Press Releases Archive

Surajya photo exhibition on June 24

The Surajaya movement is organizing a photo exhibition on life in rural India at Ravindra Bharati in Hyderabad on June 24.

The movement had conducted a photo contest titled ‘Maa Palle Sithraalu’ for depicting life in villages in April-May. 2013. It was meant to encourage youth to capture the development or the lack of it in villages through their camera lens.

The themes for the contest are: Education, Employment, Health & Medical Facilities, Sanitation & Hygiene, Rural Youth, Rural Women, Government Services- Policies & Programs, Rural Infrastructure and Social Awareness. The photo competition

It may be recalled that the Foundation for Democratic Reforms and the Lok Satta launched the Surajya Movement in August 2012 advocating that youth be at the forefront for attaining ‘Suraaj’ through ethical politics and good governance. Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan is the Convener of the Surajya Movement.

The movement among other things seeks creation of independent and powerful anti-corruption mechanisms and empowerment of local governments for rural development.

A jury comprising Mr. Chandramouli, former Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development, Mr. Sekhar Kammula, movie director, and Mr. K. Srinivasa Reddy, President, Indian Journalist Union, chose the winners in the contest.

Mr. D. Manikya Varaprasada Rao, Minister for Rural Development, will be the chief guest at the function where cash prizes will be given away to winners in the contest. Later the minister will inaugurate the photo exhibition.

Surajya Steering Committee convener Dr.JP and members will take part in the event.

The photo exhibition will be open to public till 7 p.m. from noon, told the Surajya Steering Committee sources in a media statement today.

Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 19:56

Dr.JP to address meeting in Bengaluru

Lok Satta Party’s national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan will be taking part in a public meeting being organized by Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan in Bengaluru on Thursday, June 20.

The Andolan is conducting the meeting as part of its efforts to sensitize public on the need for alternative political culture.

Mr. K. N. Govindacharya, President, Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan, Mr. Arif Md. Khan, former Union Minister and Mr. Jagadish Shettigar are taking part in the meeting to be held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on Race Course Road at 5 p.m.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 17:17

School shutdown will hurt the poor: Lok Satta

The State Government’s decision to close down 3193 Government primary schools which have less than 10 students on their rolls and about 4000 private schools which have not registered themselves because of the norms mandated in the Right to Education Act will deprive education to nearly two lakh children, said State Lok Satta Party Vice President D. V. V. S. Varma here today. Children belonging to poorer sections will go without education because of the absence of a school in the neighborhood or their inability to afford costly schools.

In a media statement, Mr. Varma said the Government decision is thoughtless in that it comes at a time education is in a parlous state.

Quoting Government data, Mr. Varma said there are 3193 Government primary schools with less than 10 students and 5679 schools with less than 20 students, As many as 5774 schools have no teachers at all, 15170 schools have just one teacher and 23146 schools, two teachers. Of them, the Government has decided to shut down schools with less than 10 students this year. Another 5000 schools will face a similar fate next year.

Closure of about 4000 budget schools which charge less than Rs.500 a month as fee, in the name of implementing the Right to Education Act, will badly hit education in the State. What is paradoxical is that a Government which runs schools by employing education volunteers seeks to shut down budget schools by stipulating norms like teachers’ qualifications and salaries and built up area. As a result, there will only be corporate and Government schools hereafter.

Mr. Varma wanted the Government not to shut down any Government or private school for this year and explore alternatives so that the poor do not go without schooling.

Mr. Varma suggested that in areas where the Government cannot run schools, it can enable poor students through direct cash transfer to study in private budget schools. It can stipulate certain standards for such schools, instead of driving poor students to corporate schools, said Mr. Varma.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 16:25

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