Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 20 2010:
Education Minister L Jayantakumar today formally launched the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), a Centrally sponsored scheme that envisages to provide free secondary education to students in the age group of 14 to 18 years.
The scheme has been launched for the first time in Manipur today after it its successful implementation in some States of the country.
The scheme was launched for the first time in India in 2007 .
Speaking at the launch of the scheme in the conference of Classic Hotel here today, the Education Minister appealed to all concerned not to give any sort of interference in the implementation of the scheme as well as in the utilisation of fund sanctioned for the purpose of education in the State.
Besides the Education Minister who attended the function as chief guest, Commissioner of Education PK Singh and Director of Education M Harekrishna were also present at the occasion as guest of honour and functional president respectively.
Along with announcing launch of the scheme in Manipur, the chief guest also released a film, leaflet and poster related to the scheme.
Addressing the function, the Minister further observed that education is the backbone of a society and no society can hope to develop and peace without education.
So, it should be the responsibility of all to ensure development of education in Manipur.
Expressing serious concern over undue pressure being given on the efforts of the Government to ensure quality of the education imparted to the students, the Minister said such undue pressures do not augur well for the future of the society.
In his address chief guest of the function, Education Commissioner PK Singh sought the co-operation and support of every section of the society in ensuring successful implementation of the scheme.
In his presidential address, Education Director M Harekrishna explained that for the implementation of the scheme which envisages to provide free education to students of class VII to X in the secondary level, 224 schools would be identified.
These schools are supposed to be located within a distance of around 50 km each from each other and all the infrastructural requirements would be taken
care of.
BSNL strike called off: The Nation-wide indefinite strike launched under the banner of Joint Action Committee of BSNL Unions and Assns urging for settlement of genuine demands raised by BSNLEU has been called off following an agreement between the striking JAC and the Minister of Communications in New Delhi today.