It is well known that India’s record of violence against women is dismal but the bigger shock is the revelation that incidents of such violence are consistently rising. According to a report by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the rate of increase in violence against women in 2007 was over 12 per cent as compared to the previous year. The most depressing part of the report is...

Non-governmental organizations are making a difference to the lives of poor and marginalized people in India. Most work in geographically limited areas. They are idealistic and want change, and hope to enter the lives of those they work with. Funding agencies and NGOs are enthused by any sign of change in the long-failed state of Bihar. A virulent and discriminatory caste system that deprives the lower castes even of government-funded...

BANGALORE: Child Rights and You (CRY) held a “Public Hearing” on equal education to all here on Friday, as part of their nationwide campaign inviting people to sign a charter to the Government asking for three amendments to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The charter demands that children below six years, as well as between 15 to 18 years are included in the main...

The recently enacted Right to Education Act, 2009 has extensively been debated in the media, civil society and academic palaver. Mainstream also intervened in the debate, and to the best of my recollection, published two pieces: first, a rather elaborate one by Muchkund Dubey on September 19, 2009, and thereafter by N.A. Karim on October 3, 2009. While entirely endorsing the views expressed in these two articles and sharing the...

There is a new excitement in the air concerning higher education. It has been decided by the powers that be, warmly supported by the academic community, that turning selected colleges into universities will open the gates to a Valhalla of knowledge. A commission entrusted with the qualitative improvement of higher education has recommended that on top of some 350 universities and/or equivalent institutions, another 1,500 will be created by upgrading...