Right To Education: A long way ahead

Kudos to Mr.Kapil Sibal for steering India to a feat which few in the world have achieved. The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 boasts access to education for children between 6-14 age group and makes elementary education a fundamental right under Article 21 (A) of the Constitution The act gives opportunity to the deprived children who have been walking the lanes of illiteracy in different sections of the society .With the act coming into force on Thursday , all eyes are tracking the development of this act and eager to see its implementation. Though the act has been welcomed in all the quarters of the society yet apprehensions relating to the implementation of the act have been doing the rounds. Even the govt. has agreed that it would be difficult to implement the act due to lack of infrastructure. The State governments are against the provision that while the policies and directives would be given by the Centre, the onus of the implementation would be entirely on the State. States like Maharashtra are ill prepared to implement the provisions of RTE owing to a lack of funds, shortage of teachers and poor infrastructure. Further in Punjab drop out ranges from 20 to 40%, and one of the major reasons cited is the non-seriousness of school teachers who are largely absent. There are issues of gender biasness and unrecognised schools. Then, there are issues relating to training of teachers as most of the teachers are untrained. The teachers in India need to be trained in imparting knowledge in a child -friendly environment. Another pertinent question is funding of the Act.
The Finance Commission has provided Rs 25,000 crore to the states while the Centre and the States have agreed to share the financial burden in the ratio of 55:45 for implementing the Act. It is matter of speculation as to how seriously the states will allot the budget to this act as recently Maharashtra has completely ignored it. As per the Act, private educational institutions should reserve 25 per cent seats for children from the weaker sections of society. Again the private schools are reluctant to incorporate the act and the government does not have adequate control over private schools to compel them reserve quota of seats as laid down. They have already filed petition in Supreme Court
claiming that the Act violates the rights of private educational institutions under Article 19(1)(g) which mandated maximum autonomy to private managements to run their institutions without governmental interference. With such diverse hindrances in the path of RTE Act, one will have to wait and watch the course of the act as to how it unfolds in the coming times.

CURRENCY GARLAND

THE Mayawati Currency Garland Issue has attracted a lot of eye balls in the last few days.Even the Media which is going through a content crisis has created a lot of furore over the issue. But I fail to understand why so much fuss is being created over the issue.there are so many politicians in India who have been doing the same in the past but the media has taken no pains in highlighting that. Mayawati"s case is no different but the people and especially the media are after her life after this episode. UPA had recently launched an "austerity drive" but all in vain and their leaders are again on the same track. Political parties spend huge sums of money in elections and no one is held responsible for huge sums spent. Media should give space to developmental issues instead of trying to get cheap popularity over these issues.It should rather have a balanced approach instead of targeting selected people.

Bt brinjal-pros and cons

Bacillus Thuringienesis Brinjal, popularly known as Bt brinjal is in the midst of all focus these days.The brinjal , also knows as "Guinea squash," is a member of the nightshade family, along with the tomato, pepper, and potato.The brinjal is believed to have been domesticated in north-eastern India where wild forms still grow.It is rich in Vitamin A and B.Its gown in an area of 5.5 lac hectare in India.Almost 70 per cent of production is wasted each year due to shoot and fruit borer(FCB)

DEVELOPERS

India's no.1 seed company MAHYCO in collaboration with American MNC "MONSANTO" has carried out the research for this variety of seed.The research sterted in the year 2000 and field trials were carried out in 2006The issue has assumed centrestage after the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) gave its go ahead to the commercial planting of the Bt brinjal in October last year based on the two-year field trial

OPPOSITIONS

Bt brinjal is being opposed by experts and NGOs in India .It is argued that this gm product is harmful for human health,animals and environment as whole.Leading the opposition campaign from the front is a NGO called "gene campaign" and has also filed a PIL in Supreme Court.

HOW DOES Bt WORK ?

When the FCB's suck the juice of Bt brinjal then the proteins which are poisonous for them gets inside their stomach.This leads to bursting of the stomach of the FCB and their death subsequently.Due to this featureof this GM(genetically modified) crop farmers need not buy expensive insecticides and they are free from the worries of insects and their effects.

PROS :

1. Farmers won't have to shell extra bucks from their already over strained pockets.

2. The losses borne by the farmer every year would be reduced subsequently.

CONS :

1. These crops are harmful for human beings in the long run.

2. Though in the initial phase it is bound to give profits but in the long run it would increase the use of insecticides and fertilizers.

3. The claims of Bt crops are not being crosschecked by proper tests.

CURRENT STATUS

The issue is currently under environment ministry and is being looked by experts there. Jairam Ramesh will pronounce his verdict on BT Brinjal but already emotions are running high and there are sharp divisions,and here is sme more news from toi:

Govt no to Bt brinjal for now, says needs more consensus Owing to divided opinion on the issue, the government has shown the red flag to Bt brinjal, a geneticaly modified version of brinjal, for now. All major brinjal producing states in the country are against the introduction of the crop

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