Over 3,580 govt schools in Kʼtaka lack functional loos: Report
Bengaluru: More than 3,580 government schools in Karnataka are without functional toilets, while nearly 4,000 schools lack hand wash facilities, highlighting a significant gap in basic infrastructure.
This glaring situation was highlighted in the recently released Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2023-24 report, which underscores the neglect of essential facilities within the state’s education system. The report revealed a lack of functional toilets in 2,648 boys' or co-educational schools, and 937 girls' or co-educational schools.
Experts argue that the government must halt its focus on promoting modern practices in schools and universities until it fixes these critical infrastructure issues in government schools.
Development Educationist Professor Niranjanaradhya mentioned that the figures are ‘underestimated’ and fail to represent the ground reality. “The availability of toilet facilities is far worse than what the report indicates. The actual numbers are likely three to four times more,” he was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
He remarked that providing basic facilities such as functional toilets and drinking water are essential development rights. However, he pointed out that these rights require adequate funding, which the state government appears unwilling to prioritise.
Prof. Niranjanaradhya emphasised that the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which mandates these basic facilities, has been in effect since 2010. "Fifteen years later, in 2025, if the government still fails to meet these basic standards, what hope do we have of achieving anything beyond this?" he questioned.
Child rights activist Vasudev Sharma highlighted the poor state of washrooms, especially in rural areas, noting issues like lack of running water, broken latches, and inconvenient locations, making them unsafe and inaccessible for children. He also questioned why the government focuses improvements only on urban areas.
He described this as a severe violation of the RTE Act and a betrayal of every child in government schools, pointing out that despite the reports exposing the truth, the government continues to ignore them.
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Savarkar remarks: Rahul Gandhi appears in Pune court via video link in defamation case, gets bail
Pune, Jan 10: A special court in Pune on Friday granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case related to his alleged objectionable remarks on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar.
The MP/MLA court granted bail to the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha on a surety bond of Rs 25,000 after he appeared before it through video conferencing, his lawyer said.
Senior Congress leader Mohan Joshi stood as surety for Gandhi (54) before the court presided over by Amol Shinde, judicial magistrate (first class) and special judge for MP/MLA cases.
Advocate Milind Pawar, representing Gandhi, said soon after his client appeared before the court, they moved a bail application.
The judge allowed the plea and granted bail to the former Congress president on a surety bond of Rs 25000, he informed.
The advocate said the court also granted permanent exemption to the Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli from appearing before it.
The case was filed on a complaint by V D Savarkar's grandnephew Satyaki, who alleged Gandhi had made defamatory remarks against the Hindutva icon at a programme he attended in London in March 2023.
Earlier, advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, representing Satyaki Savarkar, objected to Gandhi's application seeking virtual appearance.
There was no provision that allows an accused to appear in court through video conferencing before securing bail, Kolhatkar argued.
The court, however, permitted Gandhi to attend the proceedings online.
Wearing a bottle green sweater, the Congress MP appeared before the court and stated his name when the judge asked for it.
The matter will be next heard on February 18.
As per the complaint, Gandhi, while speaking at the London event, stated that Savarkar had written in a book that he and five to six of his friends once beat up a Muslim man and he (Savarkar) felt happy.
According to the complaint, the freedom fighter had not written this anywhere and the Congress leader's remarks were aimed at defaming him.
At the time, the court had asked the Pune police to investigate the allegations and file a report.
The Vishrambaug police, after an inquiry, submitted that there was prima facie truth in the complaint.
Gandhi had skipped the previous court appearance on December 2 citing the winter session of Parliament which he was attending.
His lawyer Pawar had then assured that the opposition parliamentarian will appear in the court on January 10.
