MP’s Education Gap: 75% Parents Unaware of School Committees TINA KHATRI Only 43% of schools in Madhya Pradesh have active Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), and less than 40% of these conduct meetings regularly. Furthermore, just 25% of parents are aware of PTAs in their children’s schools, while attendance at PTA meetings stands at less than 1%. These figures from ground-level report of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Madhya Pradesh conducted by Samarthan centre. Under the Madhya Pradesh Jan Shiksha Niyam, 2003, schools are mandated to form PTAs that meet monthly and include broad community representation. However, recent assessments show only 0.81% of parents attended PTA meetings in the previous six months, with less than 27% even aware such associations exist at their schools. National education programs emphasize parental involvement through PTAs and School Management Committees (SMCs). Yet evaluations report that only half of parents are aware of such bodies, and less than 20% actively p...
Water Crisis Drives Leopards into Villages: Two Rescued in 48 Hours A rising concern is gripping forest officials and residents alike as multiple leopards have been straying into human settlements, believed to be driven by water scarcity and depleting natural resources in their habitats. In just the past 48 hours, two leopards have been rescued from villages near Indore, raising alarms about the increasing frequency of such encounters. On Sunday, a leopard was rescued from Karondiya village along the Bhagora-Kalakund road in the Mhow region. The big cat had wandered dangerously close to human habitation, likely in search of water or food. Swift action by the Ralamandal Rescue Team, led by Range Officer Yogesh Yadav and Deputy Ranger Shersingh Katare, ensured the safe capture of the animal. The team—including driver Yogi, Sohan Dasoriya, and Murarilal Dhakad—tranquilized the leopard and transported it to the Indore Zoo for medical evaluation. The team arrived at the scene within a short...