Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has stressed upon the need for qualitative education in the state and added that the endeavours of the Government were to ensure it by taking effective steps. He said that the setting up of Education Regulatory Commission was one step in this direction. He said that teachers should also instill moral values in students so that they could face the future challenges boldly as future of the country lies in them.
Presiding over 34th Annual Prize Distribution Function of Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Shimla here today, Chief Minister said that learning should not only confine to class room but we should have wide outlook as it had immense scope as well. He said that teachers should come with innovative ideas and knowledge for the students and added that they should be satisfied themselves what they had finally taught the students. He said that teacher and taught tradition has deep rich tradition and relation which needed to be maintained in real sense.
Prof. Dhumal said that State Government had accorded priority for education and added that Rs. 3164.54 crore was being spent in this vital sector during current financial year which was 19 percent of the total State budgetary provisions and highest in the country. He said that efforts were also afoot to make Himachal Pradesh Educational hub of the country so that youth could get higher technical and professional education nearer to their homes.
He said that literacy rate of the State has rose upto 83.78 percent which was much more than the national average of 74.04 percent which was a matter of pride for us. He said that 20000 posts of teachers of various categories had been filled up in the State and the recruitment process to fill up 5,000 more posts was also continued. He said that special emphasis was also being laid on technical education for providing job oriented education to the youth of the State.
Chief Minister said that State Government was also ensuring that every child in the State goes to school to get education and added that for where various innovative and ambitious schemes were being implemented by the State Government. He said that Government had also decided that free uniform to all students in Government Schools from 1st to 10th class standard would be provided twice in a year in April, May and October, 2012. He said that the scheme to be implemented from the year has been named as ‘Atal School Uniform Scheme’ and entails an expenditure of Rs.60 crore annually on the State exchequer and added that the similarity of uniform would abridge the gap between the children and install a feeling of confidence amongst the students of poor families. He said that old and existing school uniform would continue till new prepared and provided to the students.
Chief Minister also congratulated the RKMV for getting ‘Utkrisht Samaan’ by UGC and added that the institute would maintain the honour in future also and State Government would give all support to the college for the purpose. He also released a book ‘Tourism in India-Challenges and Opportunities’ authored by Dr. Ruchi Ramesh, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology. He said that tourism would be highlighted through this book which would immensely benefit the scholars, researchers and students as well. H.P. has emerged as best tourism destination has been explained intensively in the book.
Chief Minister also gave away prizes to the meritorious students for academic and extra-curricular activities on the occasion. Chief Minister was also honoured with Shawl and Memento.
Speaking on the occasion, Suresh Bhardwaj, local MLA said that Government has accorded priority for education in the State and added that 19 percent of the total State budget was being spent on this vital sector during current financial year in the State. He said that State Government has also announced new free school uniform to the students of Government schools from 1st to 10th standard. A cultural programme by the college students was also presented on the occasion.
Earlier, Chief Minister inaugurated Rani Laxmi Bai Conference Hall constructed at a cost of Rs. 9 lakh on the occasion. Earlier, Prof. Naresh Mahajan, Princiapal of the College read out the annual report of the college for session 2011-12 and detailed out the activities undertaken during 2011-12 by the college.
Veena Thakur, Chairperson, Social Welfare Board, Dhaneshwari Thakur, Chairperson, State Women Commission, Ganesh Dutt, Vice-Chairman HIMUDA, Kamla Chhabra, President, PTA Association, Dr. O.P. Sharma, Director, Education, Onkar Sharma, Deputy Commisioner, Sonal Agnihotri, S.P., District Officers, staff and students of RKMV were also present at the occasion.
