Seeking luxury where necessities are rare
Karnataka suddenly finds itself in the midst of a heated debate around the issue of wearing uniforms in educational institutions. The government speaks as if the biggest problem of the education system is some students not adhering to the uniform norms. The education system is in disarray only because of this. Once a standard uniform is implemented in schools, all problems in government schools will be resolved. Schools that don’t have buildings or teachers will automatically get reenergized, and so goes the government’s arguments. As though the quality of government schools will improve once and for all with uniforms, the government has issued an order making uniforms compulsory. Instead of focusing attention on the pathetic condition of government schools in the past two years or the extent of learning that is taking place in schools during the pandemic and getting reports about these important aspects, the government is trying to inflict fresh wounds on the government school system on the pretext of making uniforms compulsory.
For many parents, it has been a relief that schools have reopened after the prolonged closure on account of the pandemic. The lock-down has played havoc with the livelihoods of several families that are struggling to pay for their children’s education. Some of them cannot even send their wards to school as they need them back at home to work and supplement the meagre family income. Children from poorer families simply could not afford accessing online classes during the pandemic. Studies show that it might require a huge drive to bring back thousands of students who might not even return to the school following the pandemic. The priority of any right-thinking government at this stage is to bring back a semblance of normalcy to the education system. The primary concern should have been to bring students back to school. But, in some government schools, especially in coastal taluks of Udupi and Kundapur, efforts have been on to prevent several girl students from even entering their schools on the pretext of the uniforms. What is more surprising is the tacit support or total silence of the educated segments of society towards this unconstitutional action.
These are not military schools to make the uniform compulsory. The country has millions who are deprived of necessities such as food and health. Government schools exist to cater to these segments and not to organize drill by students in uniform. The government order making the uniform compulsory is like insisting on luxury when the people struggle to make both ends meet. Rights organizations across the world have been watching all these developments in Karnataka. In pre-Independent India, education had been denied to many on the grounds of gender and caste. This discrimination is being re-introduced in Karnataka in another form. It is a slur on the image of Karnataka, which boasts of revolutionary humanists like Basavanna, that girls are denied entry into their schools and are made to study on the road.
What is even more surprising is that in this entire episode the victims have been made the accused and those who planned the plot have been allowed to become arbitrators. This reminds one of what happened during Delhi communal riots when more than 40 Muslims were killed first and then several Muslims were arrested on the charge of conspiracy for rioting. In Dadri, similarly, an elder Muslim man was lynched accusing him of storing beef at home, but the media attention was on finding beef at his house instead of on lynching. About the uniform controversy in Karnataka, the real issue should have been the denial of education to Muslim girls, but the debate is on about whether Muslim girls could go to school wearing scarf or not. The government should have acted against the Principal who shut the school to bar scarf-wearing students from entering the school premises but instead it transferred the director of pre-university education who had stated that there existed no government order which made wearing uniform compulsory. Strangely, thinkers and writers of the land are debating the nuances of religious practices. Feminists are engaged in discourses on the liberation of women.
This is like the infamous episode in Mahabharata when the elders of the clan were engaged in debating on how scriptures viewed acts of violation when Draupadi was actually being disrobed. What government schools need now are teachers and infrastructure. What the government should do at this stage is to put the education system that has been in a disarray following the repeated waves of the pandemic back on the rails. The government should also act to save Kannada medium schools which are closing one by one as they cannot face competition from English medium schools. The education minister B.C.Nagesh has been thoroughly exposed as he has failed to act on all these fronts. He should realize that he cannot cover up his failures by playing up the question of the uniform.
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Russian President Putin says India, Russia collaboration not directed against anyone
New Delhi (PTI): The India-Russia collaboration is not directed against any country and it is solely aimed at safeguarding the national interests of the two sides, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said against the backdrop of Washington's aggressive approach towards New Delhi and Moscow.
In the context of India's energy ties with Russia, Putin said certain "actors" dislike New Delhi's growing role in international markets in view of its close relations with Moscow and these elements are aiming to constrain India's influence for political reasons by imposing "artificial obstacles".
In an interview to India Today news channel that was released on Thursday evening, the Russian president, referring to Western sanctions against Moscow, said his country's energy cooperation with New Delhi largely "remains unaffected".
Putin landed in New Delhi this evening on a two-day visit to hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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His trip comes at a time India-US relations are going through possibly the worst phase in the last two decades after Washington imposed a whopping 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, including 25 per cent levies for New Delhi's procurement of Russian crude oil.
"Neither me nor Prime Minister Modi, despite certain external pressure we face, have never approached our collaboration to work against someone," the Russian president said in response to a question on Washington's aggressive approach.
"President Trump has his own agenda, his own goals, whereas we focus on ours -- not against anyone, but rather aimed at safeguarding our respective interests, India's and Russia's interests," he said.
Rejecting Washington's objection to India procuring crude oil from Russia, Putin said if the US has the right to buy Russian fuel, why "shouldn't India have the same privilege".
"As for India's purchase of energy resources from Russia, I would like to note and have already mentioned this once, the US itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants," Putin said.
The Russian president also responded to a question on India lowering procurement of crude oil from Russia in view of Western sanctions on Moscow.
ALSO READ: Russian president Putin arrives in Delhi on 2-day visit
"Well, there is a certain decline in overall trade turnover during the first nine months of this year. This is just a minor adjustment. Overall, our trade turnover stands almost at the same level as before," he said.
"I can't give you exact monthly figures right now, but trade in petroleum products and crude oil, as well as the production of petroleum products for consumers of oil, Russian oil, is running smoothly in India," he said.
Putin also said that India cannot be treated the way it was several decades back.
"Prime Minister Modi is not someone who succumbs to pressure easily. The Indian people can certainly take pride in their leader. This is absolutely obvious," he said.
"His stance is unwavering and straightforward, without being confrontational. Our goal is not to provoke conflict; rather, we aim to protect our lawful rights. India does the same," he said.
On the Ukraine conflict, Putin said he believed the US is actively seeking a solution to this problem. "I am absolutely certain, with no doubt at all, he (Trump) sincerely aims for a peaceful resolution."
Putin said Trump genuinely wants to end the hostilities and prevent further loss of lives. "But there could also be political interests tied to ending the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, or economic motives too."
On bilateral trade, Putin said over 90 per cent of "our transactions are already conducted in national currencies".
"While some complications arise due to the presence of numerous intermediaries, there are also solutions," he said.
The Russian president also complimented PM Modi's leadership.
"Our collaborative endeavours with Prime Minister Modi carry significant weight because they transcend our mutual ties," he said.
"Given its direct relevance to both nations, ensuring stability in key areas of engagement is crucial, as it helps secure the fulfilment of our objectives. Prime Minister Modi sets very challenging tasks for the country --and for himself in the first place, then for the administration, and eventually for the nation," he said.
The Russian president did not give a direct reply to a question on if India was looking at procuring additional batches of S-400 missile systems.
"India stands out as one of our reliable and privileged partners in this area. We are not merely selling something to India and India isn't merely buying something from us in the sphere of defence and security.
"It is a different level, a different quality of relations we have with India, and we value this. We see how India values this relationship too," he said.
Putin said Russia is not simply selling defence technology to India but it is sharing it with the country.
"It is a very rare thing to see in the sphere of military-technical cooperation. It speaks to the level of trust between the two countries and the level of trust between the two peoples.
"We have a broad portfolio indeed, including naval construction, rocket and missile engineering, and aircraft engineering," he added.
