Cong protests absence of basic facilities at civic schools despite Rs 359 crore grant
The Thane Congress, led by City President Vikrant Chavan, staged a protest outside the education department on Thursday, questioning the irregularities hampering thousands of students and teachers.
"Schools reopened on June 16, but the midday meals under the PM Nutrition Scheme only began on Aug 4. Thousands of students are still deprived of uniforms and educational materials despite the grant, which points to a complete collapse of the education system under the Thane Municipal Corporation," Chavan alleged.
He also highlighted severe staff shortages affecting education quality and student enrolment. "Out of 856 approved teacher posts, 174 remain vacant, forcing the corporation to hire hourly teachers. Student enrolment has dropped drastically from 72,000 to 30,000 over the years," he added, saying the civic school buildings need to be audited by institutions like the IITs or VJTI.
You Can Also Check:
Mumbai AQI
|
Weather in Mumbai
|
Bank Holidays in Mumbai
|
Public Holidays in Mumbai
Chavan detailed administrative vacancies: five out of six supervisor posts overseeing municipal and private schools remain unfilled.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Knee Pain Keeping You Up at Night? This Trick Could Help Instantly
12facts.com
Learn More
Undo
Eight group head and 24 centre coordinator posts are also vacant. Only eight of sixteen clerk positions are filled, and three of four senior clerk roles remain empty. Among sanctioned security staff, just 45 out of 112 constables are working. The committee's main office faces similar issues, with only seven staff working against an 18-person sanctioned strength.
These gaps, he warned, are severely impacting the functioning and quality of civic schools in Thane and warned of an intensified protest outside the civic headquarters if solutions are not found. The party also demanded private schools install their respective nameboards in local Marathi and that native individuals be given priority in employment and contracts.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and s
ilver prices
in your area.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
19 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Punjab: SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia' s judicial custody extended till August 28
A Mohali court has prolonged SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia's judicial custody until August 28 in connection with a disproportionate assets case involving alleged laundering of Rs 540 crore of "drug money." Majithia, arrested on June 25, appeared via video-conferencing. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A court in Punjab's Mohali district on Thursday extended the judicial custody of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia , who was arrested in a disproportionate assets (DA) case, till August Punjab Vigilance Bureau had arrested Majithia on June 25 in the DA case allegedly involving laundering of Rs 540 crore of "drug money".Majithia was produced before the court through prosecutor Ferry Sofat said Majithia's judicial custody has been extended till August July 6, Majithia was sent to judicial custody. His judicial remand was extended on July 19 and then on August is lodged in the New Nabha jail in court also heard the arguments of both counsels on Majithia's bail plea in the DA hearing the submissions, the court deferred the matter to August court has already fixed August 21 as the next date on Majithia's plea for a change of the FIR registered against Majithia, the Vigilance Bureau had claimed that preliminary investigations revealed more than Rs 540 crore of "drug money" had been laundered through several ways and it was allegedly facilitated by FIR against Majithia stems from an ongoing investigation being conducted by a Punjab Police special investigation team into the 2021 drug 2021, Majithia was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The action was taken on the basis of a 2018 report of the anti-drug Special Task spent more than five months in Patiala jail and walked out of prison in August 2022 after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail.
Economic Times
19 minutes ago
- Economic Times
If Mahatma Gandhi wasn't India's first choice for banknotes then how did he become Rupee's forever face?
Synopsis Initially rejected, Mahatma Gandhi's image wasn't always destined for Indian currency. Post-independence, the Lion Capital of Ashoka was favored, symbolizing the new republic. Gandhi's presence began with a 1969 commemorative note, becoming permanent in 1996. Despite debates and proposals for other figures, Gandhi remains a constant reminder of India's core values on every rupee. Mahatma Gandhi Walk into any shop in India, hand over a crumpled banknote, and you'll see a familiar face smiling back, bespectacled, serene, and instantly recognisable. Mahatma Gandhi doesn't just appear on our currency; he has become a quiet constant in our daily exchanges, silently passing through millions of hands each day. But the story of how he ended up there is far from straightforward. In fact, in the first flush of independence, Gandhi's portrait was rejected for Indian on 14 August 1947 brought independence, but not yet a new currency. For a brief period, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) continued issuing colonial notes bearing King George VI. Behind closed doors, discussions began on what a truly Indian banknote should look like. The early idea was simple, replace the King's portrait with that of the Father of the Nation. Designs were prepared with Gandhi's image. Then came a surprising turn. As the RBI recounts, the 'final analysis' shifted towards a non-personal symbol, the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. It was felt this emblem, drawn from India's ancient heritage, better captured the idea of a modern republic. So, in 1949, the new Re. 1 note appeared with the Lion Capital watermark, and Gandhi's portrait was the following decades, Indian notes became miniature showcases of the country's identity and ambitions. Tigers, deer, and peacocks symbolised natural heritage. The Konark Wheel, Brihadeeswara Temple, and Hirakud Dam spoke of cultural pride and industrial progress. The Aryabhatta satellite hinted at a future in science and space. Currency in the 1950s and 60s was not about a single leader, it was about the nation as a wasn't until Gandhi's birth centenary in 1969 that he made his first official appearance on a banknote. This commemorative design showed him seated, with Sevagram Ashram in the background, a gentle nod to his life of simplicity and service. The issue was special and short-lived, not yet a permanent feature of Indian currency. The real turning point came in 1987. The Rajiv Gandhi government reintroduced the Rs 500 denomination, and for the first time on a regular note, Gandhi's portrait appeared on its obverse. Still, he wasn't on every note. That came in 1996, when the RBI launched the Mahatma Gandhi Series, redesigned notes with improved security features and, for the first time, Gandhi's smiling face on all 2016, the 'New Series' kept Gandhi firmly in place while refreshing colours, sizes, and themes. From Rs 10 to Rs 2,000, he had become inseparable from the the years, there have been calls to share this space. Some have suggested Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, or even religious figures like Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. In 2016, the government clarified that a high-level committee had decided 'there is no need to change Mahatma Gandhi's photo on the currency notes.' Others have been honoured in different ways, Dr B. R. Ambedkar, for instance, was commemorated with special Rs 125 and Rs 10 coins. In 2022, a proposal from the Aam Aadmi Party to add Lakshmi and Ganesha sparked debate, with supporters citing prosperity and detractors warning against politicising or communalising currency design. For all the discussion, Gandhi remains unshaken on our notes. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, 'Gandhi was inevitable… we may ignore him at our own risk.' On the rupee, his presence is more than decoration, it's a reminder of the values he championed: truth, non-violence, and unity in time we pass a note across a counter, we're not just exchanging money. We're handing over a piece of history, one that almost didn't have Gandhi's face, but now, perhaps fittingly, cannot be imagined without it.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
19 minutes ago
- First Post
Why Britain's foreign secretary could be fined Rs 3 lakh for fishing with JD Vance
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has referred himself to the Environment Agency – the country's environmental watchdog – after playing host to US Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha and three children at the Chevening House in Kent last week. But what happened? What does fishing have to do with it? The UK's Foreign Secretary is in trouble. And it is all over fishing. David Lammy has referred himself to the Environment Agency – the UK's environmental watchdog. But what happened? Why is Lammy in trouble? Let's take a closer look: What happened? Lammy last week played host to US Vice-President JD Vance, who is on a private holiday to the United Kingdom along with his wife Usha and three children. Lammy and Vance met at the Chevening House in Kent where they discussed Gaza and other international affairs. Chevening House is a Palladian mansion and gardens that is used as a country retreat by Foreign Secretaries. It sits on a vast 3,000 acre estate that includes a lake and a maze. Vance also met Conservative MPs Robert Jenrick and Chris Philp and Reform leader Nigel Farage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, what's the problem? Photos of Lammy and Vance fishing at the property's private lake emerged. Unfortunately, it turns out that Lammy did not have the appropriate fishing licence. In England and Wales, all fishermen above 13 must apply for a rod licence to catch freshwater species like carp. A one-day licence to catch fish costs around $10 (Rs 875). The UK Foreign Office said this was an 'administrative oversight.' Lammy said he had bought the licences as soon as he discovered the error. He said he wrote to the Environment Agency to report himself. 'He also thanked them for their work protecting Britain's fisheries,' a Foreign Office spokesperson said. Lammy now faces a fine of up to $3400 (Rs 3 lakh). JD Vance has praised David Lammy as a 'good friend' and 'very, very gracious host'. Reuters Vance has hailed Lammy as a 'good friend' and 'very, very gracious host'. He also noted that his children caught fish while Lammy did not. He joked that this was 'unfortunately the one strain on the special relationship.' The fish were later returned to the lake. An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'Everyone who goes fishing needs a licence to help improve our rivers, lakes and the sport anglers love. 'We understand the relevant licences have been purchased.' Labour has dismissed the story. A party source told the Sun newspaper, 'There's nothing fishy to see here. The foreign secretary isn't much of a fisherman but he landed a big diplomatic catch getting the vice president to stay for the weekend at Chevening'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chevening House The estate has a long and storied history. It was home to earls and aristocrats for nearly 250 years before being gifted to the state by the 7th Earl of Kent. It comprises 3,000 acres stretching between Sevenoaks and Biggin Hill in Kent. Its gardens alone comprise 40 acres and include a lake, maze, parterre and a double hexagonal walled kitchen garden. It is also surrounded by 500 acres of woodland. This is in the first time it has been in the middle of controversy. In 1999, the then Labour foreign secretary Robin Cook invited scandal after his ex-wife Margaret slammed him for taking his current wife Gaynor Regan to the estate. Regan had been Cook's mistress during his marriage to Margaret. Margaret in her memoir claimed Cook was a womaniser and a drunk. Chevening House in Kent has a long and storied history. AP The estate again found itself amidst a row in 2020. At this time, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was spending time at Chevening with his then girlfriend Carrie Symonds. Johnson, fresh off a divorce from his wife Marina, was said to have missed multiple meetings during his time at Chevening. An Italian diplomat is also have said to have become mired in Chevening's maze. The diplomat, who was said to have been in a dark blue designer suit and Gucci loafers, was said to have lost his way in the maze for over an hour. He was discovered with his clothes torn and his shoes ruined. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Protests greet Vance Vance's working holiday with his family has been met with protests from locals. He is currently in the hamlet of Dean in Oxfordshire, in the picturesque Cotswolds. 'It's a massive intrusion and it's not just the fact our lives are disrupted but it's who he is,' said Jonathan Mazower, the head of communications for NGO Survival International, who owns one of Dean's 15 homes. 'I feel and many others feel we can't allow someone like that to come into our village and not say something publicly against it.' Long a destination of the British elite, former British Prime Minister David Cameron lives in Dean, the Cotswolds is also becoming increasingly popular with wealthy Americans, some of whom moved to the region following the election win of President Donald Trump last year. TV personality Ellen DeGeneres has cited the election result as the reason behind her full-time relocation to the area. With inputs from agencies
