Share details of how JIO Institute awarded IOE status: Congress
New Delhi, July 10 : In wake of the Reliance Foundation's proposed Jio Institute being named as an 'Institution of Eminence' (IOE), the Congress on Wednesday said any institute seeking such status must establish its credentials by "acknowledged established tests" and sought to know from the government how was this granted.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "This is not person specific, it is not company specific, it is not in any way, we are not bothered about individuals.
"Any institution which is seeking such status, must establish its credentials by various acknowledged established tests. What are those tests? Adequate infrastructure, outstanding faculty, credible research output, a place of prestige in the academia."
"This is the obligation of the government and the HRD (Human Resource Development) ministry and till now apart from a lot of talk, we have not seen great achievements in this regard by the HRD or the government. I think it is counter productive and wrong to focus on an individual or institution X or Y by taking names or otherwise.
"The need of the hour is for the HRD Ministry to look into these four or five established criteria and certainly if you satisfy them in a very objective and proper way, then grant the status," he added.
"But equally to be extremely strong and harsh, if you do not satisfy this criterion, and at the moment we need a proper transparent system where you will share with the nation, how they apply the criteria and how they have done it."
Yet to be established 'JIO Institute' by Reliance Foundation is already in the fray to become an 'Institution of Eminence' under a government scheme which will entitle the tag-holders for special exemptions in aspects of how they operate the institutes.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
