Economy
Public Distribution System -- II -- Can States absorb the price hike?
THE sudden spurt in the central issue prices of foodgrains may have two immediate consequences: First, the States may absorb the increase effected in central issue prices and try to maintain their PDS as earlier. Second, if the first option does not work , the BPL families may forego a part of their cereal consumption, as they cannot afford to pay such hefty hikes effected in the issue prices. The APL families may shift away from PDS, as the open market prices are now lower than the revised issue prices.

Editorial
Well-intentioned, but...
THOSE CAUGHT IN abject poverty and with no social security cover whatsoever, should find some cheer in the decision to introduce `Janashree Bima Yojana', a group insurance scheme. The scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet, is expected to offer i nsurance cover to the poorest of the poor and is a fulfillment of one of the promises made by the Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, while presenting the 2000-01 Budget.

Politics
The Bihar killings
THE latest Bihar caste carnage, in which 34 lives were lost, is in itself a tragedy of the first order, underscoring the depths to which men can sink to wreak revenge for similarly heinous acts committed by social rivals. The June 16 massacre in Mianpur follows the killing of 13 members of a family in Nawadah district on June 11, and of 34 villagers in Senari last year.

States
Reforms and growth in States -- II -- The middle-level States
Analysing the States' performance from the angle of the overall rate of growth in the 1990s, P. R. Brahmananda describes the performance of the mid-level States in the income-growth hierarchy.

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