Tag: Development

Saugata Roy speaks on the amendments to the Finance Bill as recommended by Rajya Sabha

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FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, yesterday the Rajya Sabha took up a discussion on the Finance Bill, 2017 and they have sent back the Bill with five different amendments.

What is the procedure in the case of a Money Bill? Article 109 (4) says that “if the House of the People does not accept the recommendation of Council of States, the Money Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by the House of the People without any of the amendments recommended by the Council of States.”

But there is also another provision in the rules to which I draw the attention of the Finance Minister. He can also accept some of the recommendation of the Council. In the Article 107 it says “if the House accepts any amendment or amendments as recommended by the Council the Bill shall be deemed to have been passed by both Houses with the amendment or amendments as recommended by the Council.

This means, this House can also accept the amendments that has been placed by the Rajya Sabha. Now, the question is whether the government should respond to the call of the Council of States and accept some of the recommendations that have been made.

What are the recommendations that have been made? Before I speak on that, let me point out that at the time of discussion on the Finance Bill, we had mentioned that many Acts had been amended through the Finance Bill which should not have been done. Apart from ten Acts listed in the Bill, large number of changes in the matter of tribunals was made. We had said that this need not have been included in the Finance Bill, which is a Money Bill. The government stormed over all our Amendments and went ahead.

We also mentioned that one of the provisions in the Finance Bill is to link the Aadhaar number to the PAN Card; we had objected. But since then Supreme Court has given an observation, that for any public interest programme, like the mid-day meal scheme or for receiving subsidies, Aadhaar Card should not be made compulsory. We had raised this issue about the Aadhaar Card being made all powerful.

Another point has been made that whether overuse of Aadhaar Card is leading to leakage of data and breach of privacy of individuals. It will contain all my details and if everything is linked to the Aadhaar Card, government will have at its fingertips any facts about the private accounts of any individual. We object to this.

Another thing we had objected at the time of passing the Finance Bill in Lok Sabha, was the matter of electoral bonds and electoral funding. It has been included in the Finance Bill. There should be a separate law for ensuring transparency in electoral funding. Instead, it has been included in this ‘omnibus’ Finance Bill.

Now, having made these points let me go to the actual amendments made by the Rajya Sabha. One is, Rajya Sabha has said that in Section 132 (A), the Amendment is to Clause 51. It is to be deleted according to Rajya Sabha. Clause 51 deals with, Section 132 (a) of the Income Tax Act – the power to requisition books of accounts etc. In the Finance Bill it was mentioned that for the removal of doubts it is hereby declared that the reason to believe as recorded by IT authorities under this section will/shall not be any person or any authority. So power to requisition books will be there and it will not be revealed to any individual. I think it is a direct assault on the right of the individual and the Rajya Sabha has recommended that this assault should not be there.

There are two more recommendations that the Rajya Sabha has made regarding Clause 52 and Clause 53 both of which deal with section 133 and 133 (a) of the Income Tax Act; they also should be removed . Section 133 of the Income Tax Act is the power to call for information and section 133A is power of survey. It is draconian that somebody will have the power to move anything without having to disclose the reason. This is draconian and goes against the rights of the individual. So, in that sense, I think the Finance Minister should accept the recommendation.

Sir, the main matter, main objection that we have is with regard to electoral funding as has been mentioned in Clause 154 of the Finance Bill as passed by Rajya Sabha. There the amendment has suggested that the word we shall not be above 7.5% of net profit of the last three financial years. The Finance Bill as placed by the Finance Minister says that not every company shall disclose in its ‘Profit and Loss’ account the total amount contributed by it under the Section during the financial year. In this case, if a company contributes whole of its profit to the ruling party then that would be legally sanctionable. The Rajya Sabha amendment calls upon a restriction of this contribution by political parties.

The other thing is regarding The Company’s Act, where the Rajya Sabha has suggested that provided further that there shall be a requirement to disclose the names of the political parties to which contributions have been made. There is no such restriction in the present law; it says, after line 40, that a company may make contribution through any instrument issued in pursuance to any scheme notified under any law for the time being in force for the contribution to the political party. The main demand of the Rajya Sabha is that the names of those who are contributing should be revealed. I think that this is a very reasonable amendment. The Finance Minister himself belongs to the Rajya Sabha; he may once go through the wishes of the Council of States and agree to at least one of the recommendations of the House to which he belongs. It would only be democratic.

Madam, our contention is that the bicameral system is there for checks and balances. Just because a party has the majority in the Lok Sabha, it should not ride roughshod over the opinions of the other House. That’s why it is my humble submission, Madam, that I mentioned these matters which have been done. I am again saying that the procedures of this House are being violated in the sense that we are making the Finance Bill a comprehensive compendium of different laws instead of a plain Bill to announce the tax proposals of the Government. In general, we have objected to it and again we support the amendments made in the Council of the States.

Bengal leads among States in decrease in crimes related to child labour

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Bengal is leading the country in eradicating the instances of child labour. Over the last three years, only in Bengal has there been an appreciative decrease in crimes related to child labour. This fact came out in a report presented by the concerned Union Minister in Parliament on March 27.

The State-wise list of the number of crimes concerned with child labour from 2014 to 2016 was presented, according to which, during this period, the law has been moved against only 42 people in Bengal.

Significantly too, during the above-mentioned period, there have been 1,131 operations in the State to rescue children illegally engaged in labour.

 

Image source: PTI

 

শিশু শ্রমিক নির্মূলের পরিসংখ্যানে এগিয়ে বাংলা

 

দেশ থেকে শিশু শ্রমিক নির্মূলের পরিসংখ্যানে এগিয়ে রয়েছে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ। গত তিন বছরে একমাত্র বাংলাতেই শিশু সংক্রান্ত অপরাধের হার লক্ষ্যণীয় ভাবে কম রয়েছে। ২৭ মার্চ লোকসভায় কেন্দ্রীয় মন্ত্রী এই ইস্যুতে একটি রিপোর্টও পেশ করেছেন।

২০১৪ থেকে ২০১৬ সাল পর্যন্ত শিশুশ্রম সংক্রান্ত অপরাধের রাজ্যওয়াড়ি তালিকা পেশ করা হয়েছে। সেই তালিকা অনুযায়ী এই তিন বছরের সময়সীমার মধ্যে শিশুশ্রম সংক্রান্ত অপরাধে পশ্চিমবঙ্গে মাত্র ৪২ জনের বিরুদ্ধে আইনানুগ ব্যবস্থা নেওয়ার প্রক্রিয়া শুরু হয়ে গেছে।

২০১৪ থেকে ২০১৬ পর্যন্ত বাংলায় শিশুশ্রমিক উদ্ধারে অভিযান হয়েছে ১ হাজার ১৩১টি।

 

We want peace and development in the Hills: Mamata Banerjee

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed Information Technology, agriculture, horticulture and floriculture sectors to generate employment and economically uplift the people of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The Tea Park in New Jalpaiguri will also become operational soon, she said.

An administrative review meeting of Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts was held at the Pintail Village on Wednesday. Addressing media persons after the meet, the Chief Minister stated: “Along with the circuit-wise review of tourism projects in great detail, we also feel that IT sector, agriculture, floriculture, horticulture and food processing have great prospects in employment generation and economic upsurge in the Hills.

I have asked the Agriculture, Animal Resource Development and Industries department to look into this. I have also instructed the Secretary of the Information Technology department to prepare IT projects for the Hills.”

The Chief Minister stated that tourism projects including the ones at Gajaldoba and Tiger Hill were discussed in detail in the presence of Tourism Minister Gautam Deb and the Chief Secretary.

“We have discussed different projects in connection to roads, drinking water and electricity,” stated the CM. As many as five road-over bridges will come up in Jalpaiguri and four in Siliguri. New electricity sub-stations will be constructed at Sonada, Bagdogra, Kawakhali and Purbo Karaibari.  “We are also improving road connectivity with bordering countries — Bhutan and Nepal. We have already spent Rs 750 crore on a four-lane highway,” she further stated.

 

আমরা পাহাড়ে শান্তি ও উন্নয়ন চাইঃ মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

বুধবার দার্জিলিং জেলার পিন্টাইল ভিলেজে দার্জিলিং ও কালিম্পঙ জেলার প্রশাসনিক বৈঠকে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় তথ্য প্রযুক্তি, কৃষি, উদ্যান পালন ও ফুল চাষে জোর দেন যাতে মানুষের কর্মসংস্থান হয়। নিউ জলপাইগুড়িতে টি-পার্কেও কিছুদিনের মধ্যে কাজ শুরু হবে বলে তিনি জানান।

বৈঠকের শেষে সাংবাদিকের তিনি বলেন, “পর্যটনের ওপরেও জোর দেওয়া হচ্ছে। বিভিন্ন পর্যটন সার্কিট গড়ার ভাবনা রয়েছে রাজ্যের। এ ছাড়াও, তথ্য প্রযুক্তি, কৃষি, ফুল চাষ, উদ্যান পালন ও খাদ্য প্রক্রিয়াকরন এই সকল ক্ষেত্রে কর্মসংস্থানের মাধ্যমে পাহাড়ের অর্থনৈতিক উন্নয়নের সুযোগ রয়েছে।”

গাজোলডোবা ও টাইগার হিলের পর্যটন প্রকল্পগুলি নিয়েও আলোচনা হয় বৈঠকে।

“আমরা সড়ক যোগাযোগ, পানীয় জল ও বিদ্যুতের প্রকল্পগুলি নিয়েও আলোচনা করেছি” মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন। সোনাদা, বাগডোগরা, কাওাখালি ও পূর্ব করাইবাড়িতে গড়া হবে ইলেকট্রিক সাব-স্টেশন। প্রতিবেশী দেশগুলির সাথেও সড়ক যোগাযোগে জোর দেওয়া হচ্ছে বলে জানান মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

 

Bengal CM declares Mirik as sub-division

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The Chief Minister declared Mirik a sub-division of Darjeeling district at an official programme today.  Mirik was earlier a block under the Darjeeling district.

Mirik is an important tourist destination and several lakh tourists visit the hill town every year for its beautiful lake.

During her speech, the Chief Minister said that earlier people had to commute for hours to Kurseong or Darjeeling for administrative work. Hailing the day as ‘historic’ she said she wants development for the Hills and employment for the youth.

She also commented that while the State Government has provided all help to GTA, they have even failed to renovate the Mirik Lake. The CM said that her thrust is on tourism and Bengal is incomplete without the Hills. “We do not believe in speeches. We believe in actions.,” Mamata Banerjee added.

 

মিরিককে মহকুমা ঘোষণা করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

আজ মিরিককে দার্জিলিং জেলার মহকুমা ঘোষণা করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। এর আগে মিরিক দার্জিলিং জেলার একটি ব্লক ছিল।

মিরিক একটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ পর্যটন কেন্দ্র এবং প্রতি বছর বহু পর্যটক এখানে বেড়াতে আসেন।

বক্তব্য রাখার সময় মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, আগে মানুষকে যেকোন সরকারী কাজের জন্য কার্শিয়াং, দার্জিলিঙে যেতে হত, এখন সেই সমস্যা মিটবে। আজকের দিনটিকে ঐতিহাসিক আখ্যা দিয়ে তিনি বলেন, “আমরা পাহাড়ের উন্নয়ন চাই, আমরা চাই পাহাড়ের যুবসম্প্রদায়ের কর্মসংস্থান হোক”।

তিনি আরও বলেন উন্নয়নের জন্য জিটিএ কে সব রকম সাহায্য করা সত্ত্বেও ওরা এখনও মিরিক লেক সংস্কার করেনি। রাজ্য সরকার পর্যটনে জোর দিচ্ছে, মহোম-ট্যুরিজম, ইকো- ট্যুরিজমেও জোর দেওয়া হয়েছে। লামাহাটায় পর্যটনের বিকাশ হয়েছে। টাইগার হিলে নতুন প্রকল্প শুরু হয়েছে। তাঁর কথায়, “ভাষণ নয়, কাজ করে দেখাতে হবে”।

 

Vivek Gupta speaks on the need for uniform travel advisories across airlines

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FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, recently the US and UK airports have banned all electronic items larger than mobile phones, like tablets and DVD players, from being taken into the cabins of planes. Sir, through you I would request that our country also reviews security arrangements as our country is also under a high amount security threat.

The larger issue here is that every day different guidelines are being issued by different airlines. Some airlines say that you can take a tablet inside while some say that you have to check-in a tablet. No uniform guidelines are being issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

There is so much of confusion at the airports – you go in, then you have to go for a security check, then you are supposed to go back and check in the luggage – there is utter chaos at the airport. Sir, through you I would wish to bring to the attention of the honourable Government and the Minister of Civil Aviation to look into this problem.

Sir, the bigger problem is that we lack around 2,500 CISF staff, according to various reports, which have made our airports more vulnerable. Sir, 26 hyper-sensitive airports are still not covered by the CISF, and we don’t know who’s handling the security.

Sir, various travel advisories are issued by other countries but we seem to be lagging behind in that. Sir, whenever there is a ban issued I would like the Government to issue a centralised ban so that there is no confusion for the passengers and they can easily go airports.

Thank you, Sir.

State Govt to provide training in honeybee rearing

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The Bengal Government has decided to set up training for farmers to enable them to rear honeybees. Such training opportunities would be made available in all the districts of Bengal.

Worldwide, honeybees have been severely affected by the changes in environmental conditions, so much so that productions of honey and beeswax have come majorly.

A beginning has been made with the initiation of a four-day course for 100 farmers in Naikuri block of Purba Medinipur district. After the completion of training, each farmer would be handed over, by the State Government, two boxes of honeybees.

Today’s youth have largely forsaken the often dangerous method of collecting honey from inside deep forests. As a result, the production of honey and beeswax has come down, so much so that a large portion of the requirement of the State has to be imported from foreign countries.

Through this honeybee-rearing programme, the State Government has thus provided a three-pronged solution: employment generation through the rearing and selling of products derived from honeybees, conservation of foreign exchange and maintaining the balance of the environment (since the already less number of honeybees need not be exploited).

 

কৃষকদের মৌমাছি পালনের প্রশিক্ষণ দেবে রাজ্য

সারা পৃথিবী জুড়ে মৌমাছি প্রজাতি আজ বিলুপ্তির পথে। আর এর জেরে চাহিদার থেকে কম উ९পাদন হচ্ছে মোম, মধু। শুধু মোম-মধু নয় কীটপতঙ্গ কমে যাওয়ায় পরিবেশের ভারসাম্যও নষ্ট হচ্ছে। এবার এই সমস্যার সমাধানে কৃষকদের মৌমাছি পালনে উ९সাহী করার উদ্যোগ নিল রাজ্য সরকার।

রাজ্যের সমস্ত জেলায় এই ধরনের প্রশিক্ষণের ব্যাবস্থা করা হয়েছে। পূর্ব মেদিনীপুর জেলার নাইকুড়ি ব্লকে কৃষকদের মৌমাছি পালনের প্রশিক্ষণের মাধ্যমে এই জেলায় রাজ্যে সরকারের উদ্যোগের সূচনা হল। প্রশিক্ষণ চলবে চার দিন ধরে। পাঁশকুড়ার প্রতাপপুর বি কিপিং সমিতির সহায়তা নিয়ে নাইকুড়ি ব্লকের ১০০ জন কৃষককে নিয়ে এই প্রশিক্ষণ শিবির অনুষ্ঠিত হচ্ছে। প্রশিক্ষণের পর এই কৃষকদের হাতে রাজ্য সরকারের তরফে বিনামুল্যে মৌমাছি পালনের জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় দুটি মৌমাছি ভর্তি বাক্স তুলে দেওয়া হবে।

এর ফলে কৃষকদের মৌমাছি পালনে সমস্যায় পড়তে হবে না। মৌমাছি পালনের ফলে কৃষকেরা মৌচাক থেকে মধু ও মোম দুটোই সংগ্রহ করে তাদের উপার্জন বাড়াতে পারবেন। এর সঙ্গে বাজারের যোগান বাড়বে।

বিপদ মাথায় নিয়ে এই প্রজন্মের ছেলে মেয়েদের জঙ্গলে গিয়ে মধু ও মোম সংগ্রহের পেশায় যুক্ত না হওয়ার প্রবণতা জোগান কমিয়েছে মোম, মধুর। ফলে চাহিদাপূরণের জন্য বিদেশ থেকে প্রয়োজনের প্রায় ৭০ শতাংশ মোম ও ৩০ শতাংশ মধু আমদানি করতে হয়। রাজ্য সরকার গ্রামে গ্রামে মৌমাছি পালনের মাধ্যমে মোম ও মধুর জোগান বাড়ানোর উদ্যোগ নেওয়ায় বিদেশ থেকে আমদানির পরিমাণ কমবে। এলাকার মানুষের কর্মসংস্থান হবে। পাশাপাশি বিদেশি মুদ্রা সঞ্চয় হবে এবং পরিবেশের ভারসাম্য রক্ষা করা যাবে।

Bengal Govt to promote cultivation of rare aromatic rice varieties

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The Agriculture Department of the Bengal Government has firmed up plans to extend all forms of assistance to farmers to enable them to grow 800 varieties of aromatic rice, many of which are rarely grown nowadays. To collect seeds for these varieties and culture them, officials of the department are visiting farmers across Bengal and in some neighbouring countries too.

Among the aromatic varieties identified for special treatment are kanakchur, randhuni, chandrachur, radhatilak, badshahbhog and kerala sundari. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya in Kalyani is playing a major role in identifying the varieties of rice, as well as finding out ways for growing them on a large scale so that the seeds can be distributed among farmers. Some of the varieties have been found at the agricultural research laboratories run by the State Government in Fulia in Nadia district and in Hooghly.

The State Government is also taking initiatives to convince farmers to grow these less-known varieties of rice by making them realise the commercial value of these varieties.

For the last few years, under the special initiative of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Bengal Government has been actively promoting tulaipanji aromatic rice. The Government has set up stalls at several key places, including at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. It even sent the variety to the 2012 London Olympics for promotion and sale.

 

 

বিলুপ্তপ্রায় সুগন্ধী ধানের চাষ বাড়াতে উদ্যোগ রাজ্যেরি

বাঙালীর পাতে সুগন্ধী চাল ফিরিয়ে দিতে উদ্যোগী হল রাজ্যে কৃষি দপ্তর। বিলুপ্তপ্রায় ৮০০ ধানের বীজ খুঁজে বের করতে পথে নেমেছেন কৃষি দপ্তরের আধিকারিকরা। প্রতিবেশী দেশেও হাজির হতে চলেছেন তাঁরা। কৃষকদেরও সুগন্ধী ধান চাষের কাজে সব রকমের সাহায্য করবে রাজ্য।

এই ধানগুলির মধ্যে রয়েছে – কনকচূড় , রাঁধুনি,চন্দ্রচূড় ,রাধাতিলক  ,বাদশাভোগ ,কেরালা  সুন্দরী। এই ধানের চালের সৌরভ অপূর্ব।

ইতিমধ্যে এইসব বীজের মধ্যে কিছু খুঁজে পাওয়া গেছে নদীয়ার ফুলিয়া এবং হুগলির কৃষি গবেষণা কেন্দ্রে।  সেগুলি  কি করে চাষের কাজে এগানো যায় তার গবেষণা চলছে।  বিধানচন্দ্র কৃষি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় এ ব্যাপারে তদারিক করছে।

কৃষকদের এ ব্যাপারে উ९সাহিত করতে উদ্যোগ নিচ্ছে রাজ্য।  এই বীজ থেকে আরও উন্নতমানের বীজ তৈরী করে কৃষকদের দেওয়ার কথাও ভাবা হচ্ছে।

উল্লেখ্য, রাজ্য সরকার ২০১২ সালে লন্ডন অলিম্পিকে অ্যাপেডার মাধ্যমে ওই চাল পাঠিয়েছিল। এই চালের বিপণনে জোর দিয়েছে রাজ্য।  বিভিন্ন জায়গায় স্টল খোলার পাশাপাশি কলকাতা বিমানবন্দরেও বিক্রির ব্যবস্থা করা হয়েছে।

 

 

I believe in religion that teaches you to love all humans: Mamata Banerjee

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on I believe in religion that teaches you to love all humans: Mamata Banerjee

In a stern message to a section of people who are trying to incite communal tension in the State, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said Bengal is a land of culture and politics of riots has no place here. She urged people to be aware and not pay heed to rumours.

“We believe in religious amity. We do not believe in the politics of riots,” she said.

“I believe in religion that teaches you to love all humans. I participate in Durga Puja, Eid, Christmas as well as Guru Parab. The human body is incomplete without all organs. We must treat all humans equally. A mother can never discriminate between her children,” she added.

The CM said Constitution of India was her guiding principle and it taught her to be tolerant and respectful of people from various backgrounds.

 

যে ধর্ম সকলকে ভালবাসতে শেখায় আমি সেই ধর্মে বিশ্বাসী: মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

এক শ্রেণীর মানুষ যারা ধর্মের নামে রাজ্যে বিভেদ সৃষ্টি করে বাংলায় অশান্ত পরিবেশ তৈরি করতে চাইছে তাদের কড়া বার্তা দিলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

জলপাইগুড়িতে একটি জনসভায় তিনি বলেন, “আমি জাতি-ধর্মের ভেদাভেদে বিশ্বাস করি না, দাঙ্গার রাজনীতিতে বিশ্বাস করি না। উৎসবের সময় বেশ কিছু মানুষ সমস্যার সৃষ্টি করার চেষ্টা করেন।” তিনি জনগণকে সতর্ক হওয়ার পাশাপাশি গুজবে কান না দেওয়ারও আর্জি জানান।

তিনি বলেন, “যে ধর্ম সকলকে ভালবাসতে শেখায় আমি সেই ধর্মে বিশ্বাসী। বাংলায় দুর্বৃত্তদের কোন জায়গা নেই। এ মাটি সংস্কৃতির মাটি।”

“আমি দুর্গা পুজো, ঈদ, ক্রিসমাস, গুরু পরব সবেতেই যোগদান করি। সব অঙ্গ ছাড়া মানব-শরীর অসম্পূর্ণ। আমরা বিশ্বাস করি সব মানুষ সমান। একজন মা কখনও নিজের সন্তানদের মধ্যে বিভেদ করেন না” মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন।

তিনি আরও বলেন, “ভারতের সংবিধান আমাদের সহনশীল হতে শেখায়। সংবিধানই আমাদের পথ দেখায়।”

 

Mriganka Mahato speaks on The National Institutes of Technology, Science Education & Research (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Mriganka Mahato speaks on The National Institutes of Technology, Science Education & Research (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016

FULL TRANSCRIPT

The National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 is a very important Bill in the context of engineering education in India at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels and in the context of research. The Bill was first introduced in the year 2007. The motto behind this Bill is for giving national importance to certain institutes of engineering and science so that they can provide quality education, both at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels of engineering, and do research work in the frontal areas of engineering.

The Bill was first amended in 2012. In 2007, 20 such institutions run by different societies across the country were included and were mentioned in the first schedule. In 2012, when the first amendment was done, another 10 institutions run by different societies were included and added to those in the first schedule. At that time, another five IISER – that is, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research – were incorporated and mentioned in the second schedule. Another institute, Indian Institute of Science Technology and Research in Shibpur, was mentioned in the third schedule. All these endeavours are very good in promoting engineering education. Recently, in 2016, two new IISERs were incorporated to correct the regional imbalance after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana – one in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh and another in Berhampur in Odisha. So the endeavours for promoting engineering education and moreover, to correct the regional imbalance in terms of institutes of national importance, by the Government are very good. At present there are a total of 31 NITs and five IISERs and two more will be included in the Bill, bringing the number of IISERs to seven. All these are welcome approaches. But my humble submission in the floor of the House is regarding my points of concern.

The first point of concern is regarding the quality of education. The prime focus of the Government should be to provide substantial amount of finance to these institutions. As far as my information goes, the global ranking of these NITs is between 3,500 to 4,000, that is, far down in the list and the global ranking of the IITs – that is, only IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay – is between 400 and 450. Only the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore is ranked between 300 and 350. So, in the global ranking, we are far behind and in the Asian context, the ranks of the NITs is not even within 1,000. In the Asian raking too, even IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi are within 300. So my humble submission to the Minister and the Government is that there should be an expert committee which should monitor the declining quality of education in India and address the issue of bridging the huge gap in the ranking of Indian institutes with respect to the world’s top ones, both in the context of the global ranking and the Asian ranking. There should also be a committee to monitor the quality of education in the NITs. The 31 NITs should be ranked, and then efforts should be made to address the gaps in quality. The faculty from one NIT should be moved to some other NIT, students from one NIT should be allowed to go to another NIT, etc. so that the parity of engineering education in the country is maintained. The next point of concern is regarding research work. The Minister has said that the purpose of the IISERs is mainly to focus on research work. So, does the Government have any report on how many research papers are submitted by the engineering students in these institutions each year in Indian and international journal?

The second thing of concern is this: there are several scientific programmes and scientific competitions in the country; now, how many students from the NITs and the IITs participate in these engineering competitions, and are there records on that or not? This is very important to know with respect to research work. We all know and we appreciate the research work by our scientists in space technology, research work done by the DRDO. So all our engineering faculty should do a lot of research work.

The third point is regarding the long-standing problem of brain drain in India. We all know that every year a large number of students passing from these institutions go abroad and do their research work there and then one day we read in the newspaper or see on TV that some Indian scientist doing research work in MIT or Harvard has got the Nobel Prize in physics or chemistry. This should be stopped. We should create such an environment that all brilliant Indian students do their research work in India, and we should be proud of such institutions that bring fame to India. We should think of this. And my last humble submission to the Minister is to enquire whether the Government is thinking of any common test for engineering students before they graduate from the NITs after the eighth semester, so that the Government can get a sense of the amount of parity in engineering education in India. The Government should consider this proposal.

At the end, I want to congratulate the Minister for correcting the regional imbalance in terms of the IISERs by setting up two new ones in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. I welcome this Bill. Thank you, Sir.
 

Mamata Banerjee expresses concern over recent happenings in Uttar Pradesh

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Mamata Banerjee expresses concern over recent happenings in Uttar Pradesh

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today expressed her concern over the recent happenings in Uttar Pradesh. She said that “people are afraid & many are scared about differences over caste, creed & religion.”

The Chief Minister reiterated that “we are all one”. She posted on Twitter: “A government has to be for all. ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ sirf bolna nahi hain, karna hain. We have to do it, to make it meaningful.”

Mamata Banerjee added that “we must all safeguard the Constitution and allow it to guide us.”

 

উত্তর প্রদেশের সাম্প্রতিক ঘটনায় উদ্বেগ প্রকাশ মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর

উত্তর প্রদেশের সাম্প্রতিক কিছু ঘটনায় উদ্বেগ প্রকাশ করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। তিনি বলেন, মানুষ আজ ভীত। জাতি, ধর্মের ভেদাভেদের কারণে অনেকেই আতঙ্কিত। মনে রাখতে হবে আমরা সবাই এক।”

তিনি টুইটারে বলেন, “সরকারের দায়িত্ব সকলের পাশে দাঁড়ানো। ‘সবকা সাথ, সবকা বিকাশ’ শুধু বললেই হবে না, কাজে করে দেখাতে হবে।”

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী আরও বলেন যে সবার উচিত সংবিধানের গরিমা রক্ষা করা যাতে আগামী দিনে সংবিধান আমাদের পাথেয় হতে পারে।