For women like Meena, overworked, abused, and poorly compensated for 11 grueling months of domestic work, avenues for legal recourse against her abusive “employer” are limited, and in some cases completely non-existent. Currently, there are no laws to protect domestic workers from abusive working conditions, inevitably resulting in cases of gross misconduct on behalf of [...]

Editors Note: Guest Blogger Keyzom Ngodup works with Intellecap, a pioneering social venture capital firm focused on making double bottom-line investments in India. In addition to capital and investment support, Intellecap is unique in that they also provide a range of support services that enable social ventures to move from start-up stage into growth mode. [...]

Some headlines before you head off to lunch: Technology/Connectivity:   Mobile connectivity will be in the hands of millions of new subscribers thanks to BSNL’s $100 million contract to Nortel for supporting GSM network expansion in the southern part of India.  The plan is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.   On a [...]

According to the International Energy Agency, India’s energy needs – fueled by 8% annual economic growth – are projected to double by the year 2030.  Moreover, India is expected to become the biggest net importer of oil by the year 2025, after the United States and China.    In an attempt to secure energy resources for its buxom economy, India is [...]

Just a few headlines for this evening: Health: Another Planning Commission report reveals that India faces a shortage of doctors and nurses, but that the private sector can help remedy this issue, and accordingly, plan to set up hundreds of new medical education institutions as a public private partnership. Energy: IT companies often consume a [...]

Everyone complains about the traffic in Bangalore these days. For that matter, its a chronic problem in every big Indian city. Most of us sit around and complain, and blame the city administration for inadequate planning, not enough roads, poor traffic regulation blah blah. The folks at maxHeap technologies, co-founded by Lalit Mangal and Sumit [...]

Editors Note: Guest Blogger Keyzom Ngodup works with Intellecap, a pioneering social venture capital firm focused on making double bottom-line investments in India. In addition to capital and investment support, Intellecap is unique in that they also provide a range of support services that enable social ventures to move from start-up stage into growth mode. [...]

Employment: The social justice ministry concluded that the participation ratio of SCs/STs in the NREGA, a rural job scheme, shows that despite the fact that tribals are half the number of Dalits, they consistently outnumber them in the program, and that this needs to be corrected. Environment: The government is working on a formula to [...]

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is accepting grant proposals for its Grand Challenges Explorations online until May 30, 2008. The $100 million initiative involves awarding initial grants of $100,000 each, but potentially up to $1 million. One of the primary objectives of Grand Challenges Explorations is to involve scientists around the world who don’t [...]

The intent of the microfinance movement has been to build “financial systems that work for the poor majority.”  The involvement of international financial institutions undoubtedly enhances this cause, enabling the poor to better access financial services. As it turns out, ING Microfinance Support has just released a follow-up report entitled, “A Billion to Gain? – The Next Phase:  A Study [...]