-The Times of India MUMBAI: Sudden spurt in incidents of rape and harassment of girls has prompted chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to set up 25 fast track courts for time bound disposal of serious crime against women. "In Maharashtra, there are 100 fast track courts for speedy disposal of criminal cases...we will approach the Bombay High Court for earmarking 25 of these courts exclusively for serious crime against the women. We feel...

-The Hindu To address the rights issue and the skewed sex ratio, girl child-friendly policies get an extra thrust in the 12 Plan document, to be approved formally by this month-end The 12 Plan document of the Planning Commission, to be formally approved this month-end, has recommended setting up of a high level inter-ministerial committee on ‘Care and Protection of the Girl Child’ which will constitute the institutional mechanism for mobilising and...

-The Hindu It has managed to retain stabilisation of its HIV/AIDS epidemic, holding on to prevalence rate of 0.25 % With the UNAIDS report putting India among the nations with a 50 per cent or over drop in HIV incidence rate (new infections), this is clearly good news for the country. Down south, Tamil Nadu, once considered a high-prevalence State, also has good news. The State has managed to retain stabilisation of its...

-The Hindu Caste Hindu students keep away, even sit separately in class DHARMAPURI: Even as they are yet to get over the November 7 attack on their houses, the children of Natham, Kondampatti and Anna Nagar Dalit colonies in Naikkankottai village have run into another problem in one of the schools: caste Hindu students are keeping away from them for the last two days at the Government High School. The students are being...

-The Hindustan Times It’s official. Sex between individuals below the age of 18, even if consensual, is a crime. However, the new rules — notified on Wednesday to enforce the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act — failed to address how law enforcing agents can identify the accused and the victim when both the persons involved are minors. This concern was raised by several state governments. “It is a highly complicated...