Policy Wise

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Setting the agenda
The need for government regulation of higher education is the subject of an interesting debate between Abi and Ravikiran Rao. Abi calls for changes in the regulatory structure to keep out ”crooks, politicians, and thugs” and facilitate the entry [...]

Philip Bowring argues that high oil subsidies in Asian countries have helped increased the demand for oil by shielding consumers from real prices,
All this is widely known. What is not talked about is the impact that these subsidies are having on demand for oil. As it is, developing Asia accounts for only about 20 percent [...]

A letter in the Lancet which holds obesity as a contributory factor for global warming has sparked off a controversy
Compared with the normal weight population, the obese population consumes 18% more food energy. Additionally, more transportation fuel energy will be used to transport the increased mass of the obese population, which will increase even further [...]

In response to an article Economist, Policy Wise has previously argued that banning quacks is not a viable solution to urban health crisis. Quacks exist because of the poor quality government dispensaries and primary health centers even in large cities.
A new survey conducted in a Delhi slum shows exactly that,
The study, conducted by doctors [...]

Gujarat government has launched a new tele-medicine scheme to provide healthcare in villages,
“Through video conferencing, doctors at a distant hospital will be able to diagnose the villagers for basic ailments and prescribe medicines online. The printout of the prescription will be available at the community service centres set up by the department,” said Vyas.
[link]
With broadband [...]

A new report by Save the Children has placed India alongside Ghana in providing healthcare to the children, with more than half of children lacking access to basic healthcare.

More than half of Indian children under the age of five do not get the health care they need, according to a report by Save the Children.
It [...]

Based on the Conditional Cash Transfer model, a new anti-AIDS program in Tanzania will offer people money to practice safe sex,

The $1.8m trial – to be launched this year – will counsel 3,000 men and women aged 15-30 in southern rural Tanzania over three years, paying them on condition that periodic laboratory test results prove [...]

A Quick Reality Check
Reality check has criticized the decision of the Indian Institute of Management (A) to raise its tuitions. He calls it an ”outrageous move” and goes as far as to suggest that IIMs should actually decrease their tuition to ”make quality management education accessible to Indians”. This argument has little merit.
First, despite the [...]

In a welcome gesture, India’s premier management institute, IIM Ahmadabad, has hiked its tuitions,
The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) on Saturday decided to effect a sharp hike in fees for its post graduate programme from next year.
The fees for post graduate programme have been increased to Rs [...]

The Indian government is taking special steps to attract and retain women scientists. Nature reports,
Women scientists in India will soon be able to choose flexible working hours and even work from home if they have children below the age of three. Campus housing will be provided for women and all institutions will be required [...]