-The Hindu Second year of scheme to include distribution of 50 lakh seed kits in schools THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to maintain the momentum towards self-sustainability started last year through the State Agriculture Department's comprehensive vegetable cultivation development scheme, funds to the tune of Rs.56.25 crore are being set aside for the purpose this financial year. The inauguration of the second year of the scheme and a prize distribution ceremony based on last...

-The Hindu Department of Public Instruction seeks higher allocations from Centre Mysore: The soaring prices of food commodities, particularly rice and vegetables, have escalated the cost of cooking food for schoolchildren under the midday meal scheme, Akshara Dasoha, in the State. As rice is the staple diet under the popular scheme which has addressed the issue of school dropout, the sharp rise in the prices of rice and vegetables have only increased the...

-The Hindu Madurai: No end to doubts raised and clarifications provided with respect to the Act even after three years The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 stipulates that private schools reserve 25 per cent of seats at the entry level for children belonging to ‘disadvantaged groups' and ‘weaker sections'. The Central Act originally defined a ‘child belonging to a disadvantaged group' as one belonging to...

-The Times of India MUMBAI: Unmindful of the chief minister himself telling the legislature that it is the Centre's directive that unless a district has 80% registration, providing subsidies through Aadhaar cannot be undertaken, citizens are being coerced into getting a UID number. "When we informed the school principal that Parliament is yet to pass the Bill, she categorically told us that there was no harm in obtaining the card. The deadline...

-The Hindustan Times Mumbai: With the proposed government guidelines on the Right to Education Act nowhere in sight, many city schools have enrolled students under the 25% RTE quota, despite the risk that such admissions could be declared illegal later. The government notification containing guidelines and schedules for the implementation of the RTE Act was to be issued in November 2012. Many schools had delayed the admission schedule waiting for the notification...