-Economic and Political weekly Drawing on the research on basic education in West Bengal, this essay argues the case for a much criticised public education system, which needs to be reconsidered as regards its potential as a provider of quality education, even while addressing its many failings. The essay follows an approach, both critical and constructive, that underlines the collective onus of the public in realising the value of the public...

-The Hindu The West Bengal Human Rights Commission on Friday ordered an inquiry into the arrest of Shiladitya Chowdhury, who was apprehended by the security forces after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dubbed him a Maoist for questioning her government’s policies on agriculture, at a rally in the Maoist-affected Jangalmahal region last week. Chairman of the Commission Justice (retired) Asok Kumar Ganguly directed Additional Director-General of Police K.P.P. Rao to conduct an inquiry...

-The Hindu The West Bengal Human Rights Commission has sought a report from the Superintendent of Police, Paschim Medinipur district, on allegations of torture of a young man who was handcuffed to his hospital bed after he allegedly attempted suicide while in custody, officials of the Commission said on Monday. The youth is suspected to be involved in Maoist activities. “A report may be called from the SP Paschim Medinipur within four...

11 children go missing every hour in India. This and other disturbing statistics cry out for urgent action Every hour, 11 children go missing in the country. Four of these remain untraced, concludes a nation-wide research on missing children. During 2008-10, close to 1,17,480 children were reported missing in 392 districts. Of them, 74,209 children were traced while 41, 546 remain untraced. The information has been collated by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA)...

Another local leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was beaten to death allegedly by supporters of the Trinamool Congress in a village in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district on Sunday. Bimal Senapati, a prominent local CPI(M) leader in the Deepagram village in Keshiary police station area was beaten up. The family members alleged that the killing was the handiwork of Trinamool Congress activists, said police sources. According to the leadership...