EDUCATION - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

New Delhi: THE SUPREME Court's disposal of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Friday for
quashing the management school fee-cut order left Minister of Human Resource., Development
Murli Manohar Joshi feeling "great". "I feel great. My stand has been vindicated an elated Dr
Joshi told reporters here. Having drawn a lot of flak for his decision to slash fees charged by the
six prestigious Indian Institutes of Management — from Rs 150,000 to Rs 30,000 — Dr Joshi
felt that the Supreme Court move had exposed those "sponsoring propaganda" against the
ministry. A bench comprising Chief Justice V N Khare and Justice S H Kapadia rejected the
PIL filed by advocate Sandeep Parekh and two IIM graduates Saiket Sengupta and Anish
Mathew challenging the Government's decision to reduce the fee. The HRD Minister could not
keep the sting out of his voice when he hammered on how the "sponsored" campaign against
the ministry had been exposed. "Many people with vested interests have been opposing the
decision to slash the fees. These people have been trying to prevent the public from benefiting
from getting a higher education," said Dr Joshi. (Pioneer 28.2.04)
Inform court of denial of primary education: Chief Justice (11)
TIRUNELVELI, FEB. 27. The Chief Justice of Madras High Court, Justice B. Subhashan Reddy,
today appealed to officials and the public to ensure that primary education was imparted to every
child and inform the court, if they came across any instance of denial of elementary education to
less-privileged children. "A postcard or a telegram explaining the denial of primary education to
children below 14 is enough. We are there to restore the fundamental right." Justice Mr.
Subhashan Reddy was speaking at a function here to mark the inauguration of a new building for
'Satta Udhavi Maiyam" (Legal Aid Centre) constructed in the court complex at Rs. 15 lakhs,
allotted from the senior counsel and former MP, P.H. Pandian's Local Area Development Fund,
and the laying of the foundation stone for a law library, to be established tin an outlay of Rs. 9
lakhs, also allocated by Mr. Pandian. Referring to the title of Palayamkottai — 'The Oxford of
South India' — Mr. Justice Subhashan Reddy said the literacy rate in the district, which now
stood at only 73 per cent, should reach cent per cent. "While the neighbouring Kanyakumari and
Tuticorin districts have a literacy rate of 88 and 81 per cent, Tirunelveli district, which boasts of
reputed educational institutions, should also become a role-model." (The Hindu 28.2.04)
1 st March
Riot-hit Muslims turn to education (11)
Ahmedabad, February 29: A DIRECT fallout of the 2002 riots in Gujarat is the growing awareness
among Muslims about the need for modern education. As a result of this, several new schools
have come up in Ahmedabad's minority-populated areas in the last two years. Simultaneously,
enrolment in already existing schools in minority-dominated areas like Juhapura, Shah Alam,
Dani Limda, Shahpur, Behrampura have gone up. Intellectuals and NGO volunteers working
among the community acknowledge the phenomenon. "The awakening among the community
about the need for quality education started after the 1992-93 riots," said Prof Abid Shamsi. That
was the time Muslims started realising that they needed good education in order to dispel misconceptions
about the community, he said. But nothing much had been done about it till the 2002
riots that shook the community "The 2002 riots gave a fresh impetus to the move for better
education. Hence many Muslim groups have come forward to spread awareness among the
community," said Dr Hanif Lakdawala of the Institute for Initiatives in Education. The institute has
organised many workshops for Muslims, stressing on subjects like education, employment, social
reforms and the danger of minority communalism. (Hindustan Times 1.3.04)
3 rd March
Valley literacy target hits volunteer block (11)
NEW DELHI, MARCH 2: FOR the first time in 15 years, the Human Resource Development
Ministry was hopeful of introducing the adult literacy scheme in Jammu and Kashmir. But the
scheme put together in the 80s, involving around 27,000 volunteers, will now have to be modified
to employing paid teachers, the Kashmir government feels. HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi
hoped there will be no bottlenecks in implementing the scheme now that peace has returned to
the Valley. The ministry had been sending officials to Srinagar to hold meetings with bureaucrats.