President Ram Nath Kovind nominates 4 to Rajya Sabha
New Delhi, July 14 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday nominated four eminent people, including noted classical dancer Sonal Mansingh and sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra, to the Rajya Sabha.
The nominations which came four days ahead of the commencement of the monsoon session of Parliament also include three-time MP Ram Shakal and author Rakesh Sinha, an official release said.
Mansingh is among India's foremost exponents of the Bharatnatyam and Odissi dance forms. She is also a well-known choreographer, teacher, orator and social activist.
Mohapatra is an internationally renowned authority on stone carving. He has contributed to the preservation of traditional sculpture and ancient monuments, and has worked on the beautification of the Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri.
His famous works include a six feet high statue of the Sun God carved in grey sandstone in the Central Hall of Parliament; and the Wooden Buddha, Buddha Temple, Paris.
Shakal, a three-time MP and farmer leader from Uttar Pradesh, is widely respected for championing the cause of labourers, migrants and the Dalit community.
While Sinha is a widely read author and the Founder and Director of the Delhi-based think-tank India Policy Foundation. He is also currently a member of the Indian Council of Social Science Research.
The opposition is expected to press for early elections to the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman during the monsoon session as the post fell vacant after retirement of P.J. Kurien on July 1.
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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.
