On Free and Compulsory Education
The Conference of State Education Ministers held in New Delhi on 22-23 October,1998 ... noted that despite concerted efforts, the Constitutional obligation to provide free and compulsory education upon the age of 14 years remains substantially unfulfilled.
Though Elementary Education is tuition free, many households are unable to afford the cost of schooling. Inadequate school infrastructure, shortage of teachers, lack of sufficient community participation and decentralisation, prevailing levels of illiteracy, especially among women, social backwardness, cultural barriers, non-availability of required finances pose difficulties in fulfillment of the Constitutional obligation. The ... Conference endorsed the proposal for establishment of a Mission as an instrument for achieving universal elementary education in a time-bound framework. (Source: LSUQ No. 184/30.11.98 by A.K. Mehta, A.N. Mohol, etc)
On Creation of National Reconstruction Corps
As laid down in the National Agenda for Governance of the Government and based on the discussions held with State Governments, Representatives of Political Parties, Members of Parliament, Youth Organisations, etc., a scheme for the creation of a National Reconstruction Corps is under formulation. The Scheme aims to provide an opportunity to youth in the age group of 18-35 to participate on a voluntary basis in various community-based developmental programmes in areas, such as, agriculture and rural development, literacy, health, environmental protection, promotion of arts, sports and culture, etc.
The scheme is proposed to be launched, on a pilot basis, on 12" January, 1999, the Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, also celebrated as National Youth Day. (Source: LSUQ No.52 dated 30.11.1998 by S.K. Shinde, L Panabaka, M. Scindia and A. Mukhopadhyay)
On Saffronisation of Education
There is no proposal at present to modify the existing curriculum and contents of the textbooks for Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools affiliated to the CBSE. (Source: LSUQ No. 39 dated 30.11.1998 by M. Singh)
Are Intensive Programme for Minorities 8th Plan Achievements and 9th Plan Target
As regards the Area Intensive Programme for Educationally Backward Minorities, an amount of Rs.897 lakhs was released to state Governments during 8th Plan period against a plan outlay of Rs.1,627 lakhs. The physical target and achievements during 8t plan are given below:
i) Opening/organisation of building for 427 Primary/ Upper Primary schools, 3 Sec. schools, 6 residential higher secondary schools for girls, 388 class rooms.
ii) Upgradation of 22 Primary schools to Upper Primary schools, 2 Higher schools to Higher Secondary schools
iii) Construction of hostel building for 10 Girls Higher Secondary Schools.
iv) Construction of toilets in 10 schools.
v) Construction of teaching/learning material in 538 Primary/Upper Primary schools.
For 9th Plan period, plan outlay of Rs.6508 lakhs is proposed and B.E. for 1997-98 is Rs.1000 lakhs, out of which an amount of Rs.630 lakhs is required to meet the committed liabilities carried over from the 8t Plan period. The balance amount of Rs.370 lakhs is to be spent on creation of additional infrastructure in identified minority concentration areas.
(Extracts from Minister of HRD's Letter No.20-12/97-Skt.2 dated 31 October, 1998 to Mr. S. Shahabuddin)
On Committee on Fundamental Duties
The Government has set up a Committee to work out a strategy-as well as methodology of operationalising a countrywide programme for teaching Fundamental Duties to citizens of the country. The composition of the Committee is as follows:
Justice J.S. Verma : Chairman
Dr. L.M. Singhvi : Member
Dr. Karan Singh : Member
Dr. J.S. Rajput : Member
Prof. A.K. Sharma : Member-Secrètary
The terms of reference of the Committee are as under:
1) To develop a package for teaching fundamental duties at primary, secondary, sr. secondary & university level.
2) To decide the activities as part of Curriculum and co-curricular activities.
3) To review the existing programme already being implemented by NCERT under the National Curricular Framework and the need for identifying additional inputs to it.
4) To develop programme package for pre-service/in-service training of teachers at various levels.
5) To develop a separate package for the training of citizens through non-formal education/adult education programme/media (print, electronic, etc.).
The Report is expected ... by the end of March, 1999.
(Source: LSUQ No. 200/30.11.98 by S.K. Shinde, M. Scindia & B.S. Yadav)
Urdu's Official Status in U.P. Act and Notification Heid Valid Allahabad High Court Decision of 16.8.96 On UP Official Language (Amend) Act, 1989
Writ Petition No. 10313(M/B) of 1989 UP Hindi Sahitya Sammelan v. State of Uttar Pradesh
D.K. TRIVEDI AND I.P. VASHISHTHA, JJ.
In view of the learned third Judge, Hon'ble Brijesh Kumar, J., the UP Official Language (Amendment) Act, 1989 (U.P. Act No. 28 of 1989) adding Section 3 in the U.P. Official Language Act, 1951 is held to be intra vires. It is further held that the impugned enactment does not suffer from the vice of excessive delegation. The impugned enactment as well as the notification are held valid and constitutional. ...
Since no substantial question of law or public importance is involved in the matter, therefore, the prayer (for leave of appeal to the Hon'ble Supreme Court) is declined.
Shahabuddin's Letter to UP Chief Minister, 28 November, 1998
As you are aware, the Allahabad High Court held on 16.8.1996 that the UP Official Language (Amendment) Act, 1989 and the UP Government Notification No. 4171/ 21-80-1-1989 dated 7.10.89 intra vires, valid and constitutional.
The Notification prescribed the use of Urdu in administration for specified purposes.
I would be grateful to be informed if the State Government has taken necessary steps to implement the Act and the Notification and the name of the Districts where Urdu has been accorded the status of second Official Language.
Shahabuddin's Prescription for Urdu's Revival
I agree with Mr. Ziya-us Salam (Statesman, 26 Nov.,1998) that Urdu has been condemned to a slow death and faces extraction in India.
Only if Urdu-speaking children are given their constitutional right to receive primary instruction through Urdu, their Mother Tongue and are allowed to learn it as their First Language right upto Secondary level, Urdu can survive. Otherwise Mushairas, awards, rhetoric, commemoration - even status as additional official language will not help.
Incidentally, the second official language status should be applicable right down to Sub-Divisions, Tehsils, Blocks and Panchayats which have 10 per cent Urdu-speaking population. Indeed that should be the norm for all minority languages in all States, at all levels. (Letter to The Statesman, 27 November, 1998)