Delhi government to start 'Schools of Excellence'
New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said the government will start five "Schools of Excellence" next year in order to provide better quality education.
"These schools will impart education in English language. The admission process for nursery to Class V and, Class IX and XI will be conducted under the neighbourhood criteria next year," Sisoida, who also holds the education portfolio, told the media.
He said the proposal to open these schools was approved in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The schools, to be initially opened in Rohini, Madanpur Khadar, Khichripur, Kalkalji and Dwarka, will start functioning from the coming session in April 2018.
"The vision of the government is to ensure at least one school of this format in each of the 29 zones of Delhi," said Sisodia.
He said the Education Department's proposal for setting up a "world-class" skill centre was also approved at the Cabinet meeting.
"The skill centre will be set up in Jonapur Village in South Delhi district at an estimated cost of around Rs 254 crore with an aim to provide skill development facilities at par with global standards," he said.
The centre will have the departments of Hospitality and Tourism, Retail Merchandising, IT and IT-enabled services, Accounts, Banking and Finance, Food Processing, Logistics, Electronics, Production and Manufacturing, Automobile, and Health and Wellness.
Each department is proposed to have 500 seats for the one-year duration courses. The courses will be added or replaced as per demand from time to time.
Currently, one such centre is functioning at ITI-Vivek Vihar with training courses available in sectors like Hospitality, Retail Services, Software Testing and Finance.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that the government would start the Mission of Excellence in Sports scheme, under which, a sportsperson would be supported for his/her needs related to food and nutrition, sports equipment, sports kits, training and travel, boarding and lodging (within the country and abroad) and medical facilities.
"The quantum of support will be demand-linked but will not exceed Rs 16 lakh per year," he added.
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Karnataka MLCs question limestone mining nod to Adani Group despite legal objections
Bengaluru: Members of the Karnataka Legislative Council from both the treasury and opposition benches raised objections to the Mines and Geology Department’s decision to permit limestone mining by ACC Cement Limited, owned by the Adani Group, despite reservations expressed by the Law Department.
BJP MLC and former minister C T Ravi and Congress MLC K Shivakumar, speaking on behalf of party colleague Arati Krishna, said the department had overlooked the Law Department’s opinion in the matter, as reported by Deccan Herald.
Ravi told the House, on Tuesday that the Law Department had recommended initiating criminal proceedings against the company for allegedly failing to pay royalty amounting to Rs 850 crore to the government. “The Mines and Geology Department has not only failed to initiate action but has also renewed the company’s licence,” he said.
Both Ravi and Shivakumar sought clarity from the Mines and Geology Minister and urged the government to place on record the views of the Finance Department and the Advocate General regarding the issue.
Raising political questions over corporate links, Ravi asked what connection existed between “Ambani, Adani and the party that is always criticising them.”
Responding on behalf of Mines and Geology Minister S S Mallikarjun, Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy assured the House that action would be taken in accordance with the law.
He said the company had approached the court and, in compliance with judicial directions, the government permitted it to continue mining operations under its existing licence. “However, no new licence has been issued,” he clarified.
Addressing concerns over the recovery of pending royalty dues despite court orders, Chaluvarayaswamy said, “Adani is not a God here, and we have no connection with him. Royalty will be recovered as per the law.”
