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The Supreme Court rightly nullifi es the abuse of executive power in expanding the reservation list.
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Tuesday, April 07, 2015
Only 0.56 percent disable students in top colleges
There are only 8,449 disabled students, or 0.56 percent, studying in the country’s 150 top universities and colleges that have a total strength of 15,21,438, said a recent survey conducted by National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP). The national survey ‘Status of Disability in Higher Education’ was released as part of the 3rd National Convention for Youth with Disabilities.
The nationwide survey of status of disabled students in top Indian colleges, institutes and universities, revealed that of these differently-abled students, 74.08 percent were male and 22.07 percent were female students. Of the over 200 institutions that were written to,150 responded — which included all the 16 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and 13 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).The colleges were identified on the basis of streams and courses on which the survey was to be conducted.
It may be mentioned that last year, the total number of students with disabilities was 0.63 percent.
Javed Abidi, Director, NCPEDP, said, “It is a big reason to worry that years after the law, only 0.56 percent students are disabled”. He also pointed out a significant number of institutes that did not respond was that of private institutions, which he said were the ‘biggest culprits’. He said that the first step which needs to be taken is that of ‘accessibility. “It is about removing both — architectural and technological barriers.
Students with learning disability should get exam writers: Court
The Bombay High Court on Monday asked the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to allow exam writers to all students with learning disabilities. The NIOS had earlier turned down requests for writers for hundreds of such students for their upcoming Std X and XII exams.Last week, the High Court took up a PIL suo moto after receiving a letter from psychologists Dr Harish Shetty and Dr Sanghnaik Meshram who highlighted the issue.
According to NIOS, students who requested for writers did not have certificates from the government-authorised learning disability centres.But the court learnt that very few centres in the state provide the certificate. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah directed the state to set up at least one centre in each district.
According to NIOS, students who requested for writers did not have certificates from the government-authorised learning disability centres.But the court learnt that very few centres in the state provide the certificate. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah directed the state to set up at least one centre in each district.
Vedanta - Now, Make a Difference
PULKIT SHARMA
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There are people struggling to sort out their inner world for a meaningful life, while others are trying to hold together a damaged relationship, or are trying to raise consciousness in society , change the political system, save our planet and create universal brotherhood.The journey is daunting and often people give up.The argument that's given usually is that one is too small to bring a change. But no one is too small and no problem is beyond them. The thing is that our attention is rarely focused as we wish to multitask owing to our greed, restlessness and sensory needs.
We get distracted by past experiences or fantasise about the future. So, we end up wasting a lot of time, feel fatigued and frustrated. Attention can go in both positive and negative directions; this power must be utilised in the right manner to achieve the best.
Based on our limited knowledge, we conclude that thoughts are simple mental phenomena with little consequence.Some people constantly see negative things as they have depressive tendencies and find it hard to be hopeful; others do it out of fear so that they can avoid or master their anxieties. Still others are consumed by rage and envy .
Under all circumstances, one must cultivate a positive attitude with a definite aim. Since we carry infinite Reality within us, we need to remember at all times and under all circumstances that we are not small; we have great potential.If we have the will, we can make a difference.
We get distracted by past experiences or fantasise about the future. So, we end up wasting a lot of time, feel fatigued and frustrated. Attention can go in both positive and negative directions; this power must be utilised in the right manner to achieve the best.
Based on our limited knowledge, we conclude that thoughts are simple mental phenomena with little consequence.Some people constantly see negative things as they have depressive tendencies and find it hard to be hopeful; others do it out of fear so that they can avoid or master their anxieties. Still others are consumed by rage and envy .
Under all circumstances, one must cultivate a positive attitude with a definite aim. Since we carry infinite Reality within us, we need to remember at all times and under all circumstances that we are not small; we have great potential.If we have the will, we can make a difference.
Caste bias in midday meal plan: Panel seeks proof
Akshaya Mukul
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New Delhi:
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The parliamentary committee on welfare of SCSTs has called secretary , school education, on April 8 for oral evidence to apprise itself on allegations of caste discrimination against Dalit children in distribution of midday meal in Bihar, UP and MP .The parliamentary panel led by BJP's Faggan Singh Kulaste has been demanding action from the ministry to stop caste discrimination. In January, the panel asked the HRD ministry to send its own team to verify discrimination in MP and Karnataka. It was also decided that the ministry will look into similar alleged cases against Dalit children in Bihar and UP.
However, the ministry's team which went to Bihar, MP , UP and Karnataka have reported that there is no case of caste discrimination against Dalit children. A member of the panel said, “We will look into ministry's report. Since ministry's team makes advance announcement of its visit, it is bound not to find anything. It is important that HRD's team should have made an unannounced visit.“ He said the panel is serious about ending discrimination.
In MP discrimination was reported from 12 districts while in Karnataka, there were reports of children bringing food from home since they did not want to eat midday meal which they feared gets touched by Dalit children.
However, the ministry's team which went to Bihar, MP , UP and Karnataka have reported that there is no case of caste discrimination against Dalit children. A member of the panel said, “We will look into ministry's report. Since ministry's team makes advance announcement of its visit, it is bound not to find anything. It is important that HRD's team should have made an unannounced visit.“ He said the panel is serious about ending discrimination.
In MP discrimination was reported from 12 districts while in Karnataka, there were reports of children bringing food from home since they did not want to eat midday meal which they feared gets touched by Dalit children.
Choking India gets air quality index
Vishwa Mohan
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New Delhi
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With Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching a national air quality index (AQI), India on Monday joined a global club which includes the US, France, China and Mexico that have implemented such an alert system.The system will give details of air quality and information on its likely health implications for city dwellers.India's AQI will initially be available to people in 10 cities -Delhi, Faridabad, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. It will help people in these cities take precautions on days when the air quality is particularly poor.
Other cities, including Mumbai, Kolkata and Chandigarh, will come under the national indexing network in a couple of months when their pollution control boards are ready with the new and updated round-the-clock monitoring stations. All metropolitan cities and state capitals that do not get access to the Air Quality Index will have a similar facility made available to them within a year or two.
The central agencies have taken into account eight pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, ammonia and lead while calculating and releasing the AQI.The index, using continuous 24-hour average data, will be made available daily from various monitoring stations in those cities.
The move, which will not only enhance public awareness but also create a competitive environment among cities to mitigate air pollution, was welcomed by environmentalists and think-tanks.
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
Other cities, including Mumbai, Kolkata and Chandigarh, will come under the national indexing network in a couple of months when their pollution control boards are ready with the new and updated round-the-clock monitoring stations. All metropolitan cities and state capitals that do not get access to the Air Quality Index will have a similar facility made available to them within a year or two.
The central agencies have taken into account eight pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, ammonia and lead while calculating and releasing the AQI.The index, using continuous 24-hour average data, will be made available daily from various monitoring stations in those cities.
The move, which will not only enhance public awareness but also create a competitive environment among cities to mitigate air pollution, was welcomed by environmentalists and think-tanks.
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
Monday, April 06, 2015
Record 13.53% candidates qualify for CTE Test
The results of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2015, which were recently announced, have shown a record improvement compared to previous years. A record 13.53 % of the candidates cleared the central teachers’ test. A total of 6.77 lakh candidates took the test conducted on February 18 across 988 examination centres in 96 cities in the country – in two separate categories — primary and elementary.
It may be mentioned that the CTET was introduced in 2011 by the Human Resource Development ministry to improve the quality of teaching in schools after the enactment of the Right to Education Act. The CTET certification has been made mandatory to become a teacher for classes I to VIII in any central government school, while the CBSE-affiliated schools can either recruit the teachers based on CTET or the respective test conducted by the states. The Delhi government too decided to adopt CTET for recruitment of teachers for the government-run and the aided schools. Unfortunately, the CETE results have been in news since its introduction because just 13,428 of 7.50 lakh aspirants passed the test, conducted in January 2014. The best results recorded so far till this year’s results were declared was in 2013 when an overall 11% of the 9.2 lakh candidates qualified the test.
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