Delhi University has completed three regular rounds of undergraduate admissions, but 13,433 UG seats are still vacant. According to the university’s latest spot-round vacancy list, the unfilled seats are spread across 1,160 college-course combinations
“We have a history of renowned political leaders; we hail from the lands of intellect. This university has nurtured multiple leaders, including Gulzarilal Nanda, Madan Lal Khurana, Mahadevi Varma, and many Chief Justices,” 23-year-old Priyanshu Vidrohi said
In Bihar’s Gaya district lies Patwa Toli, a village popularly known as the “Village of IITians." What makes it remarkable is the presence of IIT-educated engineers in almost every household. Every year, more than a dozen students from the village qualify for the IIT-JEE examinations
Jammu-born entrepreneur Onkar Singh Batra has added another remarkable achievement to an already extraordinary journey. From creating a website at the age of seven to developing a satellite at 16, Batra has spent much of his childhood exploring technology, entrepreneurship, and space
According to NITI Aayog’s Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047 report, only 8.25 per cent of graduates were able to secure jobs matching their qualifications in one year. This means that more than 91 per cent of graduates were either unemployed or working in jobs below their educational
I have passed Class 12 (PCMB) with a state rank of 10 and have taken NEET 2026 and KCET. I want to pursue B.Sc. Chemistry but people say I should not do so because I have such good marks. I am also considering BDS or a B.Sc. Paramedical course
Me: Lalitha, you’ve been colouring all this time. Do you enjoy colouring? This was an informal conversation I had with two young British-Indian children — a seven-year-old boy and his four-year-old sister, Lalitha — during a train journey from Coimbatore to Chennai.Me: Lalitha
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has been grounded in controversy since the NEET UG paper leak row. The central agency, which was envisaged in November 2017 as a single agency for conducting all higher education entrance exams, is under scanner after cancellation of UGC NET exam for three subjects
How Dantewada’s panchayat-level children’s libraries aim to rebuild education in conflict-hit Bastar
How Dantewada’s panchayat-level children’s libraries aim to rebuild education in conflict-hit Bastar Premium
The undivided Bastar region—now bifurcated into seven districts in the State of Chhattisgarh—has long been associated with conflict between the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and the State and Central governments. A conflict that continues in parts of the region. This prolonged conflict has had a severe impact on education in an area with a predominantly tribal population. On the education front, the last Census data from 2011 shows that the region recorded a low overall literacy rate of 42%, approximately 50% among males and a significantly lower 32% among females. The figures are even lower in rural areas, where overall literacy stands at 33%, with 43% for males and only 24% for females.
To address these challenges and promote literacy, education, and retention among school-going children, the Dantewada district administration launched the Baal Mitra Programme in 2024. Under the initiative, Baal Mitra Library-cum-Activity Centres (BLCACs) are being established across the district. Of the proposed 169 centres, 67 are already functioning in the first phase, while the remaining 102 are set to be launched across all 169 gram panchayats by January 26, said Jayant Nahata, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Zilla Panchayat, Dantewada. He said this would become the first district in the country to establish exclusive children's libraries in every Panchayat.
The programme is a collaborative effort involving the Dantewada District Administration, Gram Panchayat administration, local Adivasi youth volunteers, and the non-governmental organisation Bachpan Banao, which serves as the knowledge partner and field support agency.
The Library-cum-Activity Centres operate for two hours a day on five days of the week and for four hours on Saturdays. Each centre is run by a local Adivasi youth appointed as a Fellow under a two-year fellowship, with a monthly honorarium of ₹6,000–₹8,000. The fellows conduct learning activities in tribal languages, Mr. Nahata said. No new buildings have been commissioned for the initiative. Instead, existing gram panchayat structures have been repaired or modified to accommodate a room for the libraries, which are now stocked with books in Hindi, English, and local tribal languages such as Gondi, and Halbi, Mr. Nahata added.
Library activity at the Kawalnar Grama Panchayat Children's Library, Dantewada. | Photo: Special Arrangement
Data from the Village Children Register, a survey conducted by fellows with the district administration between November 2025 and 20 January 2026 and accessed by The Hindu, identified approximately 36,000 children across Dantewada district. Of these, around 32,000 children are currently enrolled in schools. While about 60% commute to schools from their homes, the remaining 40% still reside away from their villages in hostels, portacabins, or residential schools. Nearly 2,000 children have dropped out of school, and another 2,000 have never been enrolled in any educational institution, including Anganwadi centres.
Mr. Nahata, said the Fellows are not only meant to serve as instructors but also as community workers who identify and support children, assist them in returning to school, encourage enrolment, and provide mental health support.
As per the survey report, economic constraints remain a major factor, with nearly 65% of children belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households and 20% falling under the Antyodaya category, representing the poorest of the poor. Only about 10% of children come from Above Poverty Line (APL) families. Lack of interest in schooling is another key issue, compounded by language barriers in classrooms: about 75% of children speak Gondi as their mother tongue, around 20% speak Halbi, and only about 2–5% speak Hindi as their first language.
Pranith Simha, founder of Bachpan Banao, notes that as instruction in most schools is conducted in Hindi and the syllabus remains largely traditional, with little scope for play-based activities, many are unwilling to learn. “Interest in learning can be fostered only when instruction begins in children's native languages. These library centres are therefore not just about providing books, but about enabling playful and activity-based learning delivered in tribal languages by local youth,” added Mr. Simha.
When asked why school teachers have not been able to incorporate tribal languages into classroom instruction, Mr. Nahata said that teacher recruitment had taken place over a long period, with many teachers posted to the region from other districts. While some are able to teach in local languages, the majority find it difficult, he said, adding that he hopes the Library-cum-Activity Centres will help bridge this gap.
Further as per the report, distance from schools, and the absence of necessary documents also contribute to the problem. Mr. Simha notes that they are identifying the children and assisting them in documents, as majority of their parents, nearly 60% of fathers and about 80% of mothers are not educated, implying that they lack support in applying documents. Further, around 10% of children are orphans, either with only one parent alive—father or mother—or with neither parent surviving.
Mr. Simha says, many of these challenges are not adequately addressed by the traditional school system, as these children require additional support, including mental health support. The books available in the libraries, with attractive illustrations, also provide information on health, menstruation, and nutrition.
(This is written by Bhaskar Basava, an independent journalist based in Hyderabad, covering politics, human rights, and environmental issues, primarily from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He is now expanding his work to include education across all States.)
(Sign up for THEdge, The Hindu's weekly education newsletter.)
Published - January 21, 2026 05:09 pm IST
Chhattisgarh / education / school
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Education
An estimated 8.7 crore Indians aged 15 to 29 are not studying, working or undergoing training, said a report by the NITI Aayog, the main public policy think tank of the Union government. The report, titled Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047
14 hours ago
Over the past decade, India’s finance talent pool has expanded rapidly. Access to education has improved, certifications are more widely pursued, and exposure to financial concepts has increased. But the biggest concern in finance education today is the shift towards attention-driven learning
1 days ago
Eligibility: Indian nationals in school (Class 9 to 12), UG or PG courses with at least 75% or 7.9 CGPA (10% relaxation for SC/ST students) and an annual family income not exceeding ₹300,000 (School students) and ₹600,000 (other categories). Eligibility: Indian nationals in school (Class 1 to
1 days ago
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to M/s Eduquity Career Technologies Pvt. Ltd. over lapses in the conduct of the All India AYUSH Post Graduate Entrance Test (AIAPGET) at an examination centre in Jaipur
1 days ago
For several decades, AutoCAD has remained the foundational tool in Civil Engineering practice. It has shaped how design documentation is produced, reviewed, and executed across projects of varying scales. However, in the current trajectory of the Architecture, Engineering
1 days ago
Having read several of Saikat Majumdar’s novels and a couple of his non-fiction books, I consider him one of those rare contemporary writers who move seamlessly across fiction, nonfiction, and academia – embodying the spirit of a true literary polymath
1 days ago
Ausa police in Maharashtra’s Latur district have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, associate Ajinkya Shinde, and three to four unidentified individuals following allegations of unorganised intrusion, filming
1 days ago
For generations, the pursuit of grades or marks has ruled Indian academia. Teachers quite often lament that this socially constructed obsession with high scores impedes authentic contextual learning. Yet the contemporary learner is moving away from a test-oriented approach to ask: What will I get
2 days ago
A moving note reading “I will become a doctor in my next life" was recovered after a 19-year-old NEET aspirant died by suicide at his residence in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The deceased, identified as Krishna Subhash Sonawane
2 days ago
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday night defended its Rs 200 fee for challenging an answer key, saying the system is “designed to be fair" to all students. The agency also rejected concerns that the charge is “too expensive". The NTA’s answer key challenge process allows candidates
2 days ago
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will confer the National Teachers Awards on 48 school teachers at Vigyan Bhawan, in New Delhi, on September 5, 2026. The purpose of the National Teachers Award is to celebrate the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in the country and to honour
2 days ago
The COVID-19 pandemic permanently reshaped how colleges and universities deliver coursework, conduct exams, and share resources. The shift toward hybrid and blended learning that it accelerated has become the new standard. For many students, this transformation has unlocked greater flexibility and
2 days ago
AP ICET Counselling 2026 : The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has officially announced the schedule for the AP ICET 2026 centralised web counselling. Candidates seeking admission to MBA and MCA programmes at universities and affiliated colleges in the state can commence
2 days ago
The Centre on Thursday (August 20, 2026) told the Supreme Court that the 2026 University Grants Commission equity regulations on preventing caste-based discrimination on campuses is under reconsideration. On January 29, the apex court had directed that the University Grants Commission (Promotion of
4 days ago
In June 2026, thousands of students gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar after the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) was cancelled following a paper leak, demanding accountability from the government. The protests, which culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister
4 days ago
Following NEET UG, irregularities have also come to light in the UGC NET June 2026 examination. However, the Central Government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the system used to conduct NEET UG is foolproof and difficult to breach. The government explained that several moderators are
4 days ago
The NCERT has reconstituted the textbook development team for classes 11 and 12 political science with a mandate to integrate cultural rootedness, Indian knowledge systems and inclusion, with at least four of the members having direct or indirect links with the RSS
4 days ago
The Delhi High Court has put JNU’s postgraduate admissions on hold. The court has stopped the university from finalising any admissions that use extra “deprivation points." The court said adding bonus marks to scores from a big national exam like CUET is unfair
4 days ago
In many Maths classrooms, a student encounters a challenging question, pauses for a moment, and almost immediately looks towards the teacher for assistance. Within seconds, a method is demonstrated, the solution is revealed, and the class moves on. The problem is solved
5 days ago
A university convocation is traditionally a rite of passage—a solemn initiation where the next generation of legal minds are welcomed into the fold of justice. However, this month, the halls of NALSAR University of Law became the site of a regulatory tantrum that threatened to undermine the very
5 days ago
IIT Kharagpur will begin the registration process for the Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) 2027 on September 5, 2026. The application window will remain open until October 12, 2026. The institute, which is organising the examination this year
6 days ago
Mumbai: The Karnataka High Court admitted a fresh plea by Qatar Holding LLC against debt-laden edtech firm Byju’s, seeking to enforce a SGD 7.2 million ( ₹53 crore) arbitration award against founder Byju Raveendran and his company Byju’s Investments Pvt. Ltd (BIPL) in July
6 days ago
The Jharkhand government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, announced on August 17, 2026, that the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination held in 2024 has been cancelled. The government has also ordered a detailed investigation into alleged irregularities in government recruitment
6 days ago
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out searches at 21 locations in Karnataka and Ahmedabad over alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission’s (KPSC) Veterinary Officers recruitment examination, ANI reported
6 days ago
For decades, India’s school education policy pursued a simple objective: to bring a school within reach of every child. The neighborhood school became an instrument of social justice, particularly for poor and rural families. However, many such schools have limited infrastructure and serve very
6 days ago
The Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (UPMSP) has released the results for the 2026 High School Improvement and Intermediate Compartment examinations. Candidates can check their results on the UP Board website, upmsp.edu.in. Along with the results
6 days ago
The Congress on Monday (August 17, 2026) stepped up its attack on the National Testing Agency over its decision to re-conduct the UGC-NET examination for three subjects, demanding accountability for what it termed “serious” lapses in the examination system and a white paper on 15 major
6 days ago
