After years of neglect, the 391 schools that were set up in Bihar to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi's dream that one day all Indian children will have access to basic education are set to get a new lease of life.
State Human Resources Development Minister Hari Narain Singh told that the government has decided to spend Rs.50 crore to improve the infrastructure of the Buniyadi Vidyalayas (basic schools), about six of which were set up by the father of the nation himself.
The schools were set up to impart basic education to boys and girls in rural areas. They were also meant to provide vocational training in spinning, carpentry, farming and weaving.
The first Buniyadi Vidyalaya was established by the Mahatma in 1939 at Brindavan in Bihar's West Champaran district.
Singh said the government will spend Rs.50 lakh each on 100 basic schools during the current financial year as part of the first phase of the revival plan. In the next two financial years, the government would spend money on the other 291 schools.
"The government will not allow the dream schools of Mahatma Gandhi to die. All the basic schools will be revived in phased manner to provide opportunity to the younger generation to realise the dream of the father of the nation," said Singh.
Official sources said the basic schools or "Mahatma ke school" as they are popularly called in Bihar, are struggling for survival. They suffer from a shortage of teachers and funds. In many case, land meant for the Buniyadi Vidyalayas is in illegal possession of others.
Successive state governments have allowed the schools to languish. Even the central government has not made any attempt to breathe life into them.
A few years ago, the Supreme Court took serious note of the plight of the basic schools in West Champaran district.
The court had then issued notices to the centre, the state government, the district administration of West Champaran and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to ensure proper functioning of the schools and preservation of the Gandhian heritage. link
Showing posts with label Champaran District. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Champaran District. Show all posts
Thursday 30 July 2009
Friday 10 July 2009
Bihar govt asked to appoint conservator for tiger reserve
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has asked the Bihar government to appoint a full-time conservator in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in the state at the earliest to ensure better management in the park where tiger-count has declined in the recent years.
Expressing his concern over the fate of tigers, whose number has declined from 30 to 13, and other wildlife in the park spread over 880.78 sq km, Ramesh, in a letter to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, urged him to expedite the process of signing tripartite pact with the Centre so as to avail central assisted fund.
The minister has sought reasons as to why no full-time conservator has been appointed in the park even when there is no dearth of officials, a senior official in the environment ministry said.
The top post in the reserve in Betia in Champaran district had been lying vacant for the last nine months and currently conservator Ashok Prasad has been entrusted with multiple charge of Muzaffarpur, Betia and Siwan forests, he added.
The state of affairs of field staff is equally precarious in the reserve with at least 40 per cent of the total posts lying vacant.
Due to vacancy at the top level, poachers get sufficient security gaps to target the endangered predators.
Except miscellaneous funds to meet the salary of the staff, there is no separate fund allocated by the state for the management and development of the park.link
Expressing his concern over the fate of tigers, whose number has declined from 30 to 13, and other wildlife in the park spread over 880.78 sq km, Ramesh, in a letter to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, urged him to expedite the process of signing tripartite pact with the Centre so as to avail central assisted fund.
The minister has sought reasons as to why no full-time conservator has been appointed in the park even when there is no dearth of officials, a senior official in the environment ministry said.
The top post in the reserve in Betia in Champaran district had been lying vacant for the last nine months and currently conservator Ashok Prasad has been entrusted with multiple charge of Muzaffarpur, Betia and Siwan forests, he added.
The state of affairs of field staff is equally precarious in the reserve with at least 40 per cent of the total posts lying vacant.
Due to vacancy at the top level, poachers get sufficient security gaps to target the endangered predators.
Except miscellaneous funds to meet the salary of the staff, there is no separate fund allocated by the state for the management and development of the park.link
Friday 5 June 2009
Woman saves hundreds of dying trees in Bihar
A young woman has saved hundreds of trees in Bihar's East Champaran district by finding a cure for their ailment.
Kiran Kumari, a 19-year-old science student of Class 12, discovered a remedy that treated Seesam trees spread over about 600 acres. The trees - highly prized for their timber - regained instant health three years after they had been afflicted by a disease.
She is a resident of Manjhar village in East Champaran, about 200 km from here, and a farmer's daughter. Her efforts were recognised last year when she was awarded president's medal.
"Kiran's hard efforts to protect Seesam trees bore fruit as greenery was back on trees and smile back on faces of people," said Maheshwar Singh, a villager.
"After experimenting with dozens of remedies to protect Seesam trees, I discovered a simple but effective remedy to save these trees afflicted by diseases. I treated the roots of the trees with a diluted solution of kerosene (50 ml kerosene with 10 litres of water) and painted the stems with lime solution mixed with tobacco," Kiran told.
Kiran plans to study environmental science and then to work for the protection of trees. "I love to devote my time to protect trees and greenery," she said. link
Kiran Kumari, a 19-year-old science student of Class 12, discovered a remedy that treated Seesam trees spread over about 600 acres. The trees - highly prized for their timber - regained instant health three years after they had been afflicted by a disease.
She is a resident of Manjhar village in East Champaran, about 200 km from here, and a farmer's daughter. Her efforts were recognised last year when she was awarded president's medal.
"Kiran's hard efforts to protect Seesam trees bore fruit as greenery was back on trees and smile back on faces of people," said Maheshwar Singh, a villager.
"After experimenting with dozens of remedies to protect Seesam trees, I discovered a simple but effective remedy to save these trees afflicted by diseases. I treated the roots of the trees with a diluted solution of kerosene (50 ml kerosene with 10 litres of water) and painted the stems with lime solution mixed with tobacco," Kiran told.
Kiran plans to study environmental science and then to work for the protection of trees. "I love to devote my time to protect trees and greenery," she said. link
Monday 25 May 2009
Naxalites gun down wanted dacoit in Bihar
Naxalites gunned down a wanted dacoit in Bihar's East Champaran district for allegedly extorting money from people posing as a Maoist, police said on Monday.
"Bihkara Prasad (35) was shot dead by Naxals at Bihsunpur village in the district yesterday. After killing him the rebels fled, leaving behind leaflets saying those trying to malign the organisation would also face the same consequence," DSP (Pakridayal sub division) M K Anand told reporters here.
Prasad was wanted in a case of dacoity, he said, adding that efforts were on to arrest the criminals.link
"Bihkara Prasad (35) was shot dead by Naxals at Bihsunpur village in the district yesterday. After killing him the rebels fled, leaving behind leaflets saying those trying to malign the organisation would also face the same consequence," DSP (Pakridayal sub division) M K Anand told reporters here.
Prasad was wanted in a case of dacoity, he said, adding that efforts were on to arrest the criminals.link
Tuesday 27 January 2009
Six Dalit children die of measles in Bihar
At least six malnourished Dalit children have died of measles in a Bihar village during the last 10 days. Villagers blame government apathy for the deaths.
The deaths occurred in Jitaura Musahar Tola in East Champaran district, about 250 km from here, creating panic among villagers as nearly a dozen more children are suffering from the disease.
All the victims belong to the Musahar community, known as the poorest of the poor in Bihar's socio-economic structure. The community derives its name from the practice of eating rats and they usually hunt for them in paddy fields.
District civil surgeon Dharam Deo Singh told IANS on phone that a team of doctors has been rushed to the village for treating the affected children and a medical camp would be set up to prevent an outbreak of measles.
Singh said he was informed about the spread of measles and the death of the children late due to an ongoing strike of government employees, including health officials, across the state.
Villagers are angry with the local administration's apathy that led to the death of their children.
"Our children died in the absence of medical facilities and failure of the administration to arrange treatment for them," said Prakash Manjhi, a villager.
Hasan Manjhi, another villager, alleged that the administration hardly paid any attention to their community as they were poor Dalits.
Earlier this month, four Dalit children died of measles in Saidpur village of Vaishali district, while five Dalit children of a village in Darbhanga district died of the same disease.
The deaths occurred in Jitaura Musahar Tola in East Champaran district, about 250 km from here, creating panic among villagers as nearly a dozen more children are suffering from the disease.
All the victims belong to the Musahar community, known as the poorest of the poor in Bihar's socio-economic structure. The community derives its name from the practice of eating rats and they usually hunt for them in paddy fields.
District civil surgeon Dharam Deo Singh told IANS on phone that a team of doctors has been rushed to the village for treating the affected children and a medical camp would be set up to prevent an outbreak of measles.
Singh said he was informed about the spread of measles and the death of the children late due to an ongoing strike of government employees, including health officials, across the state.
Villagers are angry with the local administration's apathy that led to the death of their children.
"Our children died in the absence of medical facilities and failure of the administration to arrange treatment for them," said Prakash Manjhi, a villager.
Hasan Manjhi, another villager, alleged that the administration hardly paid any attention to their community as they were poor Dalits.
Earlier this month, four Dalit children died of measles in Saidpur village of Vaishali district, while five Dalit children of a village in Darbhanga district died of the same disease.
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