Category: News

Comprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by EduindexNews.

Scourge of Illiteracy in India

By – Supriya

With India on the verge of being the most populous country, the only gizmo that can decide the country ‘s fate now is education. Education alone possesses the power to convert the population of 1.21 billion Indians from liability to assets. Today, human asset is the most valuable and prized resource. The dire need is to provide the requisite skills to transform it’s masses into massive working force. The first step towards the arduous but rewarding journey is literacy – the ability to read and write with understanding . While the country boasts of its IT revolution the world over and churns out world – class software professionals and engineers , it is disgraceful that 1/4 th of the country is still illiterate. Today, India’s literacy level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84% . In comparison to other nations , India ‘ s education program is lagging far behind other nations and currently India has the largest illiterate population of any nation on the earth. According to 2011 census, literacy rate of India is 74.04% . Moreover, a wide gender disparity in the literacy rate can be observed as literacy rate for men was 82.14% , in comparison to 65.46% for women. The low female literacy rate in turn directly affects family planning and population stabilization efforts.
Although over the years, the country’s literacy rate has improved manifold , yet with the level far below the world average literacy, much is left desired. India ‘ s ten states and union Territories , including Kerela , Lakshadweep , Mizoram , Tripura ,Goa, Daman and Diu, Puducherry , Chandigarh , National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands , have attained literacy rate of above 85% , but states like Bihar, Jharkhand , Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh faint in comparison. While Kerela has the highest literacy rate at 93.91% followed by Lakshadweep at 92.28%, Bihar is at the lowest rung of the ladder with literacy rate of 63.82% followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 66.95% . It is an anomaly that Bihar , which gives large number of Civil Servants to the country, houses a vast population that cannot even read and write! Illiterate parents and parental attitudes , rampant corruption in Bihar ‘ s political and governmental setup to sustain reign by keeping the public illiterate and unaware , poor infrastructure , poor educational initiatives and rising population forms a vicious circle of non – progress and illiteracy. Presently, India faces many hiccups that are an impediment to our desired literacy rate. Those living in rural areas are the biggest victims as rural schools operate in extremely poor conditions . While the lack of teachers creates many obstacles for children in rural schools , another setback is the lack of resources which becomes detrimental to the learning process. Lack of books and other reading materials ; lack of proper infrastructure , basic amenities like toilets and electricity are other major problems. Besides , the availability of high – tech devices such as computers is extremely rare.
In this regard, the government has taken a number of initiatives to provide free education programs to poor people living in villages and towns through setting up new schools and colleges. Several Committees have been formed to ensure optimal utilisation of funds to improve literacy rate. 21000 Crore has been allocated in the 2011 budget for Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan to accelerate the literacy drive in India . Through judicious use of allocated amount , the fortifying scale and the requisite quality of primary education can be achieved. Literacy in India is a key to socio – economic development as it initiatives awareness in people to work towards a better living. It is thus a starting point for modernization , urbanization , industrialization growth and commerce and advanced communication . To build a nation with strong social , economic and political foundation , Literacy is indispensable.

THANKYOU !

Portrayal of transgenders in Indian advertising.

Bhima Jewellery’s ‘Pure as Love’ campaign with transgender student and model Meera Singhania is the latest in a small but growing number of Indian advertisements featuring trans people. Vicks India, Ralco Tyres, Brooke Bond Red Label and Nykaa are some of the other brands that have woven stories of trans people into their recent ad films. While these ads may tick boxes like diversity and inclusion, what do trans people think of them?   

Biraja Mishra, a trans woman from Bhubaneswar pursuing a degree in gender studies, says, “I do not appreciate ads that speak of trans people as sacred beings with links to mythology. We want to be treated as equal citizens, not exotic creatures. Ads may also create the impression that all trans people want to undergo medical transition. That is simply not true.”

Medical transitioning involves a variety of expensive procedures such as hormone therapy, laser hair removal, top surgery, vaginoplasty, hysterectomy, phalloplasty, facial feminization surgery, breast augmentation. Trans people may or may not choose medical transition based on their relationship with their body, access to funds, availability of social-emotional support, or for other reasons. It is a personal matter, and intrusive questions are best avoided.

Corruption in India

By – Supriya

While India is at the threshold of becoming superpower , the rising GDP and the process of the country is getting eaten by the corrupt leeches of the country. Today , the common man is not only shocked but disgusted at the series of scams unfolding everyday – 2G Spectrum Scam , Common wealth Games Scam- the list is shamefully endless. An average Indian citizen is hard working and diligent, but a multi – thousand crore scam fumes a tax – payer as he feels heartbroken and cheated for his valued contribution of funds towards the development and well- being of the nation.

Political and bureaucratic corruption in India is the cause of major concern today. From brides to political maneuvering to misuse of authority to scandals – the average Indian daily finds himself struggling in the cobweb of political graft. The in – charge of the system, the so – called sarkari Babus, with whom the power lays, are spreading the venom of corruption , and abusing their political power at all levels. The 2G scandal scam worth ₹1.76 – lakh crore tops the list. At the heart of this scam is the former Telecom minister A Raja who evaded norms at every level as he dubiously, issued 2G licences to private telecom players in 2008 at throwaway prices of 2001. While issuing licences, rules and procedures were flouted for bribes and personal gains.

Another major scandal hit India when the great sporting bonanza, Commonwealth Games 2010, was rather turned into a playfield of frauds, deceit and unaccountability. The chief of the Games Organizing Committee, Suresh Kalmadi , is charged with corruption for discrepancies in tenders – like payment to non – existent parties, willful delays in execution of contracts, over-inflated price and bungling in purchase of equipment. Misappropriation of funds soaked this grand event in ₹8000 crore corruption scandal. After the 2G spectrum and Commonwealth Games, another massive ₹ 35000 crore Food – Grain scam to light in Uttar Pradesh , as huge stock of food grain meant for distribution under the Antyodaya , Annapurna and Mid – Day Meal schemes was smuggled outside the state and even to other neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal . It is believed that top officials of the state as well as the central government colluded to divert the food grain between 2001 and 2007. ‘ Chara Ghotala’, as it is popularly known in the vernacular language , Fodder Scam is another major scam that puts a big question mark on the integrity and honesty of our politicians. The scandal worth ₹900 crore involved fabrication of vast herds of fictitious livestock for which fodder, medicine and animal husbandry equipment was supposedly procured. The scandal is another example of misuse of authority for personal gratification and fulfillment of selfish motives. While the Indian politics is already replete with scandals like Bofors scam, Urea scam and Hawala scandal , a new blot of a bigger magnitude emerges every day. The existing cases are pending and large number of cases pile up with every passing day.
Fed up with such inadequacies , the people of India have taken initiative to bring change through the Jan Lokpal Bill. Under the leadership of Anna Hazare , an anti – Corruption crusader, who began a fast – unto – death , the mass movement of people saw an expression of their collective anger against corruption and their willingness to see the enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The bill seeks for the appointment of a Jan Lokpal , an independent body, which would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisage trial in the next one year. This would ensure expeditious trial and cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years. The bill also proposes to confiscate the property and recover the loss that a corrupt person caused to the country, at the time of conviction . Most importantly, it would help a common citizen as financial penalty on guilty officers would be imposed if work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office. The Jan Lokpal Bill is a step forward in the forward in the fight against corruption . This effective mechanism aims to bring transparency and accountability in public administration for preventing , punishing and eliminating corruption in India.

THANKYOU !

L