Just 300 special educators for 27,000 children with special needs in Delhi govt schools
NEW DELHI: Believe it or not! Just 300 special educators are catering to more than 27,000 children with special needs (CwSN) enrolled in Delhi government schools — a ratio of one teacher for every 90 students.
The figures raise serious concerns about the quality of education offered to vulnerable children.
In the amendment to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the Supreme Court in 2023 had directed the Centre to notify the norms and standards of Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) for special and general schools.
The amendment focused on appointing a special education teacher to teach children with special needs in schools.
As per the amendment, schools were asked to appoint one special education teacher for every 10 children with disabilities studying in classes I-V and 15 children with disabilities studying in classes VI-VIII, which will help in their inclusion in the mainstream educational ecosystem.
As per data shared by an education department official, over 400 posts are still vacant in the government schools for the special educators and that's why trained graduate teachers are roped in to take care of the special kids in the schools.
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Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘Love is universal, but the journey to it isn't': how Kamakshi Madan started Arzoo, the matchmaking service for LGBTQ community
On September 6, 2018, a historic moment unfolded. The Supreme Court struck down Indian Penal Code Section 377, decriminalising homosexuality and igniting celebrations across the nation for the LGBTQ community. For Kamakshi Madan, a homemaker-turned-spirited entrepreneur with no prior connection to the community, this was the spark that changed her life. Watching the news that evening, she felt a stirring curiosity. 'What does this mean for those who can now love freely?' she wondered. That question became the seed for an extraordinary journey. Madan's venture began with a bold idea: matchmaking for the LGBTQ community. She was an outsider, a straight woman with no first-hand knowledge of the community's struggles or joys. Yet, her lack of experience didn't deter this graduate from Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College. Instead, it fuelled her determination to learn. With support and unconditional encouragement from her family, she dove into research, visiting NGOs, meeting activists, and speaking with parents of queer individuals. Madan's mother-in-law, 'a woman way ahead of her times', lauded her initiative and her first contact with an NGO came through her mother-in-law's sister. She consulted affirming doctors and therapists, piecing together the nuances of gender identities, sexual orientations, and the unique challenges faced by the community. From the complexities of gender reassignment surgeries to the emotional weight of coming out to families, Madan absorbed it all. Her research revealed a critical gap: the need for a safe, personalised matchmaking service. Unlike heterosexual matchmaking, which often focused on superficial traits, Madan's service had to account for deeper considerations—family acceptance, mental health struggles, and societal stigma. She designed an offline platform, a deliberate choice to prioritise privacy and security. 'Online apps can be too exposing,' she explains. 'People need a space where they feel safe to be themselves.' Her platform, named Arzoo, required detailed forms but she ensured they were inclusive, asking questions like, 'Are you open to partners with disabilities?' or 'Have you disclosed your identity to your family?' These weren't just checkboxes; they were bridges to understanding. Launching Arzoo in January 2020 was no small feat. The world was on the brink of a pandemic, and Madan faced scepticism as an outsider. 'How can someone not from the community understand us?' the homosexual people asked. She relied on social media to connect, slowly building trust. Her first clients came through word of mouth, often from unexpected sources. From there, the network grew, one story at a time. The challenges were immense. Funding was a constant hurdle. Madan poured her savings into Arzoo, but the costs of mental health support, legal counselling, and medical guidance strained her resources. 'Love is universal,' she told herself, 'but the journey to it isn't.' She noticed that many in the community couldn't afford therapy, yet their need for emotional support was profound. Childhood trauma, identity struggles, and societal rejection created a vicious cycle, making relationships daunting. Madan began offering free mental health sessions, funded by the modest fees she charged for matchmaking—Rs 5,000 per person, a small price for a lifetime of connection. What helped was that, unlike others, she decided to go offline too from the beginning. 'There was no other choice, if I wanted to be sure. So when people sign up with me I visit them and spend at least an hour chatting to get to know them. I then fill up the form for them, make a profile and send it to them to check and verify. Once the profile gets into my database I match it with a suitable person. Only when both people approve of each other's profiles do I share the photographs. Once those are approved, only then do I share the names and addresses,' she explains. Her work wasn't just about pairing people; it was about building a community. In 2021, she started the Coffee Club, a series of events hosted in various cafés across Mumbai. These weren't just matchmaking mixers but safe spaces for queer individuals to laugh, share stories, and feel seen. From movie screenings to speed-dating events, the Coffee Club became a beacon of joy. One evening, a trans woman shared her story of finding love through Arzoo. 'I never thought I'd find someone who saw me as me,' she said, her voice trembling. The room erupted in applause, and Madan felt her heart swell. Yet, not every story had a happy ending. 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She celebrated small victories—like the mother from South India who, after Madan matched her son, called to thank her, only to worry later that he was neglecting his studies. Madan laughed, guiding the mother through her concerns. Societal challenges persisted. Some questioned the existence of diverse genders, and funding cuts to NGOs affected the broader queer community. Yet, Madan's work remained untouched by these shifts. 'It's not just about finding love,' she said. 'It's about showing the world we exist, and we're here to stay.' As the Coffee Club prepares for a July event—a flea market with live performances—Madan reflected on her five-year journey. She had no office, no staff, just a laptop and a heart full of purpose. The cafés she hopped between were her office. 'Everyone deserves love,' she told a new client, a non-binary person hesitant to join. 'And if you're not ready for that, come to the Coffee Club. You'll find friends, laughter, maybe even yourself.' 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News18
4 hours ago
- News18
NEET UG 2025 Result: Over 20 Lakh Candidates Awaiting Scorecards, Know Latest Update
Last Updated: NEET UG 2025: Candidates will be given a chance to file objections on the NEET UG provisional answer key. Thereafter, the final answer key and results will be declared. More than 20 lakh candidates had appeared for the NEET UG exam 2025 that was held on May 4. It is conducted every year for admission in MBBS, BAMS, BHMS, BDS and other courses of medical college. Candidates who appeared in the exam can check every detail related to NEET UG 2025 result on NEET UG 2025 final answer key is usually released a few hours before the result or along with the result. The provisional answer key of NEET UG 2025 is expected to be released soon. Candidates will also be given a chance to file objections on the NEET UG provisional answer key. Then the final answer will be prepared based on the objections raised. When Will NEET UG Result 2025 Be Released? NEET UG 2025 result is expected to be declared on June 14, 2025. However, the result date may change due to some court cases (such as demand for re-test at Indore and Ujjain centres in Madhya Pradesh High Court). More than 20 lakh candidates are waiting for NEET UG Result 2025. Merit list, cut-off and scorecard will also be released along with result. There was a lot of uproar after the release of NEET UG result in the year 2024. A large number of candidates had alleged fraud in the NEET UG result. The matter had reached the Supreme Court. This year too, controversy has started on the NEET UG result even before it is released. Many candidates have lodged a complaint about not getting adequate facilities at the NEET UG examination centre. MP High Court and Madras High Court has ordered to put a stay on the NEET UG results of some centres. Step 3 – Enter your details: Application Number, Date of Birth and Security Pin. Step 4 – The result will appear on the screen, which will contain details of your marks, rank and cut-off. Step 5 – Download the scorecard and take a printout. Marks Required To Pass NEET UG 2025 The marks required to pass NEET UG 2025 depend on the cut-off, which is determined based on percentile. The NEET UG exam was conducted for a total of 720 marks. Due to the trend of previous years and the difficulty of the exam this year, the cut-off is expected to decrease slightly. The expected cutoff marks is as follows: General Category: 50th percentile, that is, around 162-170 marks (out of 720). SC/ST/OBC: 40th percentile, that is, around 127-135 marks. General-PwD: 45th percentile, that is, around 145-150 marks. When Will NEET UG 2025 Counselling Take Place? After NEET UG Result 2025, counseling will start from July 2025. MCC (Medical Counseling Committee) will conduct counseling for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) and state governments will conduct counseling for 85% state quota. First Published: June 01, 2025, 13:25 IST
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
43 Noida condos lack pollution board nod to operate STPs
Noida: An RTI reply has revealed that 43 group housing societies in the city lack the mandatory consent to operate (CTO) for their sewage treatment plants (STPs). CTO is a mandatory authorisation issued by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. It permits industries, commercial establishments, and group housing societies to operate their facilities while ensuring that their emissions, effluents, and waste management systems comply with environmental standards. Amit Gupta, a resident of Prateek Wisteria in Sector 77, had filed an RTI application on April 29 asking the pollution control board for the list of societies without CTOs, the action taken against them, fines imposed and recovered, and the names of those societies against which cases were filed in the Special Pollution Court in Lucknow. In its reply dated May 20, UPPCB stated that 43 group housing societies did not obtain the required CTO for their STPs. The list included prominent names such as Lotus Boulevard, Supertech Capetown, Sikka Karmic, Logix Blossom County, Antriksh Golf View, Ajnara Grand Heritage, Prateek Wisteria, NRI City Homes, and Logix Blossom Zest, among others. As per the reply, prosecution proceedings have been initiated against 34 of the identified societies. Of these, environmental compensation amounting to Rs 27 crore has been imposed on 30. Notices were sent to the rest. However, the board stated it had no data in its records on how much of the fines were actually recovered. The current status of these cases in the special court was not available with the office. Lack of CTOs does not necessarily mean that societies do not have functional STPs. On the other hand, in some cases, it may also indicate that societies never had STPs to begin with. Additionally, many of them lack Occupancy Certificates (OC) and Completion Certificates (CC), pointing to a major procedural failure. For example, Gupta's society, Prateek Wisteria, does not have a CTO but has had a functional STP since 2019. "A large number of societies do not have CTOs to operate STPs, which suggests that occupancy and completion certificates were issued without the Authority verifying the status of STPs. Of these 43 societies, about 60%-70% are located in sectors 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78. Many of them cannot even install STPs now due to lack of space within the premises and insufficient funds, as the builder has already handed over the project. The Authority should intervene and lay a separate sewage pipeline connecting these societies to the nearest operational STP in Sector 50," Gupta told TOI. Pointing out the lack of coordination between the UPPCB and the Noida Authority, Gupta stated, "The Authority and the pollution control board are not working together on this issue. They conduct inspections separately and impose fines independently. Often, they are not even aware of each other's actions. Also, the responsibility of establishing STPs and obtaining CTOs lies with the builder, as per the law. It is not the responsibility of the AOA. " Meanwhile, Noida Authority officials said they are monitoring societies flouting environmental norms. Noida CEO Lokesh M said, "OC/CCs are issued after checking whether societies have facilities such as STPs, fire safety, and lift clearances. It is more of an operational issue, as the societies fail to run these facilities properly after homebuyers start living there. The Authority takes action as public health is at stake. However, it is the pollution control board's primary responsibility to impose fines and take legal action. As far as the Authority is concerned, we will continue with our enforcement drive." In a recent drive, the Authority took action against eight societies that either lacked functional STPs or were discharging untreated sewage into open drains, bypassing norms that require treated water to be released into sewer lines. These included RG Residency in Sector 120, Sikka Karmic in Sector 78, Lotus Boulevard in Sector 100, Lotus Panache in Sector 110, Purvanchal Royal Park in Sector 137, Aims Max Gardenia in Sector 75, Prateek Stylome in Sector 45, and Amrapali Silicon City in Sector 76. The drive also extended to Maharishi Ashram near Lotus Panache. The Authority wrote to the registrar of firms, societies, and chits in Meerut seeking cancellation of registration for both the Ashram and the Panache society. However, the Allahabad High Court stayed coercive action against RG Residency. Noida officials said that an environmental cell has been formed to verify whether STPs have been installed. The cell has been asked to compile data on STPs in all group housing societies. As per rules, all residential societies with a floor area of 20,000 sqm or more must have an STP. No new OC is currently being issued without verifying the CTO for the society's STP, officials added.
