-PTI NEW DELHI: There is an "institutionalised exaggeration" of figures about children benefiting from Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme and irregularities like inflated costs and fudging of data prevail, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found. The enrolment of children in schools providing mid-day meals is showing a "consistent" decline indicating that more and more people are seeking better education and not just food, the auditor said in a report that...

-The New Indian Express NEW DELHI: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has unearthed widespread ‘leaks’ in the mid-day meal scheme and slammed the programme saying that it had made “institutional exaggeration” of figures pertaining to students. In its report tabled in Parliament on Friday, the CAG said the scheme was no longer effective in getting poor children to school. The audit “evidenced an institutional exaggeration of figures” regarding students taking meals, irregular...

-The Indian Express When the UPA government passed the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, that laid down in clear terms that the age of consent for sex is 18 years, even then activists had warned against such misuse. THE Supreme Court refused to extend the detention of the juvenile convicted in the 2012 Delhi gangrape saying it has to go by the law as it stands today. Lawmakers...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel has strongly criticised the government for its "casual" approach in tackling the problem of infant and child mortality. Taking serious note of the high rate of stunting and wasting among children under five years of age, the Parliamentary Committee on Estimates in its report on 'Malnutrition in Infant and Mother' criticised the ministry of health. "The committee had expressed apprehension regarding achievements of...

-Hindustan Times The prospect of the youngest offender in the Delhi gang rape case walking free has stirred public opinion in recent weeks, with a string of protests and the parents of the victim urging authorities to detain the convict. Parliament is expected to take up amendments to the juvenile justice bill on Tuesday, a rare political response to public anger over the case, but the outrage has helped mask two crucial...