UP to check dropout rate in schools
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday assured the Assembly to check the number of dropouts from primary schools. “We will inquire the rate of dropouts from schools,” Basic Education Minister Ram Govind Chowdhury said responding to a query in the House. As per annual health survey conducted with the 2010-11 Census, the dropout rate of children aged 6-17 years in the state was 10.3 per cent, he said. Quoting the latest figures, he said the dropout rate had reduced to 8.4 per cent, and added that the government has been taking a number of initiatives to check the dropout rate. (PTI)
Yoga teacher nabbed for raping Dutch tourist in Goa
Panaji: A 37-year-old yoga teacher has been arrested for allegedly raping a 33-year-old Dutch tourist at a popular Goa beach, 30 km from here, police said. Krishna Sharma, who hails from Ghaziabad district in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested Monday evening at Goa airport while he was leaving for New Delhi following the alleged rape at Mandrem, a beach village located in north Goa and popular with Russians. Sharma had been imparting yoga lessons to tourists in Goa and the victim had signed up for yoga classes with him since October, according to police inspector Tushar Vernekar. Sharma has been booked under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code. (IANS)
Worker of closed tea garden dies for ‘lack of nutrition’
Jalpaiguri (WB): A tea garden labourer, who was among others left without resources at the closed Red Bank tea estate at Banarhat in Jalpaiguri district has died. The 50-year-old labourer Buthe Baktha died on Monday, Dhupguri MLA Mamata Roy said. This was the tenth such case after the closure of the tea garden on October 19, she claimed. Confirming the death, CMOH Jagannath Sarkar said, “The worker died of lack of nutrition. We are giving medical help to workers who need medical attention. “We have set up camps as the garden hospital is closed and workers have told us that they have no money to go to hospital,” he said. Ramendra Sarkar, a tea garden worker, alleged that at least 50 others at the closed garden did not have sufficient food. Tea Garden union leaders said the workers were starving with most subsisting on tea flower. “They do not have the physical strength to work for MNREGA programmes,” they said. The tea garden was closed since October 19 when its owner and other staff left the garden without paying the 800 workers their bonus and dues, they added. (PTI)
MP: BJP legislature party’s meeting on December 13
Bhopal: The first meeting of the BJP Legislature Party in Madhya Pradesh following the Assembly elections would be held at the party’s state office here on December 13, where Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to be formally elected as its leader. Senior BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, party Vice-President Prabhat Jha and others will be attending the meeting. The BJP won a consecutive third term in Madhya Pradesh under Chouhan’s leadership in the elections. Chouhan will take oath as the Chief Minister on December 14 at a function at the Jamboree maidan here, where BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is expected to be present along with other party leaders. (PTI)