Kapil Sibal's path breaking initiative in secondary education

Union Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal has taken a revolutionary step to ease the pressure of examination on the students and made the system not examination centric but knowledge centric. To get academic education is to acquire knowledge and knowledge is not gained by only scoring high percentage of marks by getting the syllabus by heart. Knowledge is nothing to do with high percentage of marks. By introducing grading system from class X this year itself, the responsibility of teachers has increased because now they are to teach the students so comprehensively that could fill their minds with knowledge. And students must be trained to get knowledge ,and not for scoring high percentage of marks. During examination period, the students have been seen to be under tremendous stress and grading system will destress them. Examiation system has mechanised the minds of the students and they study with only one aim of scoring high percentage of marks where as in gradig system their all round performance is taken into account while granting marks.By making class 10th exams optional from 2011 and introducing the grading system from this year itself, HRD ministry has taken a remarkable step to ease mounting pressure on lakhs of students sitting in board examination for class X conducted by the CBSE.It is a path-breaking move that will cheer lakhs of students across the country. The Class X examinations of the CBSE will be optional from the next academic year (2010-11) while the grading system will be introduced this year itself. Over eight lakh students appearing for their class X exams in March 2010 have to take Board exams for which the results will be declared through grading system.From 2011, the grading system will continue but the Board exams will become optional.The Class X examinations of CBSE will be abolished from 2010-11 while the grading system will be introduced from 2009-10 (current academic year).After the Board examination is abolished in 2011 (for class X), students will have choice to take the Board exam on demand for transfer (to another school) or entry into pre-university institutes.The exam on demand is also available to students who want to continue in the same school. Under the new system, students who wish to continue in the same school after class X, need not take Board exam from 2011.The grading system will be a continuous, comprehensive evaluation, which will be good for the students. However, along with grades, students can also ask for their percentage. The education must not be solely dependent on scoring only marks. Its main objective is to gain knowledge.

Anti-India sentiments are being fanned in Nepal

India must be wary of pro-China Maoist groups' anti-India activities in Nepal. They are fanning anti-India sentiments in the country. Their rising anti-India activities and drifting towards China are the result of a long-drawn plan by India’s restive neighbour. India had very cosy and traditional relationship of friendship with Nepal during the period of kingship there. As long as kingship was there, India was considered to be the closest neighbour of Nepal and it was always prepared to provide all kinds of help to Nepal whenever asked for. Before the establishment of democracy in Nepal, there never arose any type of friction between the two neighbours- India and Nepal. India is very shocked over the beatig of India priests deputed in Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal by pro-Maoist group. The government of India has lodged protest with Nepal. And Nepal has swung into action to assuage the ruffled feathers of India immediately. Before the dawn of democracy in the country, Nepal was the only Hindu Rashtra in the world and as India is a Hindu majority country, though its secular credibility is unquestional, the people to people contact between the two countries was on large scale. There is relationship between the people of two countries on large scale. So, on government level also, there were several friendship treatries between two countries put in place. Since the enthronement of king Gyanendra, the relation between the two countries started becomig sour as his accession to the throne was also shrouded in mystery and on a very tragic note in the aftermath of the tragic murder of King Birendra Vikram Shah and all his family members allegedly by his son crown prince Deependra if the murder plot is to be believed. King Gyanendra was also inclined more towards Beijing than towards New Delhi against the established tradition of his country. When there was a transition of power and kingship was ceased to exist and Maoist supremo Prachanda was elected prime minister of Nepal, Beijing became his first destination and he started to be influenced more by China than by India. China in return reciprocated the favour of Maoist-led coalition government. Parchanda made first foerengn visit to Beijing that amply reflected Maoists inclination and preference. Maoists clearly prefer China to India. India must give all types of support to Nepal to strengthen democracy in Nepal so that the Maoists could not grow strong. China showed keen interest in the growth Nepal Maoists, and is also keen interest in striking friendship with Nepal.Maoists extend help to their Indian counterparts to pose threat to internal security of India. China is also prepared to help Nepal monitorily on large scale so that Nepal could be completely destracted and cut off from India. China is very inclined to make a strong base in India’s backyard Nepal and encircle India on all sideds. As far as beating of Indian priests are concerned, the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government of Nepal has assured security and protection of priests in Nepali shrines. It is a tradition of Nepal that the retuals related to worship in the shrines of Nepal are carried out by Indian priests. Though External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has sought to playdown the alleged incursion by a Chinese helicopter in Ladakh, saying that there is an inbuilt mechanism to deal with it. But the Minister must not forget that under the cover of Hindi-China-Bhai-Bhai attacked India. These days, Indian airspace violation and the violation of International of Control are brazenly committed. Chinese troops have repotedly entered nearly 1.5 kilometres into the Indian territory near Mount Gya, which is recognised as the international border by India and China, and painted the word ‘’China’’ in Cantonese on the boulders and rocks there with red spray paint. The incursions were reported from the area generally referred in the Chumar sector in east of Leh. In view of anti-shrill in India in Nepal, in addition to Pakistan, India is required to be always alive to the situation prevailing in its neighbourhood.

Jagan Reddy is set to become AP CM

After the tragic and premature demise of AP Chief Minister YSR reddy in Chopper crash, the question has naturally arisen who will fill in his shoes to take command of Andhra Pradesh. Through emotional wave, the unanimity is being built up over YSR son Jagan Reddy in the race of chief ministership of Andhra Pradesh. Undoubtedly, the Congress party is findig very difficult to find the suitable leader to fill the vacuum created by the demise of the towering leader YSR.YSR was the uchallenged leader of Congress party in Andhra Pradesh. He had single handedly brought the Congress party in the stae back to power in the state.His historice Padyatra of the state in 2003 is solely reponsible for the revival of Congress party in AP. His personality was so dominant that there was no place of dissent in the AP Congress. Though Congress high command hurriedly gave green signal to the senior most cabinet minister of state and trusted Congress old hand Finance Minister K Rossaih to take oath of office of the CM for the time being and by then Congress central leadership expects the emotion will subside and they would be able to gauge the situation judiciously. Though majority of party MLAs and MPs from the state have started voceferously advocating and building pressure on party high command facilitate YSR son Congress MP Jagan Reddy to take over the mantle of his father and take care of his legacy, he is a first time MP and has experience of only 100 days in Parliament.YSR’s loyalists have been raising the tempo for the installation of his son Jagan Mohan Reddy as chief minister, to New Delhi. Jaganmohan’s supporters - comprising mostly of young legislators handpicked by YSR - are said to be working overtime to promote him. The MLAs are said to have launched a signature campaign and claim that about 148 MLAs are behind him. Their contention is that Jagan enjoyed the support of the masses and was acceptable to all sections, just like his father. . But the ground reality prevailing in the state can not be denied that the strong wind of emotion over the tragic death of YSR is sweeping the state, and that goes strongly in favour of his son Jagan Reddy to take over the throne of Andhra Pradesh. Though the names of Finance Minister K Rossaih, Union Miister Jaipal Reddy, State Congress chief D Shriniwas are doing round in race for Chief Minister, YSR son’s name is on the top of the list of aspirants for the post of chief minister of the state. As far as the question of dynastic rule in democracy is concerned, the Congress party is itself based on the theory of dynastic rule. So the question of imposing dynastic rule on the state need not arise if YSR son Jagan Reddy takes over the charge of CM after the sad and tragic death of his father. What political and administrative experience had Rajiv Gandhi when Mrs. Indira Gandhi was killed and he was immediately sworn in as the prime minister of India. So, it is natural phernomenon that responsibility gives ability. In addition to that the emotion in Andhra Pradesh is so strong over the death of YSR that Congress party dare not go against it only because Jagan Reddy is inexperienced hand to rule the state. But whoever takes charge of seat of power in the state will have to work hard to come to the expectation of the people that YSR had raised among them. YSR Reddy had direct liasaion with the rural mass and he had initiated a number of development projects in rural area and because of that he had become the household name in the state.

India must act to stop infiltration

The infiltration from across the border into Jammu and Kashmir is a regular phenomenon being carried out by Pakistan military establishment to create mayhem in the Indian state. It has alarmingly increased in the last two months-July and August. India must act immediately to stop infiltration. The Pakistani soldiers violate the cease fire declaration deliberately to push militants into the state of Jammu and Kashmir to disturb peace there. Before the onset of winter, the infiltration from across the border is carried out with the full assistance of Pakistani army in a planned way. The Pakistani soldiers reportedly chalk out a plan to violate cease fire so that the trained hard-core militants could cross over into India under the cover of firing. They had enacted Kargil misadventure in the same way as they have been doing for the last two months in regard to infiltration. Army Chief Deepak Kumar has rightly spoken in strong words against the infiltration from the other side under the cover of firing. If the cease fire is violated from the other side, India must not be hesitant in answerig the violation in the same coin. The Indian Army Chief has also alerted the country about Pakistan amassing nuclear arsenals more beyond the minimum deterrence required for the country. If a country amasses weapons of mass destruction when it has no danger from its neighbour nor it is solvent enough to spend on arming itself lavishly, it means it harbours nefarious design on its next door neighbour. The US scientist has also reportedly said that Pakistan is acquiring nuclear weapons more than it required. It is also no longer a secret that the economic assistance provided by US to Pakistan to fight against the Taliban and terrorism is openly diverted to arm itself against India.If the US sincerely wants peace between India and Pakistan, it must ask Pakistan to give all accounts of the monetory assistance given to it. It must also keep supersion on how Pak spends money given to it to combat terrorism and Taliban. Indian Army Chief Deepak Kumar has rightly said that militants are trying to infiltrate across the LoC before the onset of winter but our soldiers are alert to foil their infiltration bid.India must exercise maximum restraint due to ceasefire violation, but must also retaliate to the firing. India needs to check on the status of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons before deciding what to do.The US must understand that the continued economic packages pumped into Pakistan to fight Taliban , terrorism and for alleviating poverty among the large section of the population are wilfully diverted for arming itself against India. When a man has no money to feed his family, how can he be expected of having a foreign-made Revolver gun. If that is so, the neighbour of the man must be war of him. So, India must always wary of its neighbours- Pakistan and China.

CM YSR Reddy's tragic demise is a great loss to nation

The sad demise of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy in a Chopper crash is a great loss to Adhra Pradesh and Congress party in particular and the entire nation in general. He was a true mass leader who had only one mission, that was serving the people. Under the dynamic and courageous and youthful leadership of YSR Reddy, the Congress party threw TDP Chief Naidu out of power by defeating his party in assembly elections in 2004. The sole credit of bringing the Congress party back to power in Andhra Pradesh goes to YSR Reddy. After winning the Assembly elections in 2004, he was sworn in as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. He remained the chief minister for full term of five years and again the assembly elections in 2008 , the Congress party fought uder his leadership and won the elections. YSR Reddy was again sworn in as the Chief Miniister of the state. The chief characteristic of his personality is his direct laison with the people of the state. He wanted to bring the state of Andhra Pradesh on top of the list of states in the country and to record it as the best administered state. YSR Reddy always kept his hands on the pulse of the people. It is also the credit of the dyamic and courageous leadership of YSR that the Congress party won 33 parliamentary seats from Andhra Pradesh that greatly contributed to the formation of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for the second consecutive time. YSR had also commanded great respect among the central leadership of the Congress party in Delhi. He was no longer a state leader but counted among the top leaders of the Congress party in the country. The tragic demise of YSR Reddy is a irrepairable loss for the Congress and it would be very difficul for the party to fill the vacuum created by his sad death.He is irreplaceable. YSR Reddy was the true representative of the Congress in terms of its ideology. He had great faith in secular politics and was a great patron of minority interests in the state. YSR always set his eyes on the development of the poor and downtrodden. The connection of CM YSR Reddy with the people of the state was so strong that he comfortably beat the anti-incumbancy and the campaigning by bollywood stars for the opposition parties in the assembly elections last year. Despite the temptation given by the opposition political parties to the people that they would give them colour television if they voted them to power, the people of the state did not desert YSR Reddy. YSR Reddy was a charishmatic political leader of the Congress party. He was one of the few political leaders of the country whose death is being mourned by his own political party the Cogress as well as the opposition parties equally. The death of YSR Reddy has also exposed that we have still not achieved the desired communication network to have access to every nook and corner of the country. Because the ill-fated Chopper carrying YSR flew off Hyderabad in the morning at 8.30 AM and it lost touch with the radar after 9.30 AM and and the country was in dark to know about YSR Reddy's well-being and about his whereabouts for 26 hours and it ended when the crashed site was sighted by Air Force Helicopter over hilly terrain in Nallahmalah forest region. It is a large tract of land and the ill-fated Chopper was bound for Koonoor village where Chief Minister YSR Reddy had to attend a Public Contact Programme. The inclamant weather was possibly the reason behind the Chopper crash atop hill. Soon after the Chopper went missing, the biggest ever search operation was launched together by Andhra Pradesh government and the Govt. of India and they continued to seach for 26 hours. All the resources of the country was put into seach operation only because a large tract of land in the country is still not covered by any communication network. The Govternment of India must take it seriously and develop the communication network so pervasive that no part of the country reamains untouched. And that will be the true homage to YSR Reddy who was known for the development of the state. He was a visionary leader of great commitment to the state of Andhra Pradesh as well the entire country.

Rajasthan govt asks bureaucrats to be in prostrate position before MPs and MLAS

The recent circular of Rajasthan government for bureaucrats that they should behave with MPs, MLAs and other public representatives in the way the courteors of the medieval period used to used to behave with the kings, though it is not clearly written but sum and subastance of the circular is like this. It is totally unethical of administrative norms and democratic system in an independent country. After 62 years of freedom, it is very ridiculous that in the democratic system of governance the government of Rajasthan had to issue circulars for bureaucrats about how they should behave with the public representatives-MPs and MLAs- when they go to meet them in their office in connection with some public work. The bureaucrats are well-trained how to give basic respect to the public representatives. When any public representative goes to meet a bureaucrat, he usually stands up to receive him and he see him off well after the talks are over with him. As far as respect is concerned, it is commanded and not demanded. Till 60s, public representatives maintained courtesy and decorum at all costs and they commanded respect from all corners of society, including bureaucracy. They had the stature that automatically raised a sense of respect among bureaucrats for MPs, MLAs and other public representatives. During that period, politicians stood unscathed in every matter and there antecedent was beyond any question.But from the beginning of 70s, there has been much degeneration among politicians and most of them have been involved in unsocial activites. Most of the politicians have also been involved in scams and corrupt practices of various nature. The man of criminal antecedent entered politics in large numbers after 70s. Some MPs and MLAs have also been found allegedly slapping bank officials and police personnel. When they visit government offices to meet bureaucrats, they are accompanied by their hunchmen of tough nature. These types of conducts of MPs and MLAS have caused deterioration in their respect in the eyes of bureaucrats and general public. In the prevailing situation, the circular of Rajasthan government to bureaucrats is nothig but asking them to be servile before MPs and MLAs. The circular is also meant for bureaucrats to be crawled before MPs and MLAs and always be in prostrate position. It is surprising that in 21st century, this type of circular, which smacks of feudal tendency medieval period, is being issued by the government in democratic system. The bureaucrats always give basic and due respect to the public representatives. It is not only the Rajasthan government only which has issued circular but also the Orissa government has done the same thing ealier The ridiculous thing is that our public representatives care little for development but are very conscious of the behaviour being meted out to them by bureaucrats. This a sad reflection of our democratic system and the government of India must take serious note of the state governments issuing such types of circular as to reflect the demand of servility from the bureaucrats. Bureaucrats are not the slaves of the government. They are public servants to serve the people of India and this type of circular will only have demorlising impact on them, and that will mar their functioning.

Civic Authority must cover the killer man-holes on Delhi roads

It is a complete disregard of the civic authorities in Delhi that the uncovered man-holes on the roads of the city are taking lives of Delhiites. So far this year, there have been five deaths due to man-holes in the city. Does the eyes of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi government have shut to the prevailing ground realities in the cities. Delhi being the national capital of India, it must look different from the state capitals of the country in respect of providing civic amenities to the citizens. But the fact is that the state capitals provide civic amenities to their citizens than what Delhi provides to Delhiites. It must be the matter of shame for MCD and Delhi government as both are responsible for providing civic amenities to Delhiites.The civic authorities in the city are so careless and negligent to their duties that take the toll of the lives of innocent Delhiites.If the report of prestigeous English daily is anything to go by,the civic authorities are so deeply involved in corrupt practices that they care little for the civic amenities for Delhiites. Every rainfall takes a heavy toll of trees in Delhi. The root of trees have become so weak that they are easily uprooted by the impact of strong wind in rainy season. But neither any official of department concerned of Delhi government nor of MCD takes any notice of the fall of trees.The civic facilities in the city is so delapidated that even a light drizzle brings the city to a standstill. When the attention of the Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit brought towards the worsening condition of the city after rain, she promptly said that it was bound to be affected because of the heavy rains, and they can not be stopped by the government. Everyone knows that the force of nature can not be stopped but Mrs. Dikshit fails to realise that it is because of the negligence of the civic authorities that every drain in the city is choked and water does not flow out of the city. To provide civic amenities to the residents of Delhi is the prime responsibility of Delhi Municipal Corporation but it always miserably fails to deliver its duty. In view of the worsening condition of civic amenities, to claim about making Delhi a world class city by none other than the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is nothing else but hoodwinking the innocent Delhiites. Delhi is going to hold Commonwealth Games next year and there would be jamboree of sportspersons and sports lovers from all over the world in the city. So, Delhi Government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi must put their act together to give the city a world class look in the remaining one year. Civic amenities in the city must be improved. Otherwise, they will pose a great embarrassment during the Commonwealth Games. So without any loss of time, Delhi government must act to improve the civic amenities in the city.