NEW DELHI:
HRD Ministry Organising 10-day
Expression Series for Students
Providing students an avenue to share their dreams for the country, the HRD Ministry is organising a 10-day expression series ‘Mere Sapno ka Bharat’ (India of My Dreams). The initiative targets students from class I to XII. Schools will encourage their students to express their dreams through slogan-writing, composition and essay-writing and poster-writing. The expression series will be held between January 12 and 23. “Today’s youth have many dreams for this country, dreams that deserve to be heard. It would be worth venturing into their world of dreams. The period between 12 January and 23 January, the birthdays of Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose respectively, is chosen to provide a platform to the children to share their dreams on Mere Sapno ka Bharat (India of My Dreams,” said a Ministry communication. The frequently expressed dreams would be compiled in a booklet and could also be used in the future policies of the central government, officials said. Communications have been sent to all schools in the country to make arrangements to observe the event. The CBSE is also conducting an expression series on Swamy Vivekananda simultaneously.
Decline in Voter Turnout a Cause of Concern for Democracies: CEC
Observing that voters are the bedrock of any democracy, Chief Election Commissioner Naseem Zaidi on Thursday expressed concern at the declining voter turnout in elections across the world. Across the world, many democracies are experiencing a decline in voter-turnout, Zaidi said. “717 million (people) were registered as electors but 300 million people did not turn out to vote in the last Lok Sabha elections,” he said. He said the poll watchdog realised that it needed to address issues like healthy and complete electoral rolls, urban apathy, women’s participation, deficit and youth indifference to the electoral process were to be tackled. He was speaking at the ‘Matdata Mahotsav’ (Voters’ Grand Festival) in Delhi. The CEC said that the commission wants to reach out to every citizen of the country to promote ethical electoral practices. The CEC said that the festival was an effort to initiate the process of collaboration for enhanced and quality participation in the elections.
Bio-medical Research Bearing Brunt of Fund Cuts, Says ICMR
A fund crunch was affecting bio-medical research in scientific institutions across the country, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Thursday. ICMR Director General Soumya Swaminathan said that there have been budget cuts across the board in the Indian Council of Medical Research, which has affected work in 32 scientific organizations across the country. The institutes are suffering due to lack of funds for upgrading infrastructure, maintaining equipment, buy consumables and to conducting field studies. “We had asked for `10,000 crores for our 12th five year plan from 2012 to 2017 as we had plans to spend that amount and our expenditure has been 100 per cent every year. But we have received only 50 per cent of what we had requested. Many projects are not on track because of this,” she said. Swaminathan said that scientific organisations need to be empowered to become globally competitive. The ICMR DG, who is also the secretary of the Department of Health Research, said she was hopeful the government will give more financial flexibility to scientific organisations.
High-level Inquiry Ordered into Airman’s Death
The Indian Air force and the Army on Thursday ordered a high-level joint investigation into the security lapse during the Republic Day parade rehearsal on Wednesday, that led to the death of an airman. Army’s eastern command headquarters PRO Wing Commander S S Birdi said, “A joint committee comprising senior officials of the IAF and the Army will investigate into the security lapse as it could have also been a terror attack. We will coordinate with the Kolkata Police.” According to eyewitnesses, the Audi luxury car was driven by a man, Ambia Sohrab, and there were no other passengers in it. The Kolkata Police has formed a special team to probe the case. Neither Ambia, who drove the car, nor his politician father Mohammad Sohrab could be found. The former RJD MLA, who joined the ruling TMC in 2011, hails from Bihar .
kolkata
Panel to Probe Rape of Mentally-challenged Girls
The West Bengal Government on Thursday ordered a probe into the rape of two mentally-challenged teenage girls at a state-run home at Cooch Behar in north Bengal. District magistrate P Ulganathan said, “A three-member committee has been appointed to investigate the case. The superintendent of the home and the district social welfare officer has been served show cause notices.” A state department official said, “After the reports of the shocking incidents of rape, by a sweeper working there, a detailed probe has been ordered. All the 85 female inmates of the home will be medically examined.” The state level child protection committee will visit the home on Friday to record statements of inmates and officials.