-Outlook A crusader for Dalit rights, Bezwada Wilson, on reclaiming for the Dalits a life of human dignity in a structurally apathetic society. On many occasions, the Ramon Magsaysay Award has been bestowed on individuals of various ilks and ideological persuasions. For the first time, perhaps, it speaks to an issue that touches the lives of millions of people because an award for Bezwada Wilson (50) is an international acknowledgement of the...
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RTI, RTE and rising aspirations -Anuradha Raman & Mehboob Jeelani
-The Hindu In a sign of change, mothers wage a relentless battle to get their children admission to the seats reserved for the poor in private schools. New Delhi: In her tiny room with a grey refrigerator and a wall-mounted television set, Babita opens up about her dreams. “My children should learn to speak in English,” she says. Two of her children study in private schools, and another in a government school. Private...
More »Dirty tricks trip toilet job -Subhashish Mohanty
-The Telegraph Bhubaneswar: Swachh Bharat as a slogan sounds smart, but rampant corruption at the grassroots level is coming in the way of implementing development projects such as constructing toilets in the state. Public sector units executing toilet projects under the Swachh Bharat Swachha Vidayalay Abhiyan are being forced to deal with villagers and sarpanches who want money before the first brick is laid. Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) is one of...
More »71% in survey say Swachh Bharat a flop in cities -Dipak K Dash
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: In what could be a wake-up call for the Centre to fix weaknesses in the Swachh Bharat initiative, nearly 71% respondents in an online poll conducted by a social media group feel cleanliness in their cities and towns has not improved much in the past one year and want a greater municipal-citizen connect. The online poll on "local circles", which has over 3 lakh participants, provides...
More »IRCTC plans water vending machines in stations -Sanjay Vijayakumar
-The Hindu Tenders to open by July 16, installation to start by September The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is in the process of rolling out tender to set up 5,000 water vending machines across 1,200 railway stations. “This would enable passengers to buy water for Rs. 5 a litre, Rs. 3 for half a litre and Rs. 1 per glass. Passengers can buy water through cash, coins and smart cards,”...
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