-DNA For a rural management institute working to uplift lives of the underpriviliged, absence of norms of reservation for scheduled castes (SC) and scheduled tribes (ST) is an irony. Or it seemed so to Union minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh, who was the chief guest at Saturday's convocation of the Institute of Rural Management (Irma), Anand. As he began the convocation address, Jairam asked Irma chairman Deep Joshi to enforce reservation...

-The Hindu KRISHNAGIRI: Over 300 Dalit families of Deveerahalli Village, of Kudimenahalli Panchayat, in Krishnagiri district allege that they are being denied work by intermediate castes of the village and of six other nearby villages. The reason behind this, they say, is that a Dalit youth in their area had fallen in love with a girl of an intermediate caste from Sathinayakkanpatti under Damodarahalli Panchayat. The girl is back with her parents...

-Tehelka With 65 percent of the population below the age of 35, India boasts of an unparalleled generational dividend, but are we turning this potential into a disaster? Avalok Langer spots a ticking time bomb Nutrition & Health* 40% of children in India are malnourished 43% of children in the age group of 12-23 months receive full immunisation 48%+ of children are underweight 50%+ of all deaths under age 5 are related to malnutrition 45% of children...

-The Hindu     The shortened lifespan of the quarry workers of Uttar Pradesh is spent breaking stones and residing among the pollution- laden boulders Mired with sandy roads and rocky terrain, the landscape in south-western Allahabad creates a remarkable mirage under the blue sky. Some of the larger rocks here have sizeable craters formed in them -- a sign of their depletion over time, by an activity that is hazardous yet critical to the...

-The Times of India As many as 13 states and Union Territories showed a decline in girls' enrolment, while about 10 displayed a dip in overall students' admission painting a dismal picture of inclusive education for children with disabilities. A nationwide study - conducted by the NCERT to assess enrolment, access and retention of students with disabilities found that states like Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, West Bengal among others -...