TDP for discussion on NCERT curriculum

NEW DELHI, AUG. 8. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), an ally of the ruling NDA, today demanded in the Lok Sabha a discussion on the controversial new curriculum of the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

The TDP leader, Mr. K. Yerrannaidu, said during the zero hour that while he was not commenting on the pros and cons of the curriculum, the issue should be discussed in the House as such matters were in the Concurrent List.

Opposition members lashed out at the BJP-led Government for ``saffronisation'' of the education system by changing the existing curriculum.

Mr. Hannan Mollah, CPI(M), said the 1996 education policy was being destroyed and the Vajpayee Government was ``working clandestinely'' to include subjects such as astrology in the syllabus.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the NCERT were being used by the Government in its ``saffronisation drive'', he said and charged that RSS nominees had been appointed as heads of several educational institutions.

Mr. Vijay Goel, BJP, said inclusion of moral education and topics on nationalism could not be described as saffronisation.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr. P.M. Sayeed, said this was an important matter and should be taken at the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.

Mr. K. Francis George, Kerala Congress, said inclusion of new subjects was done without consultations with the State Governments.

ISRO plans joint ventures

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to increase the number of transponders over the Indian skies and enter into join ventures with other satellite operators, the Prime Minister, Mr. Vajpayee, said.

The Department of Space is discussing with other satellite operators such as Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn.Bhd (Malaysia) and Intersputnik International Organisation on joint ventures, he said in a written reply.

Ex-PMs dues

A Congress member urged the Government to recover crores or rupees due from former Prime Ministers and Ministers who used Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft for election campaigns, medical checkups and other personal reasons. Raising the issue during the zero hour, Mr. G. Putta Swamy Gowda, said despite repeated pleas from the IAF, these dues had not been paid.

Medical Grants Commission

The Government is examining the possibility of reviving the proposal for setting up a Medical Grants Commission on the lines of the University Grants Commission, the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mr. C.P. Thakur, informed the Lok Sabha.

The Government would consider extending financial help to cash- starved Kerala to help it complete a programme to set up homoeopathy hospitals in all districts, he said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : These villagers may soon become landowners
Next     : Prakash Hinduja allowed to leave India