New Delhi, June 13
Six years after the 82nd amendment to the Constitution made education a fundamental right of children between 6 and 14 years, the government today committed itself to bring the much-troubled Right to Education Bill to the Lok Sabha in the forthcoming Budget session.

Speaking exclusively to The Tribune here, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said the bill was a “national priority” and the government would bring it on the first day of the Budget session in July. “The bill has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha,” he said.

It is further learnt that the government has agreed to reconsider the cost-sharing formula with the state governments, which earlier feared the huge burden of providing free and compulsory elementary education to every child in their respective jurisdictions. Whereas the earlier formula was based on a 65 and 35 per cent cost sharing between the state and the Centre, the government is now moving towards a 50-50 cost arrangement.

“We are moving towards a 50-50 model that equally distributes the cost of implementing the law. But let us make it clear that the government is duty-bound to bring every child into the ambit of school education and would be committed to providing free, compulsory education to all in the age group of 6 to 14 years,” Sibal said, adding that the financial issues concerning the bill had earlier been referred to the Finance Commission, and were on the verge of being sorted out.

He also said the government had incorporated some of the suggestions made by the parliamentary standing committee on human resource development which considered the bill. The committee had sought a workable cost-sharing arrangement between the Centre and states. “We have adopted some of their suggestions,” said the minister, clarifying that the Right to Education Law was not a sword in the hands of the state to be used against the care-givers and parents of children.

There has been a lot of apprehension about certain provisions of the bill, which make it obligatory on the part of parents to send their children to schools. “The obligation is only of the government, not of the parents. 

It is our duty to provide free, compulsory education and this myth needs to be busted that parents would face some sort of action were they not in a position to send the wards to school. This responsibility is of the state. There can be no penalty on parents,” Sibal clarified before leaving for the Commonwealth Education Ministers conference in Malaysia.

The Right to Education Bill was first drafted and debated after 2002 when the constitution was amended to make free and compulsory education a fundamental right of all children between 6 and 14 years. In July 2006, the government rejected the bill for lack of resources and the voiceless children of India were once again betrayed. 

In February 2008, interest in the bill was revived again and the government finally accepted to take the law forward. It was approved by the Union Cabinet in October last and was then brought to the Rajya Sabha, which passed the bill in the last session.

New Delhi, June 13
Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal left for Kuala Lumpur where he would lead the Indian delegation to attend the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) being held from June 15 to 18.

The conference marks the 50th anniversary of the Commonwealth Education Ministers Conference, where India’s role is being seen as peculiar given its young working population. An estimated 672 million workers in India are between the age group of 15 and 64 years. 

At the meeting, Sibal is expected to stress on this major demographic dividend that could accrue with a skilled workforce capable of contributing both at the national and global levels for economic growth.

The theme of the conference is “Education in Commonwealth: Towards and beyond global goals and targets”, and it will bring together the education ministers, senior officials and delegates from the Commonwealth member states. The meeting is held every three years, with the previous conference held at Cape Town in South Africa in 2006.

This year’s Indian delegation includes Anshu Vaish, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, and senior officials N.K. Sinha and Shri Amit Khare in the HRD ministry. During his visit to Kuala Lumpur, Sibal is likely to visit higher education institutes set up by Indian entrepreneurs in Malaysia. 

On the occasion, the Confederation of Indian Industries and Education Consultants, along with the Indian High Commission, will organise India Education Fair 2009 from June 20 to 21, at Kuala Lumpur.

New Delhi, June 13
The RK Raghavan Committee has asked the UGC to put its recently drafted anti-ragging regulations in public domain and also modify all regulations in accordance with the order of the Supreme Court.

In its meeting held here, the committee reviewed the progress made by different regulatory bodies and other stakeholders who have been directed by the court to implement the recommendations of the committee’s report on anti-ragging measures.

Meanwhile, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has sought an explanation from the Vasavi College of Engineering, Hyderabad, in the latest case of ragging reported from the institute. The time given to the college is June 19, failing which the AICTE would freeze all grants to the college under its various schemes, besides withdrawing approval and withholding admissions for the current year 2009-10.

“We have deputed a fact-finding committee to ascertain the facts of the case,” AICTE representatives told the Raghavan committee here.

The UGC is in the process of notifying the anti-ragging regulations shortly, besides making the national anti-ragging call centre functional. Education Consultants India Limited (Ed CIL) made a commitment to expedite the work on the nation-wide helpline.

The Raghavan committee, which is closely monitoring the progress on the front, has now asked the UGC to make their regulations available in the public domain.

“As the new academic session would commence shortly, it is the most crucial period to intensify efforts jointly and remain vigilant so that ragging can be eradicated from the campuses of the institutions. The court has endorsed all major recommendations of our committee report and advised regulatory bodies to modify anti-ragging regulations in accordance with its directions,” a committee member said.

Guwahati, June 13
Congress MP from Arunachal Pradesh West constituency, Takam Sanjay has called upon the UPA government to accord top priority to the security along the Chinese frontier in Arunachal Pradesh in view of the massive development taking place in China across the border.

“The UPA government shouldn’t take things lightly in case of Arunachal Pradesh especially along India-China border which is very porous. Top priority should be accorded for development of road communication. I have conveyed it to Defence Minister A K Anthony,” said the MP.

He said the Defence Ministry should take charge of numerous mule tracks near the India-China border till proper roads are constructed.

The MP from Arunachal Pradesh also requested the Defence Minister to set up a base of Indian Air Force (IAF) and strengthen the eight advance landing grounds (ALDs) in the frontier hill state. The IAF now looks after the ALDs in Arunachal Pradesh from its bases at Jorhat, Tezpur and Chabua in Assam. “The Defence Minister has informed that two more divisions of Army will be set up in Arunachal Pradesh and the face of the state will be changed in next three years,” he claimed.

The Arunachal Pradesh government had already submitted a proposal to the Government of India to set up Arunachal Pradesh Scouts in the line with those in Ladakh and Kumaon which did a splendid job during Kargil war along with the Naga regiment since they were quite in tune with the terrain and atmosphere there.

The Congress MP regretted China’s efforts to block a $ 60 million Asian Development Bank aid for a mega watershed management project for Arunachal Pradesh on the ground that Arunachal Pradesh is a disputed territory. “I have taken up the matter with the Union Finance Minister and urged him to use his good office to clear get the project cleared in the next ADB board meeting. Arunachal Pradesh has been a part and parcel of India and cannot be considered a disputed territory,” he said.

He informed that the ADB will fund $ 2.6 billion project for various states of India and out of the amount $ 60 million was earmarked for Arunachal Pradesh. “The External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has assured that no external force should raise objection to the project in Arunachal Pradesh and in case there is any, the ministry is competent enough to bail it out,” the MP informed. 

Dehradun, June 13
With Gentlemen Cadets crossing the “Antim Pagh” to step into Chetwode Hall during an impressive passing-out parade ceremony held at the prestigious Indian Military Academy here, the Indian Army today got 513 more officers.

As the GCs crossed the “Antim Pagh”, a trio of Army Aviation Corps choppers showered flower petals to welcome the new officers into the Indian armed forces.

From 513 pass-outs, 334 GCs were from 124 Regular Course, 20 from 107 Technical Graduates, 67 from 17 University Entry Scheme, 9 GCs from 22 Special Commissioned Officer Course and 67 from 13 Technical Entry Scheme Course. From 16 foreign GCs, who passed out today, nine were from Tajikistan, five from Bhutan and two from Mauritius.

Abhishek Rana of Palampur (Himachal Pradesh) got the prestigious “Sword of Honour” for being the best all-round Gentleman Cadet. He is the alumni of the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) and his father Col.

Shamsher Singh Rana is serving in the Indian Army. His brother Gaurav is a Lieutenant in the Indian Navy. Notably, Abhishek has also been bestowed with the gold medal for standing first in the order of merit of the regular course.

Meanwhile, the silver medal for standing second in order of merit from the regular course was awarded to Battalion cadet Quarter Master Lalit Mohan Joshi. Hailing from Haldwani (Uttarakhand), he is being commissioned into 8 Battalion - the Garhwal Rifles (Buttur Dograndi).

Son of a retired Subedar Major, Joshi is alumni of NDA and has been an excellent sportsman. The bronze medal for standing third in the order of merit from the regular course was given to Academy Under Officer Kartik Manral. Manral belongs to Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and has been commissioned into 2 Guards (Mech Inf).

The silver medal for standing first in order of merit from technical graduates course was awarded to Gentlemen Cadet Aditya Shrikumar. Hailing from Satara, Maharashtra, Shrikumar is a good sportsman and likes dancing and trekking. He has been commissioned into 21 Para (SF).

Besides, Ravi Kumar Poonia was awarded the silver medal for standing first in order of merit from Technical Entry Scheme (TES Course). Poonia belongs to Churu (Rajasthan) and has been commissioned into 119 Aslt Engineers (Bombay Sappers). The Chief of Army Staff Banner (COAS) went to Zojila Company, Manekshaw Battalion.

The POP for the spring term 2009 was reviewed by Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh General Dr SF Rodrigues (retd), among the other well-decorated defence personnel. Gen Rodrigues awarded medals to the winners.

Addressing the GCs, Gen Rodrigues said that they must keep the national interest foremost in their mind while facing difficult situations during the course of their tenure in the armed forces. He also exhorted the passing-out cadets to become role models for the youth.

After the address, the GC’s, commanded by parade commander Academy Under Officer Kartik Manral, joined the officers’ corp the moment they gracefully crossed the Antim Pagh and entered the portals of the IMA’s Chetwode Building.

While the cadets smartly marched in, the select gathering of well-decorated officers from the Army, including Reviewing Officer General Rodrigues, IMA Commandant Lt Gen RS Sujlana, misty-eyed parents and visitors, looked on from the marquee.

After the address of Gen Rodrigues, the parents of the just-commissioned officers from all over the country shared their proud moment at the pipping ceremony by pinning up the stars on their shoulders.

The Adjutant of the IMA Lt Col Rakesh Nair administered the oath to the young officers. The young officers then rendered a full-throated Army number “Kadam kadam badhaye ja”.

With the commissioning marking the end of their gruelling training, the newly inducted officers jumped in joy and tossed their caps in the air in unison.

Hyderabad, June 13
Smarting under electoral drubbing, the Telugu Desam Party received another jolt from within with a senior legislator N Prasanna Kumar Reddy raising a banner of revolt against party president N Chandrababu Naidu and questioning his style of functioning.

Reddy, who represents Kovur constituency in Nellore district, lambasted the party leadership on several issues including its stand on the recent election of Assembly Speaker. The former minister shot off a letter to Naidu accusing him of being surrounded by ‘jokers and riff-raff elements’.

Criticising the stand taken by the party leadership in opposing Congress nominee N Kiran Kumar Reddy for Speaker’ post, he said the party’s image had taken a severe beating with such wrong decisions.

“You should have consulted senior leaders of the party before taking decisions on such important issues. But, you are surrounded by a bunch of buffoons and riff-raff gang. It is unfortunate that you always go by their advice and take wrong steps,” Prasanna Kumar said in the letter.

It was only a couple of days ago that former chief whip and senior leader Gadde Babu Rao resigned from the TDP, stating that there was no point in continuing in the party which had lost people’s support.

In an open letter to Naidu, Reddy questioned the style of functioning of the party president and pointed out that if the TDP could get a good number of seats in the recent elections, the credit should go to “Junior NTR” and N Balakrishna, grandson and son of former Chief Minister late N T Rama Rao respectively, who campaigned extensively for the party.

Guwahati, June 13
An Indian Army regiment based in Western Assam district of Dhubri is all set to enter in Guinness Book of World Records after it has planted 4.48 lakh saplings within a span of 24 hours in a massive plantation drive conducted in coordination with the Assam Forest Department today.

About 300 personnel from 21 Jat Regiment of Indian Army set out on a plan to plant 5 lakh saplings on an area of 180 hectares on a denuded forest land in Dhubri district at 3-30 p.m. yesterday and ended up planting 4.5 lakh saplings at 3.30 p.m. today thereby toppling the current world record held by the Mexico Forest Department that had planted 3.40 lakh sapling during 24 hours.

Last year the Bongaigaon district administration in Assam had created a record by planting 2.40 lakh plantlets at Choutaki village in 24 hours, but the feat was outsmarted by the Mexico Forest Department after one month.

An Army official said the massive plantation drive was carried out in presence of a team of neutral observers that include Prof P P Baruah of Botany Department, Prof B C Kar of Geography department of Gauhati University and Bipin Ahangia, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University. The observers are entrusted to report the feat to the Guinness Book authority.

The Assam Forest Department has provided the saplings, mostly teak seedlings as well as expertise, for the innovative plantation drive of the Army.

The Army regiment engaged 300 of its personnel for planting saplings. Each of the personnel was assigned to plant seven saplings per three minutes so that the target of 5 lakh saplings could be achieved.

Mumbai, June 13
The Maharashtra government today transferred Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor as Director-General Housing, Maharashtra Police Department, Home Minister Jayant Patil said here today.

Joint Commissioner KL Prasad will hold the charge of the Mumbai Police Commissioner till a regular appointment is finalised, Patil said.

Reacting to what is seen as a demotion, Gafoor said he was very happy with his promotion as the Director-General of Police which was due for some time.

The Maharashtra government's decision to replace Gafoor comes days before it was to table the Ram Pradhan Committee report on the terror attacks in Mumbai on November 26 last year. The government is also expected to table the Action Taken Report after placing the Ram Pradhan Committee report in the House.

According to information leaked to the media, the committee has found fault with Gafoor during and after the terrorist attack. Gafoor has reportedly been found guilty of not providing adequate leadership to the police force.

The commissioner was also reportedly found guilty of not following standard operating procedures, while the terror attacks were on. Then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil were replaced immediately after the terror attacks, Gafoor remained put as the government did not want to create confusion and uncertainty in the police force, sources said.

Chennai, June 13
With sex workers becoming an easy target of violence and exploitation by pimps as well as rowdies, the number of sex workers learning self-defence techniques like karate is on the rise in Tamil Nadu.

Some of the social groups too have come forward to arrange exclusive classes for them. Sex workers with masked faces attend these classes with enthusiasm and say that self-defence techniques are more important for them than other ladies, who have social security and respect.

Gita, one of the sex workers, undergoing training with a masked face, said anti-social elements and local thugs, seeking free enjoyment from them, troubled them at any place. When they refused, the sex workers were subjected to violence and torture.

Her friend Mala said: “We cannot report to police or seek the help of others, as we are known as sex workers. No one takes our plight seriously. In such a situation, we need confidence to defend ourselves. Learning karate gives confidence and once the thugs and pimps know that we are learning karate, they fear us.”

Recounting her experience, Madhumitha, who was covering her face with a ‘power range mask’, said: “The pimps forced her to manage many customers at the same time and took the money given by them. This agony, ill-treatment and violence made us to suffer from hunger and poverty silently. Now, I choose my customers selectively, without the interference of pimps and get the money myself.”

Gita said: “Most of the local thugs and unemployed youngsters roaming in the area know that we are sex workers. They corner us at public places and demand that we should accompany them to whatever place they choose. If we refuse, they would beat us and drag us into their vehicle. Now, those fellows are keeping away, knowing that we are learning karate.”

Mumbai, June 13
Private and public sector companies in Maharashtra may be forced by law to provide a break up of ‘locals’ and migrants employed on their premises. According to a statement made by Maharashtra Labour Minister Nawab Malik in the Assembly earlier this week, the state government was serious about ensuring that 80 per cent of the labour hired by private sector companies is among locals.

“The government may force companies employing more than 10 persons to make a declaration before the Labour Commissioner,” a labour department official said. Contrary to skepticism by various corporate houses and trade bodies it would not take much for the government to determine the domicile status of employees, the official said.

Companies in Maharashtra employing 10 or more persons are required to make appropriate declarations before the Labour Commissioner’s office.

Employers are already required to enforce laws like the Minimum Wages Act and the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme for those earning below Rs 2,500 per month, sources say.

Skeptics of the proposal say, the Labour Commissioner’s office is a toothless body understaffed and corrupt. Industry bodies cite instances of small-scale units mushrooming illegally all over the cities of Maharashtra where people work in dangerous conditions and are not even paid the minimum wage. “Only the bigger companies will be targeted if such an ordinance comes about,” says a member of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber.

The opposition Shiv Sena-BJP is demanding that the ordinance making it mandatory for 80 per cent of a company’s workforce be of locals passed by the Ashok Chavan government some months ago be enforced. Minister of State for Urban Development Hasan Mushrif told the house on Friday that the ordinance would be formally enacted into law.

The issue of migrants has begun to heat up after the Economic Survey for 2008-09 showed that more than 12 lakh people had migrated to Maharashtra from other states in the past five years. While most of them came to work in the state’s cities and towns, Maharashtra also experienced a large number of migrants moving to the cities from rural areas within the state.

Mumbai, June 13
Two years after a pilot project to study the feasibility of agri-tourism showed encouraging results, the Maharashtra government has come up with norms to give a boost to the fledgling industry that could augment farm income and increase tourist inflow in the state.

Under the Maharashtra Krishi Paryatan Yojana 2009 recently announced by the Maharashtra’s Tourism Department, a number of guidelines have been initiated to register farms across the state that could support agri-tourism initiatives. “We have identified the norms under which farms will be benchmarked to qualify as agri-tourism centres,” says Pandurang Taware, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Agri and Rural Tourism (MART) Co-op Federation Ltd.

Under these norms, farms that want to offer home stay facilities to tourists would have to be of five acres or more and fully developed. They would have to have a minimum of three rooms for accommodating guests. MART’s representatives will regularly review the quality of service offered and the response from the visitors in order to maintain standards,” Taware said.

So far, 75 farms have signed up as agri-tourism centres across Maharashtra and the number would double in two years, according to MART.

MART, which is becoming a nodal agency for agri-tourism in the state, has drawn up a plan of action to promote this concept of tourism at trade shows and in the international forums, says Taware.

According to estimates prepared by MART, each farm that is part of this programme would be able to earn as much as Rs 2.5 lakh annually. Some of the bigger farms that have adopted agri-tourism have earned more than Rs 30-35 lakh last year, says MART. Total earnings by the industry in the state have been in the region of Rs 30 crore, say officials.

Chennai, June 13
The functioning of the National Rural Employment Gurarantee Scheme, the flagship programme of the UPA government, is affected by corruption at the lower level in some villages in Tamil Nadu and the latest complaint being the collection of Rs 50 from villagers to provide employment.

People belonging to several villages around Mettur, in Salem district, complained that the workers at the panchayat offices were collecting Rs 50 from each villager to join the scheme. The reason being given by the panchayat workers is that they were spending the money on the passport photographs of villagers, lamination of their identity cards and for bank passbooks.

When the villagers refuse to pay the money, the employees at the panchyat offices were not admitting them into the scheme saying that the panchayat could not spend money for passport photographs and identity cards. As there is no alternative, most of the villagers were paying Rs 50 and joining the scheme. The panchayat employees were refusing to accept passport photographs brought by the villagers.

People belonging to Navapatti village under Kolathur panchayat in the same district complained that the panchayat employees were making money out of the scheme, using the enthusiasm of villagers to join the plan.

Last year when the programme began, no money was collected from those joining the scheme and passport photographs and identity cards were given free of cost. They also pointed out that the government had announced that it would bear the cost for photographs, identity cards and bank pass books.

The villagers said the main objective of the programme was to provide employment and mitigate poverty in rural areas. They said the entire family in a village could prepare meals for a day with Rs 50, which the panchayat workers were demanding. 

BRIEFLY

Key Lalu aide quits RJD
PATNA: In a setback to RJD chief Lalu Prasad, his close confidant and national General-Secretary Shyam Razak resigned from the Bihar Assembly on Saturday. He is likely to join the ruling JD (U) in a day or two in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other senior party leaders here, a JD (U) spokesman claimed. Razak submitted his resignation letter to Secretary of the State Assembly Surendra Prasad Sharma, who faxed it to Speaker Udai Narain Choudhary, currently in New Delhi. The Speaker had accepted Razak’s resignation, Sharma said. Razak was a three-time member of the state Assembly since 1995 and remained a minister for nearly nine years in the Lalu-Rabri government. — PTI

NBWs against ex-CM
RAICHUR (KARNATAKA): A court here has issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against former state Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and minister K Shivana Gouda Naik following their failure to appear before it in response to summons issued against them. Naik, Minister for Libraries, and JD (S) leader Kumaraswamy face criminal charges filed against them for violating the mode code of conduct during the 2008 Assembly elections in the state. The Deodurga Judicial First Class Magistrate Court (JMFC) on Friday issued the NBWs directing the police to produce them on June 25. — PTI

Two militants shot
IMPHAL: Two militants were killed in separate gunfights with police commandos in Imphal East district of Manipur, police sources said on Saturday. Sources said the commandos detected movement of some persons in a suspicious manner last night. When asked to stop, they were fired upon by militants and in the ensuing encounter an unidentified militant was killed, the sources said. In another encounter at Chingmeirong area in the outskirts of Imphal on Friday, a militant was killed. — PTI