Bihar
Indo-French cooperation accords
During a 30-minute interaction with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on December 3, French ambass-ador to India Francois Richier offered cooperation in higher education, particularly by way of student and faculty exchange programmes with the new Nalanda International University and National Institute of Technology (NIT), Patna.
According to Richier, a memorandum of understanding has already been signed between Nalanda International University and French research school EFEO for student and faculty exchange programmes. A similar pact was signed between NIT, Patna and the Engineering School of France on December 4.
Praising chief minister Nitish Kumar as a “very positive man”, Richier added that opportunities will be explored for engagement between France and Bihar in the field of primary education as well. After his discussions the ambassador visited the famous Buddhist site of Bodh Gaya and offered prayers.
Nagaland
Plea for differently abled
Governor Ashwani Kumar called upon private industry, religious and educat-ional institutions as also government, to provide employment to differently abled people.
Addressing an industry-sponsored symposium in Kohima on December 3, Kumar called upon the Central and state governments to “join the struggle of differently abled people”. “While it may take time to change the attitudes of people, governments and parliaments around the world have legislated laws to protect the rights and promote the cause of differently abled people,” he said, urging private sector companies and industrial establishments, religious and educational institutions to create jobs for differently abled people in Nagaland and beyond.
Tripura
State university plans
A state government-sponsored university will be established on the grounds of the Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) College in Agartala. Tripura’s higher education minister Bhanu Lal Saha informed the media in Agartala on December 3 that MBB College was chosen as the site of the proposed university because it has a sprawling campus.
According to Saha, a committee headed by the education secretary has finalised a plan for constructing the proposed university and the state government will shortly introduce a Bill in the legislative assembly for the purpose. The state government will also forward a proposal to the University Grants Commission for obtaining approval for the varsity. “A detailed project report is almost ready and will be forwarded to the Centre for sanction of funds estimated at Rs.15 crore per year,” adds Saha.
The state government will also establish an English-medium science college on the premises of the old Central Jail in Agartala as a new jail has been constructed at Bishalgarh, a distance of 16 km from the state capital.
Jharkhand
XLRI’s new international centre
Delivering the 22nd Annual JRD Tata Ethics Oration on Business Ethics organised by the XLRI School of Mana-gement in Jamshedpur on December 7, Union HRD minister Dr. M.M. Pallam Raju expounded on the link between education, business and politics.
During the course of his address, Raju expressed appreciation of XLRI as the first B-school in the country to introduce a core course on managerial ethics and award a medal to the best writer on the subject at the institute’s annual convocation.
“Today, we have over 700 universities and 35,000 colleges in the country with an aggregate enrollment of around 20 million students. But we have to achieve universal access and quality in school education to raise higher education standards,” said Raju who inaugurated XLRI’s new international centre which offers a global management diploma programme in association with Weatherhead School of Management of Case Western University, Cleveland (USA) and the School of Economics and Management of Tongji University, Shanghai.
Jammu & Kashmir
Scholarships rain for higher studies
A total of 3,747 students from Jammu & Kashmir, pursuing higher studies outside the state, will immediately benefit under a special scholarship scheme, said a Union HRD ministry spokes-person addressing media personnel in Delhi on December 12.
The scheme was introduced in 2011 by the Central government to pay the tuition and hostel fees, books and other incidental expenses of students from J&K who secure admission in govern-ment colleges/institutes/universities outside the state. “In 2013-14, 3,747 students will be eligible for scholarships covering their entire expenses for a year,” said the HRD official.
While the number of scholarships awarded to such students in 2011-12 was only 38, it increased to 3,340 in 2012-13. “In all, 5,000 scholarships are available every year, of which 4,500 are for general degree courses, 250 for engineering and 250 for medical studies. To provide all-India exposure to students, the scholarships are limited to five per institute,” added the spokesperson.
Odisha
Sexual harassment cell
The Odisha government announced the establishment of a new state level cell to adjudicate allegations of sexual harassment in educational institutions, including government, non-government aided and self-financing colleges.
According to an official order issued in Bhubaneswar on December 17, Nibedita Jena, director of the Text Books Bureau, has been appointed chair-person of the cell and Nibedita Prusty, deputy secretary in the higher education department, and Debajani Dhal, under secretary in the higher ed department, are members.
After conducting enquiries into allegations of sexual harassment, the cell will recommend suitable action to be taken against perpetrators of gender crimes to the principal secretary of the higher education department, says the official order.