits in bones. Levels above 10 mg per litre cause the crippling skeletal fluorosis.

The government has started the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis in 2008-09. In 2013-14, the programme was brought under the National Rural Health Mission, which has so far covered 111 districts.

The programme includes surveillance of fluorosis in the community, training and manpower support, establishment of diagnostic facilities, treatment and health education. The Indian Council of Medical Research has formed a task force on fluorosis to address issues related to prevention and control.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/huge-population-at-fluorosis-risk/article6733905.ece

Sebi flags down govt on India-US tax pact | FATCA / Jayshree P Upadhyay

Signing of an inter-government agreement (IGA) between India and the US on the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (Fatca) might not be smooth, despite New Delhi getting a one-month extension for this, as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has raised some concerns over the US tax norms.

According to sources in the know of the matter, the market regulator has written to the finance ministry, saying Fatca in its current form lacks complete reciprocity from the US counterparts, and there is an asymmetry in due-diligence requirements.

"In a note to the Fatca council, Sebi has sought that the council iron out the issues, including the registration requirement, penal provisions and reciprocity from US counterparts," said a source.

In June this year, India had in substance reached an agreement on the terms of an IGA to implement Fatca; India is treated as having an IGA in effect from April 11, 2014. But the inter-government pact can be signed only after the Union Cabinet's approval. It was originally to be inked by the end of this year but the US has now extended the deadline for it to January 31 next year.

Sources close to the development say the signing has been delayed because of Indian financial institutions' unpreparedness.

Fatca was enacted by the US to detect and discourage tax evasion by persons living and earning in that country. Under this Act, the financial institutions in signatory countries have to report their American clients to the US' Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - failure to do so leads to a withholding tax liability of 30 per cent on the institutions concerned.

After reaching an in-principle agreement with the US, the Indian government set up a council, with representatives from the finance ministry and regulators as members, to frame rules on reporting under the Act.

According to policy-makers, the thinking within North Block is that there should be a Common Reporting Standard (CRS) acceptable to the G-20 nations, instead of rules for reporting of American clients alone.

Market participants believe the penal provision of 30 per cent liability for non-reporting is 'too-high'. "The 30 per cent withholding tax liability on assumption of non-compliance is not creditable under the Indian Tax Act. The Indian institutions will need to work on processes to be able to furnish information and comply with the regulations and avoid being penalised for unintentional lapses," said Rahul Garg, leader (direct tax), PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Other tax experts believe the extra-territorial aspect of Fatca remains a concern.

"The Indian tax laws do not have provisions to extract data or information on Indian income from other countries. The question of complete reciprocity from US counterparts does not arise, as the Indian tax laws do not tax non-residents even if the income generated is based out of India," said Sunil Shah, partner, Deloitte Haskin & Sells.

The Indian government is to sign the IGA under 'Model A', which will entail reporting by financial institutions to the US authorities through the Indian regulators and government.

Accounts under $50,000 in value will not be scrutinised. Large broking and mutual fund houses predominately tapping foreign investors are likely to be affected, as compliance norms for high-value accounts will be more stringent. Financial institutions might be required to assign relationship managers for these accounts and clients.

According to data on the Sebi website, the total investments by non-resident Indians through custodians this financial year stood at close to Rs 2,000 crore until November. More than 90 per cent of the accounts involved were higher than $50,000 in value.

The amount likely to come under scrutiny is close to Rs 130 crore under the mutual fund route.

---

FATCA FACES HURDLES

• Sebi has written to the finance ministry over lack of complete reciprocity from the US counterparts
• Regulator has raised market concerns on penal provisions and lack of symmetry in reporting standards
• Fatca council to draft common reporting standards for market intermediaries that are acceptable to G-20 nations
• As of Nov, NRIs had invested a total of Rs 2,000 cr through Indian custodians
• Rs 130 cr channelled through the mutual fund route could come under scrutiny

-----

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/sebi-flags-down-govt-on-india-us-tax-pact-114122900041_1.html

Ugly | Short Review

एक कहानी जो बेहद आसान सी हो सकती थी... किसी का खोना और फिर धीरे धीरे मिल जाना, या मनमोहन देसाई नुमा फिल्म सा बड़ा होकर हीरो बन जाना...लेकिन हम अनुराग कश्यप को देख रहे हैं, सब कुछ सीधे सीधे नहीं होता न आसानी से. बहुत पहले ही हमें पता था की इस फिल्म की कहानी एक छोटी बच्ची के खोने की कहानी है....लेकिन कहानी इससे कहीं आगे की है... ये कहानी एक पुलिस अफसर की है जिसका दम्भ एक औरत को 'कीप' बनाता है, शारीरिक और मानसिक रूप से टॉर्चर करता है और जो अपने पास्ट में जी रहा है. एक औरत की है जो अपने प्रेमी के साथ भागने की गलती कर चुकी है और अपने एकतरफा-प्रेमी के साथ रह रही है. जो ज़िन्दगी से ज्यादा नशे में रहना पसंद करती है. एक असफल एक्टर की है जिसकी असफलता ने उसकी पर्सनल ज़िन्दगी बर्बाद कर दी. एक कमीने लड़के की है जो अपने बाप-बहिन को ठगने से नहीं डरता. एक दोस्त की है दोस्ती जिसकी जात नहीं है... और (साल्ले) सब के सब भावनाहीन और स्वकेंद्रित हैं. ये कहानी आज के महानगरीय समाज की है जो अंदर से सड़ा है लेकिन बाहर से बहुत सारा ताम-झाम लगा सुन्दर बनने की कोशिश कर रहा है. एक लड़की के गुम होने की चिंता न उसकी माँ को है, न उसके बाप को है (न शायद सौतेले बाप को ही ). सबके अपने अपने मकसद हैं और उसे पाने में जुटे हुए हैं. गुम लड़की का नाना जिस तरह अपनी जमा पूँजी लगाने को तैयार हो जाता है, और लड़की की माँ अपने ही बाप को ठगती है... ये ज़रूर दो पीढ़ियों के बीच का अंतर बताता है. शायद पीढ़ी दर पीढ़ी हम और भी कमीने होते जाने वाले हैं.... कभी न वापिस इंसान बनके आने के लिए.

अंत में मिली 10 साल को छोटी बच्ची की सड़ी हुई लाश हमारे अंदर के मरे हुए इंसान की लाश लगती है (सबके अंदर का इंसान कुछ कुछ मरा हुआ है, अपने अंदर भी ज़रा झांक के देखना.) और उसकी सड़ांध हमारे समाज की सड़ांध है. दीपक सौलंकी का लिखा अंत का गाना पूरी गाथा लगता है... और फिल्म का अंत देख सुन्न पड़े कानों में सच का शोर सा है.

अभिनय सबके लाजवाब हैं...लेकिन इंस्पेक्टर के रोल में गिरीश कुलकर्णी ने कमाल किया है.

Watch for Story, Acting, Anurag Kahyap.

Do not watch if you wanna miss year's one of best film.

My Rating: 83%

Nationwide hydrology data soon

With flood damage in the country pegged in the range of Rs. 6,000 crore a year, according to official estimates, India is poised to adopt a World Bank-funded hydrology project. Such a project has already made a difference in 13 States which opted for it in the earlier two phases.

Under the proposed expansion of the project, States will be able to generate and digitise their own data without waiting for central help. The project for the whole country is estimated to cost Rs. 3,000 crore.

The project, the first phase of which began some 20 years back, has digitised real time data in 13 States, according to Anju Gaur, senior water specialist, World Bank. Some of the main reasons for floods are poor reservoir management systems as was witnessed some years ago in Western Maharashtra. Farmers sometimes face problems as they plant crops without knowing if there is assured water from reservoirs.

There is no reliable hydrological data and some of the figures are as old as 1993. The project, in partnership with the Union Water Resources Ministry and other agencies, was aimed at developing monitoring systems in the States. The use of such data on water storage and availability is unlimited, Ms. Gaur pointed out and can be used in decision support system (DSS). The project has completed two phases and established the basis for a Hydrological Information System (HIS) for reliable records.

Data collection was near primitive till as recent as 2009 when in Karnataka, gauge readers from drought-affected areas would send in figures on post cards. Karnataka first asked for mobile phones so that data could be sent speedily and later moved to setting up systems for real-time data since gauge readers often did not venture into the field.

The major handicap was the unwillingness to share data across States citing confidentiality issues. There is a culture of not sharing data and the project resulted in a major breakthrough by the government which introduced a data policy, she said.

The Bhakra Beas Management Board and the Krishna Bhima Basin in Maharashtra are two examples where real time water data has helped to take many decisions and to prevent floods. Maharashtra is one of the best managed States in terms of water, Ms. Gaur said and one of the earliest to go in for the hydro meteorological system.

The project gives data which can help release of water from reservoirs and prevent untimely floods. The operating costs have gone down by half due to advance knowledge of water availability, rainfall and even water quality, Ms. Gaur said.

Though the initial investment is high, over the years the States have found that it is worthwhile. “The project made information travel faster than flood waters,” remarked Ms. Gaur. The data also uses satellite to help figure the amount of snow melt, and make projections on the flows into the reservoir. This is particularly useful in the case of the Bhakra basin.

Apart from flood prevention, the data and real time monitoring of water flows also helps in analysing and testing proposed projects. She said a tunnel project to divert water in Pune was dropped as a result.

As part of the project, water quality stations have been set up in the Ganga river at 10 locations from Hrishikesh to Kolkata. The Rs. 550-crore project in two phases which is complete, is a loan to the government of India and aimed at a complete standardised centralised water data system.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/nationwide-hydrology-data-soon/article6729668.ece

दिल को बासी रोटी के साथ गाय को खिला देना

जब अंदर से थक जाता है
सर के बल खड़ा हो जाता है
आदमी उलटबंसी है
अरमान तोड़ दिमाग के डिसीजन्स
उफ़! की ज़िंदा हो तुम अब भी?

चार आदमी मरे चालीस के पहले
गुरुदत्त के मुंह से खून निकला....देखा तुमने?
एक दिन बस मेरी बारी, अगली तुम्हारी!

--
राख किनारे कितनी नदियां बही?
नदी में राख बही, आदमी बहे,
नदी ज़िंदा रही.

सदी ज़िंदा, साल ज़िंदा,
आँखें ज़िंदा, याद भी.

--
कल सपने में रात को ख्वाब दिखाया था
आज शाम तक सोती रही रात
सूरज उगने का इंतज़ार करता रहा.
उफ़! की ये ख्वाब मेरे,
एक तो लम्बे चौड़े
ऊपर से नींद में दौड़ने की आदत!

--
मत पढ़ो,
समझोगी नहीं.
दिमाग से ही काम लो
दिल को बासी रोटी के साथ
गाय को खिला देना,
जिसे तुम माँ कहती थीं!

Unposted Letter

लिखना जब ज़िन्दगी का आखिरी न मनाया त्यौहार लगे
और तुम्हारी सांसे फिर मुझे गर्माहट दें
चुपके से लबों में समा जीवित हो जाओ,
तो आखिरी लफ्ज़ भी आखिर तुम्हें ही दूँ.

तुमसे दूर जाना बोर्डिंग जाने सा है,
भय, भय और भय बस.
तुम तक पहुंचना मनु का पहला कदम धरती पे.
अफ़सोस में तुमसे दूर नहीं जा सकता, न तुम तक ही.
शादी के बाद लड़कियां घर से पराई नहीं होती बस,
तारों से भी होती हैं.
वे तार जो सितारे लाने के वादे करते हैं
फिर खुद अँधेरे में डूब जाते हैं.

पराई औरतें पराये मर्दों से बात नहीं करती
सभ्यता के आदम में किसी गधे ने लिखा था ये,
लेकिन पराई औरतें पराये आदमी के साथ जी लेती हैं,
प्यार और ऊष्मा के परे.

आज की कविता तुम्हारे नाम लिखता,
स्याही कम है, कागज़ स्याह हैं
और रात आधी है, जो काट रहा है
तुम्हारा ये तार सितारों की ओट में.

कविता टेबल पे पड़े
बिस्किट कुतर रही है.

New PPP contracts to have renegotiation clause / Vrishti Beniwal

The Union finance ministry is not for putting a renegotiation clause in previously awarded public-private partnership (PPP) contracts, saying that would be against law. It is, however, looking to put such a clause in new contracts, to revive investment in infrastructure projects.

Officials said certain renegotiation triggers might be necessary for long-term projects, as in the case of some complicated construction contracts. If the scope of a project is changed midway, that could trigger renegotiation. The ministry might soon come up with a guidance note or a discussion paper on this.

“You can’t change the conditions after awarding the contract. It can lead to disputes and others can challenge it. (But) In a 60-year contract, you don’t know what will happen. However, if a renegotiation happens, it should not alter financial returns,” said a  ministry official.

Earlier, the infrastructure sectors, particularly roads and power, had pushed for changes in the terms of signed contracts to get more favourable terms, in the case of those which had become financially unsustainable due to extra-aggressive bidding to secure them. GMR, GVK, Adani, Reliance Power and Tata Power are some companies which have tried to modify their contracts or exit these.

“Most projects in the roads sector are not doing well. If they extend the maturity or reduce the premium, that would be a violation of original bid conditions. So, rather than renegotiating, they must concentrate on addressing the fundamental aspects,” said Rajaraman Venkataraman, director, infrastructure, India Ratings.

The industry has been pushing for introduction of a mechanism to avoid unrealistic over-bidding by companies. And, to enable contract renegotiation, to ease the pressure on the balance sheets of banks, staring at huge non-performing assets due to developers’ inability to pay.

Government officials, on the other hand, said there already was a ‘force majeure’ clause (meaning, for unforeseen events that include major macro economic changes and excuse a party from an obligation).

“We are looking at best practices in the world for contract renegotiation. The longer the term of contract, the better it is for both the sides,” added the official.

Globally, about a third of projects undertaken on a PPP basis have to be renegotiated. This is higher in  sectors such as transport, water and sanitation. Usually, the renegotiations have been favorable to the companies, resulting in increased rates or lower investment obligations.

“As the country with one of the world’s largest share of private sector investments, India is being keenly monitored and would do well to use this opportunity to devise best practices for renegotiation of PPP contracts and set global standards,” rating agency CRISIL had said in a report earlier this year.

Under the 12th five-year Plan, ending in 2016-17, an investment of Rs  55,75,072 crore or 8.18 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product has been pegged as needed for infrastructure. Of this, about half is expected from the private sector.

However, the mid-year economic analysis, penned by economic advisers in the finance ministry, said the PPP model had been less than successful. It pointed to over-exuberant investment, especially in the infrastructure sector in the form of PPPs, as the most important domestic challenge in the way of reviving of investments.

PARTNERSHIP CONUNDRUM

The finance ministry does not want a renegotiation clause in previously awarded PPP contracts, saying that would be against the law   However, it wants such a clause in new contracts to revive investment in infrastructure projects   Infrastructure sectors, particularly roads and power, had earlier pushed for changes in the terms of signed contracts to get more favourable terms   GMR, GVK, Adani, Reliance Power and Tata Power are some companies which tried to modify their contracts or exit these   The industry has been pushing for introduction of a mechanism to avoid unrealistic over-bidding by companies   It also wants to enable contract renegotiation, to ease the pressure on the balance sheets of banks, staring at huge non-performing assets due to developers’ inability to pay   Government officials, however, said there already was a clause for unforeseen events, including major macroeconomic changes.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/new-ppp-contracts-to-have-renegotiation-clause-114121900212_1.html

Action plan soon to prevent deaths from diarrhoea, pneumonia / AARTI DHAR

The Centre will soon launch an action plan against diarrhoea and pneumonia in four States, including Rajasthan. The aim is to end preventable child deaths from these two by 2025. As high as 36 per cent of all child deaths, below the age of 5, in India are caused by these two conditions.

India accounts for the highest number of diarrhoea and pneumonia deaths among children in the world with over 2 lakh children dying of diarrhoea and over 3.8 lakh children of pneumonia annually, accounting for the mortality of 4 in every 10 children under-five.

The highest burden is being borne by the poorest sections of society.

The four States where the India Action Plan for Diarrhoea and Pneumonia will be rolled out — Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan — account for half of under-five mortality in the country which stands at 62 deaths per 1,000 live births nationally. The under-five mortality rate of Rajasthan is 59 per 1,000 live births.

Launch next month

The action plan, likely to be launched next month, is a follow-up of the Global Action Plan for Diarrhoea and Pneumonia that was launched by WHO and UNICEF in April 2013 which aims to reduce pneumonia mortality to less than 3 per 1,000 live births, diarrhoea deaths to less than 1 per 1,000 live births, reduce incidence of severe pneumonia and diarrhoea by 75 per cent compared to 2010 levels and reduce by 40 per cent the global number who are stunted as compared to 2010 levels by 2025.

While India has taken several measures to reduce maternal and child mortality over the years, including launching of the National Rural Health Mission; Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child Health plus Adolescent programme and the India Newborn Action Plan to end preventable newborn deaths, the success in reducing under-five mortality has not been uniform.

Seven States have achieved the MDG-4 target of U5MR of 38 per 1,000 live births and nine States are showing a decline of more than the national average.

While Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have achieved the MDG target, the rate of decline is 7.3 per cent in Rajasthan, 5.6 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, 7 per cent in Uttar Pradesh and 6 per cent in Bihar.

Twenty per cent districts in Rajasthan have shown an increase in U5MR between 2010-11 and 2012-13 in the annual health surveys.

Collaboration

The WHO and UNICEF have been entrusted to collaborate with the respective governments in implementing the action plan which is not a new project or a programme but a framework for strengthening coordination of existing interventions where the coverage remains low like in exclusive breastfeeding (39 per cent), vitamin A supplement (75 per cent), DTP3 immunisation (83 per cent), measles immunization (84 per cent), HiB 3 immunisation (43 per cent) and other interventions like access to antibiotics and ORS solutions, sanitation, better living condition, hand wash and clean drinking water.

Since diarrhoea and pneumonia are caused by multiple pathogens, no single intervention, including vaccine, will help in protecting children.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/action-plan-soon-to-prevent-deaths-from-diarrhoea-pneumonia/article6726609.ece

‘Coral bleaching in Pacific may become worst die-off in 20 years’ / KARL MATHIESEN

Scientists warn extreme sea temperatures could cause a “historic” coral reef die-off around the world over the coming months, following a massive coral bleaching already under way in the North Pacific. Experts said the coral die-off could be the worst in nearly two decades.

Reports of severe bleaching have been accumulating in the inbox of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch programme since July.

A huge swathe of the Pacific has already been affected, including the Northern Marianas Islands, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, Kiribati and Florida. Some areas have recorded serious bleaching for the first time.

“On a global scale it’s a major bleaching event. What it may be is the beginning of a historic event,” said Coral Reef Watch coordinator Dr. Mark Eakin.

Thermal stress

In the Marshall Islands, bleaching of unprecedented severity is suspected to have hit most of the country’s 34 atolls and islands. The Guardian witnessed devastated expanses of coral that look like forests covered with snow. Warm water will soon begin hitting reefs in the southern Pacific and the Indian Ocean as the seasons and currents shift. Dr. Eakin said coral watch modelling predicts bleaching on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef as early as January. Bleaching is caused by persistent increases in sea surface temperature. Just 1°C of warming lasting a week or more can be enough to cause long-term breakdown of reef ecosystems.

The worst coral bleaching event on record is a mass die-off during 1998. A massive El Niño event combined with climate change to raise global sea and air temperatures to never-before-recorded levels and killed around 15 per cent of the world’s corals.

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, a coral reef expert from the University of Queensland, said the current bleaching event was on track to be as bad or worse than 1998.

“Many coral reef scientists are expecting something similar to 1997-98 to unfold in the next six to 12 months.” Dr. Eakin said. Even under a weak El Niño, bleaching could continue until 2016 — lasting twice as long as the 1998 event. High sea surface temperatures due to climate change are making El Niño a less decisive factor in coral bleaching.

Initial analysis of the Guardian ’s photos from the Marshallese atoll of Arno showed its reefs could be added to the fast-growing list of seriously affected places. In less extreme temperatures, bleached coral may not die completely. But Karl Fellenius, a coral reef manager from the University of Hawaii said that in the Marshall Islands “it’s looking like the thermal stress was so profound that the corals died within days of getting bleached.” This does not augur well for the future of the world’s reefs under climate change. “The real problem is that recovery from a major bleaching event can take decades and these events keep coming back every 10 years or less. [Reefs] just don’t have time to recover,” said Dr. Eakin. The combined effect of rising temperatures and sea levels could mean the end for coral reefs in the next 50 years, said Prof. Hoegh-Guldberg.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/coral-bleaching-in-pacific-may-become-worst-dieoff-in-20-years/article6714110.ece

Agricultural Households in Debt

A little over half of India's agricultural households were in debt, with 40 per cent of the dues from non-institutional lenders, during agricultural year 2012-13 (July to June), according to a official survey.

This 'Situation assessment survey of agricultural households' showed 51.9 per cent of all agricultural households were indebted, with the average amount of unpaid dues being Rs 47,000.

Conducted by the National Sample Survey Office, this should not be confused with a Census, as these figures would provide only broadly representative data. For instance, the survey was conducted in 4,529 of India's 638,000 villages. It covered 35,000 agricultural households.

Among the major states, Andhra Pradesh had the highest share of indebted agricultural households in the country (92.9 per cent), followed by Telangana (89.1 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (82.5) per cent.

About 60 per cent of the loans dues were taken from the institutional sources. About 42.9 per cent were from banks, 4.8 per cent from cooperatives and 2.1 per cent from the government, among other institutional sources. About 40 per cent of loans were received from non-institutional lenders - 25.8 per cent were from money lenders.

Meanwhile, another survey on 'Debt and investment in India' showed non-institutional agencies played a major role in advancing of credit to households, particularly in rural India. This covered the period of January-December 2013 and sought responses from 4,529 villages in rural areas and 3,507 urban blocks. Non-institutional agencies had given credit to 19 per cent of rural households, while institutional agencies had done so to 17 per cent.

In urban India, institutional agencies had advanced credit to 15 per cent of households, against 10 per cent by non-institutional ones.

The institutional agencies played a significant role in providing credit to households with a moderate rate of interest (six to 15 per cent) for both rural and urban areas. Among total cash dues funded by institutional agencies, 89 per cent in the rural and 92 per cent in the urban areas were provided at less than 15 per cent interest.

On the other hand, non-institutional agencies provided a significant amount of its total loans to households at an interest rate of 20 per cent or above. The share of such loans to the total by non-institutional agencies was 69 per cent in rural areas and 58 per cent in urban ones.

---

AGRI ARREARS

• 2.6 per cent of agricultural households own less than 0.01 hectares (ha) of land
• Among the agri households having less than 0.01 ha land, about 56 per cent gets wage/salary employment as the principal source of income and another 23 per cent depends on livestock as their principal source of income
• A third of agri households own up to 0.4 ha
• A majority of agricultural households which possess more than 0.4 ha has cultivation as the principal source of income
• About 63.5 per cent of agri households has cultivation as the principal source of income. About 22 per cent has wage/salaried employment as the principal source
• About 44 per cent of agri households has a job card of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
• About 12 per cent of agri households do not possess a ration card
• A Below Poverty Line card is possessed by about 36 per cent of agri households and another five per cent has Antyodaya cards
• About 13 per cent of agri households having less than 0.01 ha do not have a ration card

http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/half-of-farm-households-in-debt-114122200074_1.html