-The Times of India   Strongly reacting to the newspaper reports highlighting how many schools, despite a blanket ban, are conducting interviews for admission, a city-based social activist Komal Srivastava, working for the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009 has decided to come-up with a helpline for admission-related complaints. They are also planning to come up with a helpline service for the Parents. "This is the only Act which can...

-The Telegraph   The Right to Education (RTE) Act does not bar any child from outside the “neighbourhood” to participate in the lottery system for admission to schools — contrary to what the Bengal government has been claiming. The enforcement of such a radius rule yesterday had triggered a near-riot in a Malda school that cited a government directive and disallowed applicants who reside beyond 1km from participating in a draw. State governments are...

Residential schools in the state are the latest additions to the bandwagon of private elite schools contravening the provisions of the national Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009. TOI did a reality check by calling them impersonating as Parents and going through their websites. These schools are planning to hold a screening procedure in the form of interactions with Parents of students seeking admissions at the elementary level and in primary...

Several upper-caste children have allegedly refused midday meals prepared by Dalit cooks in an Andhra school, sparking fears that one of UPA’s key welfare schemes could be turning into a platform to perpetuate caste prejudices. The authorities of the Zilla Parishad School at Sundaragiri in Karimnagar — slain Maoist leader Kishan’s home district — have alleged that the children turning down the food are being goaded by their elders, including some...

Six months after she died, police in Bhopal have acted on the death of a two-year-old, malnourished girl. They have booked her Parents, charging them with “causing death by negligence”. Activists say that this is perhaps the first instance in India where Parents have been blamed for death caused by malnourishment. Adviser to Supreme Court commissioners in the right to food case Sachin Jain said the administration always tried to push malnutrition...