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Raje seeks blueprint for promotion of education in Rajasthan

Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has requested the Knowledge Commission to prepare a blueprint for promotion of education in the State that could be incorporated in the 2008-09 Budget. Ms. Raje also suggested that the education system be made uniform all over the country.

Knowledge Commission’s Chairman Sam Pitroda, accompanied by the Members, visited Jaipur over the weekend to review the progress of education and assess the initiatives taken by the State Government. Mr. Pitroda met Ms. Raje and Education Minister Kalicharan Saraf at the State Secretariat here on Saturday.

Ms. Raje apprised the Commission’s Members of the steps – such as introduction of English from the first standard, strengthening of libraries, employment-oriented education and establishment of Industrial Training Institutes – taken in the State in accordance with the Commission’s recommendations.

Mr. Pitroda suggested that the State Government improve the standard of universities and provide autonomy to the colleges affiliated to them. He said the Knowledge Commission was working for creation of a strong infrastructure for education and restructuring of educational institutions.

Mr. Pitroda said the Commission had explored several areas such as literacy, translation, libraries, language, networking and web portals for strengthening employment-oriented, vocational, higher and distance education. “The allocation for education during the 11th Five Year Plan has been enhanced by five times on the Commission’s recommendation,” he said.

The Commission is making visits to 17 States for formulating a comprehensive action plan to implement various educational programmes and financial provisions during the 11th Plan period. Mr. Pitroda said as many as 57,000 libraries across the country would be strengthened and 500 locations connected with broadband Internet as part of these efforts. Ms. Raje, spelling out the measures taken in the State, said the standard of education had been improved through Rajasthan Education Initiative, scholarship to girls, employment-oriented training and development of libraries. While new private colleges, schools have been opened in large numbers, young students were associated with information technology through e-governance.

Commission’s Member Deepak Nayyar and Educational Consultant S. Raghunathan said Rajasthan, Orissa, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh had been adjudged the States making the best efforts for promotion of education.

The Deputy Chairman of the Rajasthan Livelihood Mission and former Chief Secretary, M.L. Mehta, said the rural and poor youths in the State were being given training for improvement of their skills with the larger objective of human resource development.

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