I-PAC launches forum to set agenda for 2019 polls
Chennai, July 15 : The Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) launched the National Agenda Forum (NAF) which expects to mobilise about one crore citizens to formulate an actionable agenda for citizens to choose their leaders online in the 2019 elections, an official said on Sunday.
The I-PAC official told IANS that the NAF was a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary year. It is a unique citizen-centric initiative to formulate an actionable agenda for next year's general elections.
The NAF is formed to resurrect the conversation around Gandhi's 18-point Constructive Programme for independent India and use it to reimagine and co-create India's priorities to formulate an actionable agenda for the present.
"There are more than 25,000 registered members. We expect to mobilise about one crore citizens. They would formulate an actionable agenda and also choose their leader by voting on the NAF website," the official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the lead by securing about 31 per cent of the votes cast online. He was followed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and DMK Working President M.K.Stalin.
Other leaders listed in the NAF website are CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati.
"There is a provision for a person to choose any other leader besides those listed in the website," the official added. Once the voting results are out on August 15, youth volunteers would meet the chosen leader in September or October.
The agenda would then be taken to the entire nation, before it is adopted as part of the party manifesto in January 2019.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
