Archives for September 2021

NEW DELHI: Congress has refused to be a part of the proposed inquiry committee of MPs being set up to investigate the violent incidents that took place in the House during the monsoon session on August 11.

“I am, therefore, unequivocally against constituting the enquiry committee and the question of a party proposing the name of a member from a party for nomination to this committee does not arise,” he said.

The Congress leader said the opposition was keen to participate in discussions and claimed that it was the government that obstructed the smooth functioning of the session.

Kharge, also said in the letter that the government not only brushed aside the opposition parties’ demand for discussion but also rushed through crucial bills and policies, which could potentially have a grave and adverse effect on the country.

The leader of the opposition pointed out that his party gave multiple notices under the rules of procedure, hoping to have constructive deliberations on the state of India’s economy, farmers protest, inflation, rise in prices of petrol and diesel and other essential commodities, unemployment, China’s violation of India’s territorial integrity, the Pegasus and Rafael scandals among a host of other national issues.

“It also bypassed standing committees and refused to have any meaningful discussion on bills, policies and issues. Additionally, senior ministers were largely absent from Parliament while opposition MPs were suspended. In doing so, the government undermined the sovereignty of Parliament,” the letter said.

Kharge also said that he has spoken to other opposition parties in this regard and almost all of them have rejected the inquiry committee proposal.

On August 11, there was turmoil in the Rajya Sabha with the opposition alleging misbehaviour by marshals, while the ruling party alleged violence against parliament staff and others by opposition MPs.

Two Congress women MPs, Phulo Devi and Chayya Varma had alleged that they were manhandled during the ruckus in the House.

As per official sources, an official complaint has been lodged against the MPs who created ruckus in Rajya Sabha during the recently concluded monsoon session.

At the Rajya Sabha Chairperson and Union ministers’ meet, it was decided that a committee will be formed and action will be taken after discussion.

All through the session that began on July 19, opposition members forced adjournments in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over their various demands including a probe into allegations of surveillance through Pegasus spyware and repeal of three farm laws.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die two days ahead of the scheduled end of the Monsoon session on August 13. 

BENGALURU: With the positivity rate in all the districts in Karnataka falling below 2 per cent, the State Government on Thursday issued orders allowing the district deputy commissioners to decide whether to continue with the weekend curfew or lift it. However, night curfew between 9 pm and 5 am continues to be in force across the state. 

Weekend curfew was imposed last month in districts bordering Kerala and Maharashtra — Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bidar and Kalaburagi — due to high Covid cases in the two neighbouring states resulting in a surge of cases in these districts in Karnataka.

While the administration in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and the districts bordering Maharashtra were allowed to lift the weekend curfews earlier, the other districts bordering Kerala had continued with the weekend curfew till Thursday. Udupi, though not bordering Kerala, also saw imposition of weekend curfew, besides Hassan.

Data over the last one week indicates that 14 districts across the state have zero per cent positivity rate, six districts between zero and 1 per cent, and 10 districts between 1 and 2 per cent. The order, signed by Chief Secretary and Chairman, State Executive Committee, P Ravi Kumar, takes into consideration the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the state wherein there has been a consistent decline in the case positivity rate.

“The state, as a whole, has an average case positivity rate of 0.73 per cent and the districts are having case positivity rate of less than 2 per cent,” the orders states. It,

however, also states that to sustain the substantial gains achieved due to “stringent containment measures, there is a need to continue with the existing measures along with focused surveillance, testing-tracking- treatment, vaccination, micro-containment measures and strict adherence to Covid19-appropriate behaviour.”

Strict surveillance at border posts in places bordering Kerala and Maharashtra is set to continue as per guidelines issued by the Health Department. Besides, the Education Department will issue separate orders with detailed guidelines for opening of primary schools in the districts.

NEW DELHI: At least 80 per cent children in India between the age group of 14-18 years reported lower levels of learning during COVID-19 pandemic than when physically at school, according to a UNICEF report.

“School closures in South Asia have forced hundreds of millions of children and their teachers to transition to remote learning in a region with low connectivity and device affordability. Even when a family has access to technology, children are not always able to access it. As a result, children have suffered enormous setbacks in their learning journey,” George Laryea-Adjei, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, said.

In India, 42 per cent of children between 6-13 years reported not using any type of remote learning during school closures.

“This means they have not used any of the following for remote learning since the schools shut down: textbooks, worksheets, phone or video calls, WhatsApp to access materials or connect with teachers, learning programmes on radio or TV, YouTube videos, video classes, learning applications, home visits by teachers and private tuitions, community teaching at local locations, other websites,” the report said.

The research found that student-teacher engagement, when regular and reciprocal, is a strong predictor of success in children’s learning, especially for younger students.

However, the surveys found that most students had little or no contact with their teachers after the schools closed.

“At least 42 per cent of students aged 5-13 years and 29 per cent of students aged 14-18 years are not in touch with their teachers at all,” it said.

The UNICEF called upon the governments to prioritise safe reopening of all schools while also ensuring that children are able to pursue quality learning remotely if necessary.

Assessment of learning levels and ensuring catching up by students, vaccination of teachers and support staff, expanding investments in education, working with private sector and civil society organisations in improving connectivity and creating high-quality, preparing multilingual remote learning content tailored to students’ needs, are among the recommendations made in the report.

“The safe reopening of schools must be considered on utmost priority for all governments. Parallelly, investing in teachers will ensure that teachers and schools can adapt to all situations. The more teachers are trained, equipped and supported on distance and blended learning, the better they will be able to reach all their students,” added George Laryea Adjei.

“This is a critical investment we need to make for children as the region gears up for future waves of COVID-19. We need to build systems which can weather any storm and keep children learning, no matter the circumstances,” he added.

The UNICEF report also stated that in Sri Lanka, 69 per cent of parents of primary school children reported that their children were learning “less” or “a lot less.” In Pakistan, 23 per cent of younger children did not have access to any device that could support remote learning, it said.

Talking about school reopening, UNICEF India representative Yasmin Ali Haque said prolonged school closure due to COVID-19 has caused many children to miss out on learning, social interaction and playtime which are essential to their overall development and well being.

Safe and gradual reopening of schools in India is a welcome move as children learn best in person and this will help prevent further learning loss and alleviate some of the pscychological stress they are facing, she said.

“The safety element is critical. Teachers, parents, children and communities can work together along with the government, to put in place the protocols needed for children to return to schools and learn in a safe environment.”

We need to focus on rapidly building capacities of teachers who can support learning both in the classroom as well as at home more effectively.

We have examples from states like Bihar, where several devices are being purchased for students to support learning. Now is the time to plan and put the structures in place to transition children back into learning. We need to build back better and stronger, Haque added.

KALABURAGI: The BJP will use all techniques possible to come to power in the Kalaburagi Mahanagara Palike (KMP), state unit president Nalin Kumar Katil said here on Thursday.

Katil, who was here to participate in the ‘Greeting to elect Corporators’ programme, told the media persons that it is for the first time the BJP has won more seats in KMP. “Since no party has achieved their own majority, both BJP and Congress will play their own game to come to power and get the mayoral position in the KMP,” he said.

The minister refused to elaborate on the ‘techniques’ his party will adopt to come to power. Katil also said that dialogues are underway with the JDS on a possible alliance for KMP. “BJP is confident of becoming the ruling party,” he asserted.