Misinformation and ignorant campaign by Congress leader Kanhu Charan Lenka in a Samaja Op-ed

Among the misinformation and ignorance in the following article are:

• The total acerage that is now earmarked is 6270 acres. (The article at one place says 18,000 acres and another place says 10,000 acres.)
• The quality of the land in terms of its agricultural potential is overstated.
• Ignorance about the existence of other top institutions with large land holdings.
• Ignorance about existence of other top universities with large student bodies.
• Ignorance about existence of research parks associated with universities.
• There is no conspiracy regarding real estate. Vedanta University in its web page clearly mentions their plan regarding building a  township around the university for 500,000 people. That is a good thing. Money made in that would create a large fund for the university and help make it an excellent high quality university.

Also, I have not seen any Orissa govt. claim or Vedanta statement regarding any plans to get SEZ status for the university. In any case, education institutions probably already have tax-free status on certain aspects.

6 comments September 27th, 2007

WIPRO academy of Software Excellence: Ad in Samaja

1 comment September 27th, 2007

Problems faced by the Kastuaba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme in Orissa: Samaja

September 27th, 2007

Kasturaba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas scheme

The Kasturaba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya scheme is aimed at girls belonging primarily to SC, ST, OBC and minorities in difficult areas. The guidelines for their implementation as given in their web site is as follows:

1.         Background

1.1       The Government of India has approved a new scheme called Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) for setting up upto 750 residential schools with boarding facilities at elementary level for girls belonging predominantly to the SC, ST, OBC and minorities in difficult areas.  The scheme will be coordinated with the existing schemes of Department of Elementary Education & Literacy viz. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL) and Mahila Samakhya (MS).

 

2.                  Scope/ Coverage of the scheme

2.1       The scheme would be applicable only in those identified Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) where, as per census data of 2001, the rural female literacy is below the national average and gender gap in literacy is more than the national average. Among these blocks, schools may be set up in areas with:

 

¨       concentration of tribal population, with low female literacy and/or a large number of girls out of school;

¨       concentration of SC, OBC and minority populations, with low female literacy and/or a large number of girls out of school;

¨       areas with low female literacy;  or

¨       areas with a large number of small, scattered habitations that do not qualify for a school

 

The criteria for eligible EBB will be the same as in the NPEGEL scheme of SSA.

 

3.         Objective

3.1       Gender disparities still persist in rural areas and among disadvantaged communities. Looking at enrolment trends, there remain significant gaps in the enrolment of girls at the elementary level as compared to boys, especially at the upper primary levels.  The objective of KGBV is to ensure access and quality education to the girls of disadvantaged groups of society by setting up residential schools with boarding facilities at elementary level.

 

4.         Strategies

4.1       Between 500 to 750 residential schools will be opened in a phased manner over the Xth Plan period at an estimated cost of Rs. 19.05 lakh as recurring cost and Rs. 26.25 lakh as non-recurring cost, per school.  Initially, the proposed schools  shall be opened in rented or other available Government buildings after deciding the location.

 

4.2       Such residential schools will be set up only in those backward blocks that do not have residential schools for elementary education of girls under any other scheme of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Affairs. This shall be ensured by the district level authority of SSA at the time of actual district level planning of KGBV initiatives by co-ordinating with the other Departments/Ministries.  A list of educational complex being run by Ministry of Tribal Affairs is enclosed for facilitating selection of KGBV.

 

 

 

5.                  The components of the scheme will be as follows:

 

(i)                  Setting up of residential schools where there are a minimum of 50 girls predominantly from the SC, ST and minority communities available to study in the school at the elementary level.  The number can be more than 50 depending on the number of eligible girls.  Three possible models for such school have been identified and given at Annex.I(a) to I(c).

(ii)                To provide necessary infrastructure for these schools

(iii)               To prepare and procure  necessary teaching learning material and aids for the schools

(iv)              To put in place appropriate systems to provide necessary academic support and for evaluation and monitoring

(v)                To motivate and prepare the girls and their families to send them to residential school

(vi)              At the primary level the emphasis will be on the slightly older girls who are out of school and were unable to complete primary schools (10+). However, in  difficult  areas  (migratory populations, scattered habitations that do not qualify for primary/ upper primary schools)  younger girls can also be targeted

(vii)             At the upper primary level, emphasis will be on girls, especially, adolescent girls who are unable to go to regular schools

(viii)           In view of the targeted nature of the scheme, 75% girls from SC, ST, OBC or minority communities would be accorded priority for enrolment in such residential schools and only thereafter,  25% girls from families below poverty line.

(ix)              Established NGOs and other non-profit making bodies will be involved in the running of the schools, wherever possible. These residential schools can also be adopted by the corporate groups.  Separate guidelines are being issued in the matter.

           

6.         Implementation, monitoring and evaluation

 

6.1       The scheme will be implemented by State Governments through the Mahila Samakhya (MS) Society in MS states and through the SSA society in case of other states. Funds will be released as per SSA pattern to the State SSA societies. The monitoring and evaluation at the State and district level will be undertaken by the MS State Resource Centers and  in non-MS states, through the committee created for the National Programme for Education of Girls at the Elementary Level in the SSA society. 

 

6.2       Training for teachers and staff at the residential schools will be coordinated by the District Institutes of Educational Training, Block Resource Centres and the Mahila Samakhya Resource Groups.

 

7.         State Support Group

 

7.1       An Advisory State level coordination committee as approved under the NPEGEL scheme, shall provide direction and support to the programme. This group will consist of nominees from relevant State Government Departments, Government of India, experts in the field of girls education, educationists etc. The selection of an appropriate model of the school and its location would be done by this Committee based on the recommendation of the district committee implementing the NPEGEL and the new proposed scheme.

 

8.         National Support Group

 

8.1       The National Resource Group (NRG) created under the Mahila Samakhya programme at the National level shall provide inputs on conceptual issues and concerns arising in the programme, and advice GOI on policy matters concerning the education of girls. This group will provide the interface with research and training institutions, women’s movement, educationists and non-Governmental  institutions and also bring in other experiences of educating girls.

 

8.2       Since the NRG, consists of a small number of persons and meets only two to three times in a year, smaller sub committees of the NRG created for specific inputs, like gender training of teachers, development of gender based teaching learning material, development of  audio visual programmes etc. will co- opt additional  persons from relevant institutions or experts for the purpose.

 

9.         Methodology

9.1       Based on the number of girls and the type of residential school to be provided, the selection of the model of the school to be selected would be done by a State Level Committee based on the recommendation of the District Committee for the purpose.  The proposal shall be forwarded to the Cell at the National level who shall appraise them with the help of external agencies/consultants, where necessary.  Finally, the Project Approval Board of SSA will approve these plans.

 

10.       Financial Norms under KGBV

10.1     The SSA pattern of financing with a 75:25 ratio of sharing between the Centre and the States during the Tenth Five Year Plan, and 50:50 thereafter, will be adopted for KGBV as well.  Commitments regarding sharing of cost would be taken from the State Governments in writing.

10.2     The provisions for KGBV will be in addition to the provisions already made under SSA and for NPEGEL.  The SSA Society shall ensure convergence of KGBV with NPEGEL and Mahila Samakhya programme. It shall also ensure that funds allocated are appropriately invested and there is no duplication of activities. 

10.3     The Government of India would directly release funds to the SSA State Implementation Society.  The State Government will also release its share to the State Implementation Society.  Funds will be released thereafter to the Mahila Samakhya Society wherever applicable.  In States where MS is not being implemented, the implementation of this scheme will be through the ‘Gender Unit’ of SSA Society and existing mechanism used for implementation of SSA will be followed.

10.4     The State Society should open a separate Savings Bank Account for operating the funds of KGBV.  State Government should also release its matching share to the State SSA Society through a separate budget head.  Separate accounts will have to be maintained at district and sub-district structures, accordingly.

 

 

Annex I(a)

 

FINANCIAL ESTIMATES- I

(Scenario I: Cost estimates for 100 girls)

NON RECURRING:

Rs in lakhs

SN	ITEM OF EXPENDITURE	AMOUNT PER SCHOOL*
1	Building	20.00
2	Furniture/ Equipment including kitchen equipment	2.50
3	Teaching learning material and equipment including library books	3.00
4	Bedding	0.75
	TOTAL	26.25

 

RECURRING COSTS PER ANNUM:

Rs in lakhs

SN	ITEM OF EXPENDITURE	AMOUNT PER SCHOOL*
1	Maintenance per girl student per month @ Rs. 750	9.00
2	Stipend for girl student per month @ Rs. 50	0.60
3	Course books, stationery and other Educational material            @ Rs 50/ month	0.60
4	Examination fee	0.01
5	Salaries:                  1  Warden cum teacher              4  Full time teachers              3  Part time teachers 2  Support staff –    (Accountant/Assistant, Peon Chowkidar and Cook)	6.49
6	Vocational training/specific skill training	0.40
7	Electricity/ water charges	0.50
8	Medical care/contingencies @ Rs 750/ child	0.75
9	Miscellaneous including maintenance	0.40
10	Preparatory camps	0.15
11	PTAs/ school functions	0.15
	TOTAL	19.05

 

* Based on calculations for 100 girls.  The number of girls can, however, increase.

 

Annex I(b)

 

FINANCIAL ESTIMATES- II

(Scenario II: Cost estimates for 50 girls)

 

 

NON RECURRING:

Rs in lakhs

SN	ITEM OF EXPENDITURE	AMOUNT PER SCHOOL
1	Building	15.00
2	Furniture/ Equipment including kitchen equipment	2.50
3	Teaching learning material and equipment including library books	3.00
4	Bedding	0.75
	TOTAL	21.25

 

RECURRING COSTS PER ANNUM:

 

Rs in lakhs

SN	ITEM OF EXPENDITURE	AMOUNT PER SCHOOL*
1	Maintenance per girl student per month @ Rs 750	4.5
2	Stipend for girl student per month @ Rs 50	0.3
3	Course books, stationery and other Educational material @ Rs 50/ month	0.3
4	Examination fee
5	Salaries:	6.49
	1  Warden
	4  Full time teachers
	3  Part time teachers
	2         Support staff –       (Accountant/Assistant, Peon, Chowkidar and Cook)
	Vocational training/specific skill training	0.3
	Electricity/ water charges
	Medical care/contingencies @ Rs 750/ child	0.375
	Miscellaneous including maintenance	0.35
	Preparatory camps	0.1
	PTAs/ school functions	0.1
	TOTAL	12.815

* Based on calculations for 50 girls. The number of girls can, however, increase.

Annex I(c)

 

FINANCIAL ESTIMATES- III

(Scenario III: In an existing Girls upper primary school)

NON RECURRING:

Rs in lakhs

SN	ITEM OF EXPENDITURE	AMOUNT PER SCHOOL*
1	Building	15.00
2	Furniture/ Equipment including kitchen equipment	2.50
3	Teaching learning material and equipment including library books	3.00
4	Bedding	0.75
	TOTAL	21.25

 

RECURRING COSTS PER ANNUM:

 

Rs in lakhs

SN	ITEM OF EXPENDITURE	AMOUNT PER SCHOOL*
1	Maintenance per girl student per month @ Rs 750	4.5
2	Stipend for girl student per month @ Rs 50	0.3
3	Course books, stationery and other Educational material @ Rs 50/ month	0.3
4	Examination fee	.01
5	Salaries:	3.6
	1  Warden
	3  Part time teachers
	2         Support staff –       (Accountant/Assistant,  Peon, Chowkidar and    Cook)
	Vocational training/specific skill training	0.3
	Electricity/ water charges
	Medical care/contingencies @ Rs 750/ child	0.375
	Miscellaneous including maintenance	0.35
	Preparatory camps	0.1
	PTAs/ school functions	0.1
	TOTAL	9.925

* Based on calculations for 50 girls. The number of girls can, however, increase.

September 27th, 2007

IIM act in the offing

Following are excerpts from a Hindustan Times report on this.

The government on Thursday said it was formulating a law to empower the premium Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to offer degrees like universities without curtailing their autonomy.

"The government has been examining the issue of bringing the IIMs in the country under an umbrella legislation like the Institutes of Technology Act. It will empower the IIMs to award degrees to students, which they are not competent to do at present," the human resource development (HRD) ministry said in a statement.

"It may be clarified that bringing the IIMs under the ambit of a central law will in no way alter their accountability to parliament or their status of being public institutions," it said.

India has six IIMs at Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Lucknow, Khozhikode and Indore, providing industry-oriented postgraduate diplomas and executive certificate programmes.

…Though the IIMs at Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Bangalore are not dependent on government funds for their day-to-day operational expenses, it does not compromise their status of being public institutions. However, it is being proposed that funds be given to them for future expansion.

September 27th, 2007

Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar are possible candidates for BITS business school

Following are excerpts from a Business Standard report.

Birla Institute of Technology and Science(BITS) based in Pilani(Rajasthan) has announced plans to set up elite management institutes on par with the IIMs in the next five years.

"As of now, we have not given any concrete shape to our plan but we are targeting to set up full-fledged management institutes in the league of IIMs in another five years. Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar can be the possible locations for these management institutes as the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa have evinced a keen interest for these institutes", LK Maheshwari, vice-chancellor of BITS, Pilani told mediapersons.

3 comments September 27th, 2007