Privatisation of education taking us to Manu’s era
Three aspects have had major impact on the social status of this country post 90s period. Globalisation, liberalization and privatization are the babies connected by the same umbilical cord. Private forces evoked anger about government approach among people and peddled a false notion of ‘all would be well’ with privatization of every segment.
Whether privatization served its purpose or not is a point apart, all the sectors that has an ounce of social outlook in them went into the hands of private players, impact of this was felt by people from the lower strata of the society. Dalits and minority communities are losing job opportunities owing to absence of reservation in private sector.
All other public social service sectors are beyond the reach of the poor and weak classes. Privatisation of education is the biggest menace today. This is showing all signs of taking the poor and the weak back into the times when they had no claims or access to better life and opportunities.
One of the main objectives of post independent India was ‘education for all’. Before the British colonized our country, India did not have uniform education for all. People from lower caste couldn’t even dream of getting education for themselves. Kshatriyas and Brahmins were the only communities entitled for education under Gurukula system.
After the English set their foot, the doors of education opened for all. It turned into a matter of ‘fundamental right’ after independence. But privatization is taking this system back in time where it could be accessed only by some people.
Government schools are being shut for the flimsiest of reasons. Private schools are beyond the affordability of middle and lower class people. The poor cannot even dream of putting their children into private schools. More than 90% of the poor are from lower castes and they are being denied education outright.
Commissions have been set up to implement the policies of uniform education as fundamental right by the central government post-independence. Many programmes have been designed to create awareness regarding education and reduce the rate of illiteracy in rural areas. As a result, even the poorest of the poor could afford to send their children to schools, colleges and good universities. Initially the level of education was very satisfactory. People could afford to access education in government run institutes since it was not an economic burden. Free education was offered to the poor.
Academic staff and students were committed to their duties and obligations with integrity. They tried their best to make the most of opportunity to teach and learn. Government schools produced lakhs of doctors, engineers, higher officers, writers, politicians etc.
Article 021A of the Indian Constitution reiterates the right to education. It is compulsory for children between ages of six and 14 to get education free of cost. This enables children who are poor and deprived of opportunities to access education as a matter of right. Yet, the situation in government schools is at its worst. It has only kept its promise of imparting education, but has turned very non-committal on the quality of education. Private educational institutions are mushrooming while the government ones are crumbling.
Capitalists and industrialists have privatized the education. Though people protest against this growing trend, the rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer. People with high income can and will most certainly send their kids to costly schools.
The poor have massive challenges even accessing two square meals a day. They cannot even dream of affording private education. Government schools cannot impart quality of education but the teachers are getting paid moderately well. Those teachers send their children to private schools for education. Because he knows his kids can have complete education only in private schools.
Our education system needs to transcend the limitations of caste, class, gender, origin and economic status. Private educational institutions need to be controlled and government has to do the role of imparter of education and ensure the education system that comes into existence should be based on equal opportunities for all. Else, the country will go into the hands of high and might who’d have no clue about social justice. Democracy then just turns into a mere myth. Let’s not allow that to happen.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
