Lok Sabha passes 'historic' right to education bill

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed what Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal termed "historic" legislation providing for free and compulsory education for all children in the 6-14 age-group. "This is the first time an effort has been made to universalise education in the country," the minister said, adding: "We have been talking about it for the last 16 years." He said it was high time "we gave every child a legal right" to education. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2009, that the Rajya Sabha had cleared on July 20 was passed by the lower house by a voice vote, and Sibal, who piloted the measure, gave a clarion call to all states to cooperate with the central government in implementing the measure. There were as many as 20 cut motions from the Left parties against the proposed legislation but these were defeated on the floor of the house. The bill will now go to President Pratibha Patil for her assent before becoming law. "There is no politics here, this is a partnership between the centre and the states for India's future," Sibal maintained. "This is a national enterprise. All state governments, us and civil society organisations are part of it." The minister said there were "10 historic things" in the legislation. Enlisting these, he counted free education, compulsory education, insistence on having a national curriculum and quality education that gives three years' time to schools to set up physical infrastructure or face de-recognition. Sibal said every school in India would have to fulfil infrastructure requirements and the states have been advised to set up recognition authorities. "This is the first time such a leap forward had been taken," the minister added. Among other firsts, he said to ensure there were properly qualified teachers, the legislation would give under-qualified teachers five years to acquire the necessary academic credentials. Simultaneously, the states would be told that all new appointments must meet qualification standards prescribed by an academic authority. The legislation, in what the minister said was another historic move, calls for 25 percent reservation in private schools for disadvantaged children from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and socially and educationally backward sections. He said the states have been given the liberty to decide the disadvantaged classes whose children would be eligible under the 25 percent reservation category. However, the law would make it mandatory when the model rules were framed for its implementation that children with disabilities were mandatorily included among the disadvantaged children. "This will be the first time in India that disabled children are integrated with the school system," Sibal said.

No LTTE infiltration into India

New Delhi: There has been no infiltration into India of Tamil Tiger guerrillas since the Sri Lankan military crushed them in May, parliament was told on Tuesday. Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken said in the Lok Sabha that a small number of Sri Lankan Tamils continued to arrive in the Tamil Nadu coastal district of Rameswaram as refugees. "However, there is no specific input to indicate that the defeated LTTE cadres have infiltrated into India in the guise of refugees fleeing Sri Lanka," he said in a statement, referring to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The minister said a total 101,162 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees were living in Tamil Nadu. Of these, 73,695 were in 115 camps spread over 26 districts. Maken said that screening procedures had been tightened at the Mandapam refugee camp at Rameswaram "to identify any infiltration of remnant LTTE cadres." "The law enforcing agencies, including navy, Coast Guard and state authorities have intensified patrolling along the coast. In addition, the government follows a policy of voluntary repatriation with respect to these refugees."

Terrorists may use chemical weapons: Defence Minister

New Delhi: Terrorists are getting "more and more aggressive" and can resort to chemical weapons to cause maximum casualties, Defence Minister A.K. Antony warned on Tuesday, adding that the Indian armed forces will prepare to counter any such attack. "Terrorists are getting more and more aggressive in their activities the world over. They are adopting newer techniques and technology in their mode of operation," Antony said here while releasing the national guidelines on the Management of Chemical Terrorism Disaster. The guidelines, compiled by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), have been prepared by experts from various streams, academia and scientific institutions. Experts from the Armed Forces Medial Services and the Defence Research and Development Organisation have also made significant contributions in the formulation of guidelines. The comprehensive guidelines deal with several issues like counter-terrorism strategies, surveillance and environmental monitoring, prevention of illegal trafficking of hazardous waste, and human resource development, which includes education and training, knowledge management and community awareness. "The defence ministry shall also prepare itself for the management of (any) chemical terrorism disaster," Antony added. India is one of the original signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention, 1993, and has already destroyed its chemical weapons stockpiles.(

India issues fresh guidelines after swine flu death

New Delhi/Pune: Shaken by the death of a 14-year-old schoolgirl, India today issued fresh guidelines, including allowing home quarantine, to prevent a repeat of the country's first swine flu casualty in Pune. The family of the schoolgirl, Rida Shaikh, have vowed to sue a private hospital in Pune for criminal negligence while Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the treatment was "too late" to save the girl. "We will take civil and criminal action against the hospital. The family will also sue for damages... We are not interested in the money. The money will be given to charity," the girl's family lawyer Asif Lampwala told reporters in Pune. An upset Sajid Shaikh, Rida's father, said: "If they (private hospital) had sent Rida's samples to NIV (National Institute of Virology) earlier, probably my daughter would have been alive today." Her aunt Ayesha Shaikh added: "We didn't know then but now we know that Ruby Hall, where Rida's samples were sent for tests initially, was not authorised (to test swine flu). When we realised the truth, it was too late." But the private hospital denied the allegation. "We refute all allegations and are ready for any inquiry. We will cooperate in all investigations to prove that we are innocent," said Medical Superintendent of the Jehangir Hospital Prasad Muglikar. "We did enough to save the girl. We have all documentary evidences and we intimated about the patient to deputy director district health services, Pune, and the Pune Municipal Corporation on Aug 1," he said. The Maharashtra authorities began probing the probable lapses on the part of the Jehangir Hospital, where the girl was admitted on July 27, and also issued notice to Ruby Clinic where the girl's blood tests were conducted. The state government also declared Pune and Satara districts as affected by the swine flu pandemic. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan squarely blamed the Jehangir Hospital for Rida's death. Chavan said the government would take action against the hospital for the "lapses" that led to the girl's death. Rida was first taken to a general physician after she suffered flu like symptoms. "When her condition did not improve, she was taken to a private hospital and treated for normal flu for two days. When her condition deteriorated and the lungs were affected, then they (hospital) realised that it was not normal because flu doesn't affect the lungs. But by that time it was too late. It was too late for the Tamiflu medication," Azad said. He said the health ministry will issue new guidelines to private hospitals on how to handle swine flu patients. India has reported 574 swine flu cases, of whom 470 have been discharged from hospitals. A total of 2,528 people have been tested for the flu. Delhi has seen the maximum number of swine flu cases in India so far with 163 patients, closely followed by Pune. According to official data issued here today, Pune has reported 112 cases since India reported its first swine flu case on May 16. With experts and doctors warning that the monsoon and winter months could mean more cases of the flu, the health ministry issued fresh guidelines. Patients who exhibit H1N1 symptoms have to report to government hospitals but would be allowed home quarantine if the case warranted. Issuing the revised guidelines, Vineet Chawdhry, joint secretary in the central health ministry, said clinical assessment would be carried out on patients only at identified government hospitals. "We want to address the apprehension and concerns of the people and don't want a repeat (of the Pune incident)," he told reporters in New Delhi. He said the revised guidelines followed fears that people would be kept in isolation wards in hospitals for treatment. He added that home quarantine would be allowed only if government doctors give the go-ahead. "In case the patient decides for home isolation, he or she would be provided with detailed guidelines to be followed by the entire household," he added. There is no change in the guidelines meant for passengers arriving at airports with flu like symptoms. He said India may come out with a vaccine for the dreaded influenza A(H1N1) infection by September. The central government also plans to call a meeting of major private hospitals and medical practitioners to sensitise them about swine flu. Joint secretary Chawdhry denied any action was being contemplated against the Jehangir Hospital by the central government. "Health is a state matter and it is the state government that can decide the course of action," he said. "The Maharashtra government has invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act making it mandatory for people suffering from swine flu to be admitted in designated government facility. The government will share details about the incident with us in the next few days," he said.

I won't get married in Swayamvar finale: Rakhi

Rakhi Sawant will not get married on the finale of Rakhi ka Swayamvar this Sunday on NDTV Imagine. Rakhi lets the cat out of the bag, but tells rediff.com's Rajul Hegde that there is big surprise in store for the viewers.

Are you getting married in the finale?

I am choosing my bridegroom and getting engaged on Sunday, but will not get married.

The format of the show was for Rakhi Ka Swayamvar. Don't you think it's against the concept and the expectations you have built up?

I don't think so. Swayamvar means choosing your life partner and that's what I will do. Engagement is like half getting married. All the three prospective grooms have requested me for 6-12 months time to be financially independent -- buy a car, house and give me the kind of lifestyle I am used to. They don't want to be called another Abhishek Awasti. Abhishek mere ghar pe hi reh raha tha (Abhishek was living at my house). It is better to understand each other rather than hastily get married and then get divorced.

How was your experience in the show?

It was a mind blowing and beautiful experience. I am lucky to have officially dated 16 grooms in this short span, beating the record of even Madonna who dated and married only 7 men (smiles).

Do you think that the tasks were enough to gauge your partner for life?

No. The tasks were the channel's choice; I was choosing a man with honesty. I have seen many people in Mumbai
who don't have a penny in the pocket but show off. Here I felt that all the grooms were honest, genuine and caring. So I feel lucky to be part of the Swayamavar.

Do any of the grooms have a clue about being the chosen one?

No. All of them have kept their fingers crossed and are eagerly waiting, along with their family members, for D-day.

Can you give one name for whom you have a soft corner?

I cannot, but I will give two names: Manas Katyal (Delhi and Elesh Parujanwala (Canadabased Non-Resident Indian).

What about Chitiz Jain?

He has already told me that he doesn't love me.

Are you going to live with your fiancé after the engagement?

No, we are going to live separate. They are from cultured families.

If at all you marry the chosen groom, will you shift base?

No. My first love is my Karam Bhoomi - Mumbai and God, second is work, and third my marriage. Of course I will travel to my in-laws' place as and when it is required.

How is the engagement going to be?

It's going to be grand event in traditional style, with garland exchange on national television, the grand swayamvar.