Anna in J’khand syllabus?
Social activist Anna Hazare’s life and his years of campaign against corruption, including the current one, are likely to be included in the school textbooks of Jharkhand, according to the state’s education minister.
Baijnath Ram, minister for education in Jharkhand’s BJP-JMM coalition government, said a proposal to include the socio-political movements led by Anna Hazare would be discussed in the state cabinet for inclusion of a chapter in the textbooks published by the state school board.
“We are planning to include the Anna movement in school textbooks. We will first discuss the issue with chief minister Arjun Munda,” said Ram. “When the movements such as those by Vinoba Bhave and the anti-British national movement could be included in school syllabus, why can’t the Anna movement?” he said. Mr Munda, who has described Mr Hazare’s arrest as “murder of democracy,” is said to be willing to accept the education minister’s proposal.
The move, seen in Jharkhand’s political circles as an implicit step to deepen anti-Congressism, could be okayed by the state cabinet in its next meeting, said government sources.
On Saturday, many parts of Bihar and Jharkhand saw a continued eruption of public support for Mr Hazare’s raging movement for a strong Lokpal Bill. A major part of the demonstrators were school and college students in both the states.
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Lokpal to have a ‘green’ focus
age correspondent
new delhi, aug. 20
Team Anna’s key strategist, lawyer Prashant Bhushan, believes their proposed Jan Lokpal Bill will come down heavily on environmental degradation.
“Once the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed, the days when over 200 MoUs were passed overnight in the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa will come to an end. Contracts and leases will necessarily be given out in a more transparent manner. Unfortunately this has not been the case in the past,” said Mr Bhushan.
“Every contract can be investigated by the Lokpal and that will serve as a deterrent,” he added.
Mr Bhushan has fought a long list of environmental cases. He began his career trying to save the Doon Valley at a time when limestone quarrying was hurting the environment.
He then did the Bhopal gas tragedy litigation and the Narmada case as well.
“During the second phase of our agitation, Anna will take up the issues of tribals and the rights of gram sabhas,” he said.
Mr Bhushan denied there were any Track 2 talks being currently conducted with the government.
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