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!

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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’.

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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?

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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! 

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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.

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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)