-The Hindu Jaipur: On Thursday, several people in Jaipur celebrated the Valentine’s Day in a way it has never been done before, as they gathered in the heart of the city to pledge an end to violence against women under the global “One Billion Rising” campaign. “I too, as a woman, have come to lend my voice and express solidarity to end violence against women from the face of the earth,” Rajasthan...

The provisional data of Census 2011 for the state shows the districts of Churu and Barmer with negative growth in literacy. While Churu's literacy rate has fallen from 67.59% to 67.46%, Barmer reported a much higher drop from 58.99% to 57.49%. Director, Census Operations, Rajasthan Shubra Singh pointed out that in the Census 2001, none of the districts had reported negative growth. The state also holds the dubious distinction of having...

Rajasthan has failed its girl children on two counts. Not only has it failed to protect them, it has also been unsuccessful in educating them, according to the Census figures released on Monday. The child sex ratio (number of females for every 1,000 male children in 0-6 age group) has dropped sharply to 883 from 909 in 2001 and the state reports the lowest female literacy rate at 52.66%. Expressing concern...

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has given his nod to appoint Lokpal in 12 districts for grievance redressal under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act (MGNREGA). The chief minister has given the approval to appoint Lokpal in Banswara, Bundi, Dausa, Sriganganagar, Jalore, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Kota, Nagaur, Pratapgarh and Tonk districts, a spokesperson said. Gehlot also approved 20 per cent increase in advertisement rates set by the Department of...

A newly wed couple in Barmer district has approached the district magistrate seeking permission to end their life after a khap panchayat ordered their separation and payment of Rs 5 lakh. The panchayat had threatened to kill them if the failed to abide by its diktat. According to local reports, the khap panchayat of Bhimda village had ruled on March 5 that one Khama would have to severe her relations...