Danger of sharp rise in out of school children, child labour: Bihar CM warned

By A Representative
The Bihar unit of the Right to Education (RTE) Forum, in a representation, signed by prominent citizens, has drawn the attention of the Bihar chief minister towards protection of children's rights in the situation arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Insisting on the need for a well-planned strategy for the interests of children, the memorandum says, children, especially girls, have not been getting necessary nutrition inputs from schools and anganwadis.
While schools are closed due to the Corona crisis, the memorandum says, the children of Dalit and other deprived communities in the unorganized sector are most affected by the huge economic insecurity and lack of alternative sources of livelihood. “In such a situation, there is danger of huge spike in out of school children soon after the lockdown ends”, it says.
“Things have got particularly aggravated with a large number of migrant labourers returning to Bihar along with their children. There is a danger of sharp rise in child labour. Therefore, the right to food and education needs to be urgently protected”, the memorandum states, insisting, “The government must ensure enrolment of 14-18 year olds in order to achieve the goals of universalization of education.”
Those who have signed the memorandum include national coordinator, RTE Forum, Ambarish Rai; Kedarnath Pandey, president, Bihar Secondary Teachers Association and member of Bihar Legislative Council; Shatrughan Prasad Singh, and ex-MP and general secretary of the Bihar Secondary Teachers Association; Dr. Anil Kumar Rai, convener, Bihar unit, RTE Forum; Pushpendra Kumar Singh, director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Patna, others.

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor* Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

Ideological shifts and structural realities within India's left-wing insurgency

By Harsh Thakor* The Maoist insurgency in India is arguably at its weakest point since the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Years of sustained counterinsurgency operations, leadership losses, shrinking territorial influence, declining recruitment, and growing technological advantages enjoyed by the state have significantly eroded the movement's operational capabilities.

The Dalit body on screen: Stereotypes, sacrifice, and subjugation in Hindi films

By Dr. Prem Singh* Despite centuries of reformist efforts, from Gandhi and Ambedkar to contemporary activists, the caste system remains deeply embedded in the Indian psyche. One of the primary reasons for this persistence is the religious sanction provided by Brahminical scriptures, which have shaped not only social structures but also cultural and artistic expressions.

Counterview

Search This Blog