Round
The States
New Delhi, 17 February 2011
Bihar Leads
State Hums Own Song
By Insaf
Education in Bihar is just a click away! This seems to be the State
Government's latest motto with details of all the 70,000 primary and upper
primary Government-aided schools being available 24x7 online. Whereby, an
internet surfer can get information about the number of students, teachers,
rooms, furniture etc in any of these institutions just by clicking
a mouse. Each school has been provided with a code number to help find a
school. This is not all. After this, the State Government intends to put-up
information about private primary/upper schools on the website as mandated
under the Right to Education ACT (REA). Although only 10 per cent students in
6-14 age group were enrolled in private schools, the data gathered
would help improve infrastructure, quality of education in Government
schools and decrease the gap between Government and private schools. Further, books,
uniform and bicycles would be provided to all schools under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Will Bihar show the way for UPA Government's Right To
Education For All!
More. Bihar
is all set to hum and sway to its own State song soon. The State
Government has asked people to send in their song entries which will be vetted
by a high-level committee comprising distinguished people. From the shortlist,
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will choose the ‘Bihar gaan’. So far over 1500 proposals have been received. The Bihar gaan which
will debut on the 99th Bihar Diwas celebration on 22 March will later kick-off all
State functions, important occasions and be sung in Government schools during
the morning prayers. Clearly, a song forever, attached to Bihar’s
history!
* * * *
Orissa’s Missing School
Children
School children in
Orissa cannot boast of a bright future. As the schools therein paint a dismal
picture. Shocking facts about a fake enrollment scam came to light during
a photographic drive in the Government-run primary schools in the
State's Kendrapara district last week. When authorities stumbled on
over 11,000 'pen and paper’ missing students in the school registers who
could not be traced in reality. More scandalous was that mid-day meal rations
were being sanctioned against these fake students for which the State was
coughing up over Rs 78 lakhs towards the cost of rations. Enquires revealed
that the beneficiaries of the enrolment scam were officials from the district
social welfare and mass education departments. It remains to be seen if the
officials will be ‘schooled’.
* * * *
PDP’s Map
Controversy
Kashmir’s main
Opposition, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stirred a hornet’s nest over the delineation
of India’s map, wherein it
showed the Aksai Chin and Karakoram region as parts of China. The map
was displayed by the PDP during a power-point presentation Saturday last. Not
only that. While Aksai Chin and
Karakoram were painted in red (China’s
national flag colour) Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was shown in green (colour of Pakistan’s
flag). Neither New Delhi
nor Chief Minister Omar Abdulla were amused. Given that the PDP’s depiction of the
State was seen as an acceptance of the occupation of these areas, which formed
part of the erstwhile J&K, by the respective countries. Asserted Abdullah, “the
gifting away of State's territory will not be acceptable. India considers these
areas as part of its territory”. Notwithstanding, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti
denial that her Party had not done anything to challenge the sovereignty of the
country, she added fuel to fire by stating that the Centre seems scared of
China. It remains to be seen who will blink first?
* * * *
PM Upsets Kerala
Kerala is upset with
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for zipping through the State without meeting the
Left leaders. Leading to the unseemly spectacle of the State Assembly passing a
resolution to record its angst over the treatment meted out to Chief Minister
VS Achuthanandan and his Cabinet colleagues at the PM's official functions. The
ruling Left Democratic Front was particularly upset by the way its leaders were
treated at the inaugural functions of the Vallarpadam Container Transshipment
Terminal at Kochi and the new terminal of the international airport in the State
Capital. Also, photos of State leaders were missing from ads and plaques which
carried only the PM's name. Shockingly, the CM was not allowed to stay at the
same hotel in Kochi. Leading to Achutanandan making plain his displeasure to
the Prime Minister prior to his departure to Delhi. Clearly, 'Manmohan' is not
Kerala’s heart's desire!
* * * *
Assam Woos Media
Assam has added a new dimension to electioneering, freebies.
If in the past elections were about wooing the masses with promises of cheap roti, kapra aur makan and bijli, sarak pani,
today it’s about ‘enticing’ the local media. The Congress Chief Minister Tarun
Gogia is busy doling out shiny new laptops to over 600 journalists who have
completed ten years in the profession. Notwithstanding his assertion that it
was a welfare measure to recognize “the services of journalists to society”,
many view it as a pre-election lolly.
Along-with his announcement of granting a three per cent subsidy on
housing loans to journalists. Clearly, Gogoi seems to have a penchant for
distributing free computers. Recall in 2005, he gifted away 70,000 computers to
every student who had secured a first division in high school leaving exam. It
remains to be seen if computers will click with the media and help the two-term
Chief Minister perform a poll hat trick.
* * * *
Goa Ideal For
Babies
Beautiful and tiny Goa is the best place in the country for
a child to be born and Madhya Pradesh the worst. Significantly, the State
recorded the least number of infant deaths per 1000 live births, 11 in 2009. It
was followed by Kerala (12), Manipur (16) and Puducherry (22). Daman and Diu
recorded 24 deaths per 1000 live births. In comparison, besides Madhya Pradesh
which saw 67 deaths per 1000 live births, Orissa (65), Uttar Pradesh (63),
Assam (61) and Rajasthan and Meghalaya jointly recorded 59 infant deaths. More
shocking were statistics which proved that large States like Delhi showed an infant
mortality rate of 33 in 2009, Maharashtra 31 and Tamil Nadu 28 last year.
Clearly, things are changing for a better India for Generation X! ----INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature
Alliance)
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