-Frontline Members of denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, treated as criminal tribes by the colonial rulers, have no place to call their own and no land, no rights, and no support from the government.  Emaciated, eyes sunken deep into sockets, skin hanging loose, almost gasping for breath, Indro Devi and Sarvnath, a couple in their eighties, lie on polythene sheets in an 8×10 square-foot tent made of rags, by a stinking nullah...

-The Telegraph The Planning Commission has proposed a separate quota for single women in central schemes instead of clubbing them under the larger “family” category as is done now. If the move is cleared, even women who have never married will be included under the head “single”, along with widows and divorcees. “Not much progress could be made in this direction (towards having a separate category). This can be attributed to two factors....

-PTI LUCKNOW: In a bid to improve its image, which was marred by the multi-crore NRHM scam, the Uttar Pradesh health department is set to launch a health guarantee scheme for children in the age group of 2-16 years. "The planning to launch the scheme is at final stages and we will be launching it soon. SP government is committed for the cause of poor and I am ensuring that all the...

-The Economic Times The Supreme Court has refused to exempt minority aided schools from the purview of the Right to Education Act, asking them to reserve at least 25% of their seats from Class I onwards for children from weaker and disadvantaged sections living in the neighbourhood as mandated by the Act. The order, passed by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia, also said these institutions should...

-IPS News RAYAGADA- The deafening din of the lunch gong is sweet music to the 200-odd tribal girls rushing down the stairway, clutching stainless steel plates and tumblers. Sikhsya Niketan (House of Education) in Chattikona administrative block of Rayagada district is a residential school meant exclusively for girls of the Dongria Kondh tribe in eastern Odisha state. The school is part of the federal government’s intensified efforts to take universal education to...