Jharkhand to open 320 Model schools and to address crisis of teachers in government schools

TNN | May 16, 2011, 10.46pm IST

RANCHI: Government school teachers in Jharkhand would be soon relieved from non-teaching assignments, particularly the responsibility of implementing midday meal scheme and construction related work.

The decision was taken by human resource development minister Baijnath Ram after he attended the conference on preparation of future plan of Jharkhand’. He also asked government schools to start annual day functions in their schools and regular parent-teachers meeting along the lines of private schools to enhance communication.

Admitting that the curriculum being followed in schools has turned boring, as a result of which schools fail to retain students, Ram said soon a committee would be formed to review the history and geography curriculum so that local issues can be incorporated in the subjects.

“Unless students identify themselves with what they are learning, it becomes difficult for them to retain the study material,” he said.

Announcing to open model schools in all 320 blocks of the state, Ram also offered to start computer education in 1,068 government schools soon. He also acknowledged acute crisis of teachers in government schools and assured to fill up the vacancies within four months.

Groups of academicians and administrators came up with several suggestions in the conference too to spruce up education. Revamping B Ed and D Ed curriculum, more scopes for higher education in the state, mechanisms to evaluate standard of teachers and their selection, more opportunities for technical and vocational training, more medical colleges and polytechnic institutes in the state and more seats in existing ones, public-private partnership to upgrade education standards were a few ideas put forward.

[Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Midday-meals-scrapped-from-teachers-menu/articleshow/8374864.cms ]

Rules ready for panchayats

SANTOSH K. KIRO

Ranchi, May 15: Elected five months ago, panchayat members of the state can finally look forward to carrying out development work in their respective areas with the state cabinet approving two sets of rules to guide the rural bodies.

Approved last week and set to be notified in the gazette in the next couple of days, the Jharkhand panchayat (mukhiya, upmukhiya, pramukh, uppramukh, zilla parishad chairman, vice-chairman ke shaktiya evam kritya) niyamavali, 2011, and Jharkhand panchayat (baithak tatha kaam kaj sanchalan prakriya) rules, 2011, make the elected rural representatives directly responsible for implementation of all centrally and state sponsored development schemes.

Those heading the rural bodies will not only be responsible for drawing up annual development plans for their respective areas, but also for implementing government schemes related to agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, social forestry, rural housing, drinking water, roads, non-conventional energy, welfare, health, sanitation, poverty alleviation, education, sports and cultural activities, among others.

The first set of rules relate to powers and functions of the chiefs and deputy chiefs of gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads, while the second one is a guide to how the representatives should conduct themselves.

While the chiefs of the three rural bodies — gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads — have been given ample powers, the rules also stipulate that the buck stops with them as far as funds utilisation was concerned.

Last year, the state spent close to Rs 2,000 crore on rural development.

The rules mandate the chiefs of the rural bodies would have to convene at least one meeting a month.

This apart, the mukhiya, pramukh and the zilla parishad chairmen are solely responsible for the execution of all resolutions adopted during the meetings.

The mukhiya, who is the chief of the gram panchayat, would also have to convene meetings of the gram sabhas in scheduled areas.

The meetings could be chaired by someone chosen by the gram sabha, but in non-scheduled areas, the mukhiya has to chair the meeting.

The gram sabha comprises all adult members of the village and is a crucial body in scheduled areas, with the powers to decide on key issues. The powers were bestowed by the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act or PESA.

“Once the rules get notified, the newly constituted panchayat bodies will start functioning in every sense of the term, which will be a dream come true in Jharkhand after a wait of more than three decades,” said Moti Lal Ram, deputy director of the panchayati raj department.

However, despite the handing over of powers, concerns remain.

“We thank the government for the new rule, but they do not give sufficient powers to the gram sabha. We fear the gram panchayats may overpower the gram sabhas in actual practice, which the villagers have to guard against,” said Ashok Bhagat, the coordinator of Gram Swaraj Manch, which had long been demanding devolution of powers to the elected rural bodies.

The second set of rules is a strict code of conduct for the elected representatives.

During meetings, if a member utters defamatory words, levels personal accusations against a member or officer of other constitutional bodies including the state Assembly and Parliament or uses improper words, it could spell trouble.

Further, if a member of any of the three rural bodies intentionally disturbs the meeting or does not take his or her seat, they can be held guilty of disrupting proceedings and ordered to leave the meeting venue.

Printed copies of the rules would be circulated among the rural bodies soon.

The much awaited panchayat polls in Jharkhand were held in December last year, electing 53,207 rural representatives across 4,564 panchayats, 260 samitis and 24 zilla parishads, most of them women.

[Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110516/jsp/frontpage/story_13987170.jsp  ]