Initiatives taken to improve digital divide across country in education sector

 The majority of the schools are within the jurisdiction of the individual State and UT Governments, and education is listed in the concurrent list of the Constitution. However, the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, has implemented a multi-pronged strategy to ensure that every student, especially those living in rural and educationally underdeveloped parts of the country, obtains uninterrupted access to education.

As a component of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, PM e-Vidya, a comprehensive project that combines all activities connected to digital, online, and on-air education to offer multi-mode access to education, was launched on May 17, 2020. The project consists of the following elements:

• DIKSHA, the country’s digital infrastructure, provides high-quality e-content for classroom instruction in states and UTs, as well as QR-coded Energized Textbooks for all grades (one nation, one digital platform)
• Each class from 1 to 12 has one Swayam Prabha TV channel set aside for it (one class, one channel)
• Extensive use of Radio, Community radio and CBSE Podcast- Shiksha Vani
• On the NIOS website and YouTube, special e-content for the deaf and hard-of-hearing has been created using the Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY)

Where the digital facility (Mobile Device/DTH television) is not available, the Ministry of Education has taken numerous initiatives, such as organising community/mohalla classes, community radio stations, and a podcast called Shiksha Vani of CBSE. It has also provided textbooks and worksheets to students’ homes.

The Samagra Shiksha, an Integrated Scheme for School Education, was introduced by the Department of School Education and Literacy in 2018–19. It sees the “school” as a progression from early childhood education through upper primary, secondary education, and senior secondary education.

It is a comprehensive programme for the school education industry that covers pre-kindergarten through class XII with the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of schooling.

Samagra Shiksha is carried out in collaboration with all of the States and UTs, and financial aid is given to all of them for a number of components, including the improvement of the ICT infrastructure in schools.

Subject to budgetary constraints, the ICT component of Samagra Shiksha plans to include all Government and Aided classes VI through XII schools as well as Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs).

ICT resources will be accessible to students in lower grades in Government and Aided Schools with classes from VI to XII. 120614 schools have ICT labs approved, while 82120 schools have smart classroom approval. The elementary school instructors have been granted a total of 1482565 TABs.

The Department’s Innovation Funds are utilised to put up virtual studios, mobile classrooms, and online classrooms in schools. All states and UTs have started a Continuous Learning Plan (CLP), and in some states and UTs, pre-loaded tablets are being used successfully in remote rural locations where online classes are challenging.

Source: The Statesman, 25/07/22

Rohingyas a step closer to justice

 The Gambia’s case against Myanmar under the international Genocide Convention, for the alleged genocide committed against the ethnic Rohingyas, is now all set to be heard and judged by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), following its rejection of Myanmar’s preliminary objections on the grounds of the court’s jurisdiction and the Gambia’s legal standing. Besides rejecting Myanmar’s objections, the ICJ also ruled that the Gambia’s application filed on 11 November 2019 was admissible, thereby allowing the case to proceed on merits. The Rohingya victims of genocide, as well as all peace-loving people who believe in the rule of law, can be certain now that we are one step closer to justice. The ICJ decision really is a huge step towards an overdue reckoning with the Myanmar military’s atrocities against the Rohingyas.

It is wellknown that the international justice system is a long-drawn complex process, which may take years to conclude. But at least the world court’s decision to proceed on substance should worry the Myanmar’s military junta that they can no longer shrug off their responsibilities for their murderous campaign against a minority ethnic group. Myanmar’s official reaction to the ICJ ruling indicates that the junta is now beginning to realise the gravity of the world court’s ruling. A statement issued by the Ministry of International Cooperation and published by the military-owned news portal Myawady says, “Myanmar is disappointed that its preliminary objections were rejected, while it notes that the court has now determined the matter.” It then admits, “Myanmar noted that this judgement will become not only a source of international law, but (will) also set a precedent for future cases.” The statement adds, “Myanmar reaffirms its position in a declaration over the ratification of the convention and respects its obligations under the convention without any violation of them.”

The ministry ends its statement with a commitment that “it will endeavour its utmost efforts to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and national interest and continue to undertake appropriate steps for the country.” Justifying its preliminary objections, the Myanmar government argued that the preliminary objections raised were believed to be strong as a matter of law and a matter of fact. And then it notes Judge Xue Hanqin’s dissenting opinion and votes against the court’s finding that it has jurisdiction and that the application is admissible. Myanmar raised four preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the ICJ and the admissibility of the application. In its first preliminary objection, Myanmar argued that the court lacked jurisdiction, or alternatively that the application was inadmissible, on the grounds that the “real applicant” in the proceedings was the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

According to the second preliminary objection, the application was inadmissible because the Gambia lacked standing to bring this case. In its third preliminary objection, Myanmar asserted that the ICJ lacked jurisdiction or that the application was inadmissible since the Gambia cannot validly seise the court in light of Myanmar’s reservation to Article VIII of the Genocide Convention. In its fourth preliminary objection, Myanmar pleaded that the court lacked jurisdiction, or alternatively that the application was inadmissible, because there was no dispute between the parties under the Genocide Convention on the date of filing of the application. The court unanimously rejected three preliminary objections, and the other one (on the Gambia’s standing for bringing the case) was rejected by a 15-1 vote. The ruling on the admissibility of the Gambia’s application, too, was decided by a 15-1 vote. In both these decisions, the dissenting member of the court was Justice Xue Hanqin.

One other interesting thing to be noted is that both the ad hoc judges, Navanethem Pillay and Claus Kress, representing the Gambia and Myanmar, respectively, were in agreement with the majority of the court. Earlier on 23 January 2020, following the Gambia’s application, the ICJ issued provisional measures against Myanmar to prevent any genocidal acts in its territory against the Rohingyas and to protect them. It also asked Myanmar to take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence related to the alleged atrocities, and submit periodical reports to the court on all measures taken to give effect to this order, until a final decision on the case is rendered by the court. The ICJ, in its latest verdict, noted that Myanmar indeed had submitted reports on the measures taken to give effect to that order on 22 May 2020, 23 November 2020, 20 May 2021, 23 November 2021, and 23 May 2022. The court also said that the Gambia, too, had submitted comments on each of these reports.

The significance of the ICJ’s order on provisional measures were not only related to the prevention and protection of a vulnerable ethnic group, but the recognition of the Rohingyas as a distinct ethnic group in Myanmar. We don’t know what actions Myanmar has taken so far and how the Gambians have evaluated them. But, according to the ICJ, Myanmar overtly maintains its obligation to the ICJ. The unfortunate fact, however, remains that there has not been any progress at all in repatriating about one million Rohingya refugees now living in Bangladesh, and the reason, according to the UNHCR, is Myanmar’s failure to create an environment where safe and dignified return of the Rohingyas is possible. The ICJ’s decision to proceed on the merits to examine the Gambia’s genocide allegations against Myanmar also gives us an opportunity for a diplomatic push on repatriation.

The Gambia has submitted its main arguments in October 2020 within the time frame fixed by the court. So, it is expected that Myanmar will now have to submit its response soon. As Canada and the Netherlands have joined the Gambia in its pursuit for justice for the Rohingyas, we hope the legal course will gather new strength. With the legal proceedings moving forward, it is high time for us to pile up political pressure on the Myanmar military junta, too.

KAMAL AHMED

Source: The Statesman, 27/07/22

Quote of the Day July 27, 2022

 

“Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself - your strengths and your limitations - in contrast to depending on affirmation from others.”
Judith M. Bardwick

“दूसरों की पुष्टि पर निर्भर करने की तुलना में स्वयं को जानने तथा स्वीकार करने- अपनी शक्तियों तथा अपनी सीमाओं को जान लेने से वास्तविक विश्वास की उत्पत्ति होती है।”
जूडिथ एम. बार्डविक

Economic & Political Weekly: Table of Contents

 

Vol. 57, Issue No. 30, 23 Jul, 2022

Engage Articles

Democratise Radio News in India

Mochish KS

The Evolution of Hindustani Classical Music in Pakistan Since 1947

Kabir Altaf

Perspectives

Labour Laws for Gig Workers in the Context of Labour Law Reforms

Deepika M G, Madhusoodhan M

Special Articles

Electronic Agricultural Spot Markets - Status, Impact, and Architecture

Kushankur Dey, Debasish Maitra

Self-financialisation and the Qualitative Shifts in Engineering Education in Kerala - Exploring the Political Economy of Its Quantitative Expansion

Manu V Mathew

Social Networks, Job Search Flexibility, Employability, and Mobility of Migrant Workers

Reimeingam Marchang

Book Reviews

CAA–NRC and the Struggles to Save India’s Secular Polity

Abdul Rahman Ansari

The Ministry of Home Affairs and Indian Democracy

Kishan S Rana

The ‘Relevance’ Question - Social Sciences in Neo-liberal Times

Swathi Shivanand

Editorials

India’s Population Prospects

Comment

Of Lions and Legacies

From the Editor's Desk

Significance of Political Symbols

From 50 Years Ago

From 50 Years Ago: Simla and the Prospects for Peace

Law and Society

Of Judicial Courage in Testing Times

Alok Prasanna Kumar

Commentary

Novel Health Approaches Emerging from the Covid-19 Crisis - Experiences from Maharashtra

Abhay Shukla

The Agnipath Scheme - Driven by Compulsions and a Recipe for Disaster

Ghazala Wahab

Fixing Appropriate Reserve Prices for 5G Radio Spectrum

V Sridhar

COVID-19 and Multiple Inequalities - The Case of a Coastal Community in Kerala

Sabu K Ulahannan, Prashanth Nuggehalli Srinivas, Sreenidhi Sreekumar, Johnson Jament, Malu Mohan

Maria Aurora Couto (1937–2022) and Her Fifty–Fifty Nationalism

Manish Thakur

Discussion

Better to Reflect Than Shoot the Messenger - Learnings from NSS, 2017–18

Muraleedharan V R, Girija Vaidyanathan, Sundararaman Thiagarajan, Umakant Dash, Rajesh M, Alok Ranjan

Current Statistics

Current Statistics

Letters

Plight of the Handloom Industry

Ashish Kumar Meher

When Gota Has Nowhere to Go

Natasha Fernando

Current Affairs- July 26, 2022

 

INDIA

– 4 Cong MPs suspended from Lok Sabha for rest of session for disrupting proceedings

– Droupadi Murmu takes oath as India’s 15th President

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– Fresh milk and pasteurised milk fully exempted from Goods and Service Tax, clarifies Government

– Multi-Agency Group set up by govt for expeditious and coordinated investigation of various categories of foreign asset cases: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

– Maersk creates fast, reliable India-Bangladesh cross-border logistics solution using inland waterways

WORLD

– India contributes $2.5 million to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UN RWA)

– Boat carrying Haitian migrants sinks off Bahamas, killing 17; 25 rescued

– Myanmar: Military rulers execute four democracy activists, the first execution conducted in the country in decades

– World Drowning Prevention Day observed on July 25

SPORTS

– World Athletics Championships in US: Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan breaks world record in women’s 100m hurdles in 12.12 seconds

July 25: World Drowning Prevention Day

 On July 25, the World Drowning Prevention Day is observed across the world. This day was recognised by the United Nations in a bid to collectively start action towards drowning prevention with the objective of making the world sustainably-developed.

UN General Assembly Resolution:

• United Nation General Assembly had recognized the World Drowning Prevention Day in April 2021 through a resolution.
• This global advocacy event has now become an opportunity to put in public the tragic impact of drowning on families and communities.
• The day seeks to provide solutions in a bid to prevent the drowning as well.

The World Drowning Prevention Day is celebrated globally, in which;

• Stakeholders including UN agencies, governments, private sector, civil society organisations, academia and individuals are asked to observe this Day by focusing on the requirement of take coordinated, urgent and multi-sectoral action on proven measures to prevent drowning.
• Preparations for the World Drowning Prevention Day is done by the World Health Organisations (WHO), by producing advocacy materials, supporting local & national activities across the world and hosting a global launch event.
• In year 2022, WHO invited public to ‘do one thing’ to save lives on the occasion. It recommended to use hashtag #DrowningPrevention, on social media.

Global estimate on Drowning

As per UN, around 236,000 people drown annually. Thus, it has become a major health problem across the world. Drowning is among the major causes of death for people aged 1 to 24 years. It is the third leading cause for unintentional injury death. It accounts for 7% of all injury-related deaths. As per WHO estimate, over 90% of drowning deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.

Current Affairs-July 27, 2022

 

INDIA

– Lok Sabha passes Family Courts’ Amendment Bill, 2022; validates existence of the 3 family courts in Himachal Pradesh and 2 in Nagaland with retrospective effect

– 19 Opposition MPs suspended over misconduct from Rajya Sabha for a week

– Prasar Bharati signs MoU with IIT, Kanpur to develop Next Generation Broadcast solution

– Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrated across the country on July 26; marks victory in Operation Vijay in 1999

– Gujarat: Death toll in hooch (spurious liquor) tragedy in Botad district rises to 33

– EAM Jaishankar meets USAID (United States Agency for International Development) Administrator Samantha Power in New Delhi

– India lost 329 tigers in last 3 years due to poaching, natural and unnatural causes: Govt.

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– Bidding for first ever auction of 5G spectrum begins; Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Adani Data Networks in the fray

– Defence ministry approves arms procurement proposals worth Rs 28,732 cr

– Defence’s Ministry iDEX-DIO (Innovations for Defence Excellence–Defence Innovation Organization) signs its 100th innovation contract

– IMF slashes India’s 2022-23 GDP growth forecast by 0.8% to 7.4%

– 8% decline in amount of bank frauds in last two years: MoS for Finance Bhagwat Karad

– Non-Performing Assets of Scheduled Commercial Banks in country declined in last four years: Govt

WORLD

– Russia will withdraw from International Space Station (ISS) project after 2024; jointly run by space agencies of Russia, USA, Europe, Japan and Canada since 1998

– IMF cuts growth forecast for global economy in 2022 to 3.2% in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) report

– US actor Paul Sorvino dies at 83, famous for his role in the gangster classic “Goodfellas”

SPORTS

– Hosts US top medals tally at World Athletics Championships; Armand Duplantis of Sweden breaks own world record in men’s pole vault with 6.21 metres