-The Hindu   The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all States and Union Territories to build toilets, particularly for girls, in all government schools by the end of November. A Bench headed by Justice D.K. Jain asked all governments to take immediate steps for this and file their compliance report before the deadline fixed by it. In case of any problem, the governments will at least provide temporary toilets for the students by November-end...

Every eighth urban child in India in the age-group of 0-6 years stays in slums, according to ‘Slums in India – A statistical compendium 2011' published by the Union government. “... about 7.6 million children are living in slums in India and they constitute 13.1 per cent of the total child population of the urban areas of the 26 States/ Union Territories reporting slums,” the report compiled by the National Buildings...

Fourteen-year-old Shafat Ahmad works as a domestic helper in the house of a Srinagar-based government employee in Kashmir. His younger sister embroiders shawls in an unregistered textile venture in her native village of Beeru. "When my father first brought me here, my employer promised to send me to school," Shafat told IPS. Though he is keen to pursue his education, he has yet to attend a single class. The Ahmed siblings' story...

-PTI   As Anna Hazare’s comments on team member Prashant Bhushan triggered a fresh controversy, activist Arvind Kejriwal on Friday addressed a press conference in New Delhi in which he sought to say that Mr. Hazare did not mean to say that the lawyer was removed from the team. “He is an integral part of the team. He is a very respected citizen who has worked in several areas including environment and human...

-IANS   Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray Friday congratulated the people who attacked senior lawyer and Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan in his chamber in the Supreme Court in Delhi two days ago. In a statement in the party's mouthpiece, Dopahar Ka Saamna, Thackeray referred to Bhushan's statements on jammu and kashmir and said: 'Shabbaash! Those who speak of dividing the country should be taught a lesson like this.' Thackeray said one cannot remain...