Defence Minister Inaugurates Sainik Rest House in New Delhi

Defence Minister Inaugurates Sainik Rest House in New Delhi

 Defence Minister Shri Arun Jaitley inaugurated the Sainik Rest House here on Sunday. It is the 315^th Rest House of the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), which is built at a cost of around ₹ 8 crore. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jaitley expressed hope that this is the beginning of an initiative and the KSB will be able to expand on these in the years to come so that such facilities become an integral part of facilities for Ex-Servicemen.
He praised the Armed Forces for upkeep of the facilities which have been created for such purpose. He further said, “The facilities which have been created are extremely hygienic and very liveable. The Armed Forces have a tradition of maintaining their properties and preserving them well. And I am sure that the kind of modest charges which have been fixed, will be of a great assistance and value to all Ex-Servicemen.”
Booking of the Rest House, located at Naraina tri-junction near Delhi Cantt., would be done online. The new portal of SRH was also launched by the Minister. Developed in-house by the KSB, the portal lists out details, facilities, restrictions for use of the Rest House and would soon provide facility for online payment. 
Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare) Shri Prabhu Dayal Meena, Secretary (KSB) Brig. M H Rizvi, senior officials of Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence were present on the occasion.

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Pvt unaided schools can fix own fees but no capitation fees

Pvt unaided schools can fix own fees but no capitation fees:SC

The Supreme Court has held that private unaided schools in the national capital can fix their

own fee structure, sans capitation fees, and transfer their
surplus funds from one school to another provided they are
under the same management.
 A three-judge bench of Justices S B Sinha, S H Kapadia
and Cyriac Joseph, reiterated their earlier ruling that
private schools can fix their own fee structure subject to the
condition that no capitation fee is charged from the student.
  In other words, the Delhi government would not be an
authority to fix the fees but has the power to examine whether
any capitation fee is charged by the schools.
 The bench passed the judgement while dealing with the
review petitions filed by a bunch of schools challenging the
earlier judgement passed by the apex court in 2004 wherein it
was held that the government had the power to examine the fee
structure.
 The judgement assumes significance as private unaided
schools here had challenged an order passed by the Director of
School Education regulating the fee structure in the schools.
 The apex court said the rules governing the fee
structure in schools should be in conformmity with its earlier
Constitution bench judgements in the T M A Pai and P A Inamdar
cases, where it was held that private unaided educational
institutions have the power to fix their own fee structure,
provided no capitation fees are charged.

Bihar curbs medicine that kills vultures

The Bihar government has decided to check the use of anti-inflammatory Diclofenac medicine in treatment of animals as the drug accumulates in the tissues of carcasses and is leading to the death of vultures.

Bihar Animal Resources and Fisheries Minister Ramanarayan Mandal said Friday: "I was told by experts that vultures suffer from renal failure and die after consuming the Diclofenac accumulated in the tissues of the dead animals. 

"We have directed not to go for veterinary use of Diclofenac to save vultures and to help increase their numbers," Mandal told IANS. 

The minister said that in May 2006 the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had asked all state drug controllers to phase out Diclofenac from the veterinary use within three months.

DCGI issued another circular in 2008 asking all state drug controllers to direct manufacturers of Diclofenac to label it "not for veterinary use".

Despite the notes, rampant use of Diclofenac continued in Bihar. 

Once a common site in the state, vultures have seen a steep decline in numbers in the last decade.

"Vultures are now spotted mainly in Bhagalpur, Supaul, Araria and Khagaria districts," an animal resources department official said.

Mahatma Gandhi's dream schools in Bihar set for revival

After years of neglect, the 391 schools that were set up in Bihar to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi's dream that one day all Indian children will have access to basic education are set to get a new lease of life. 

State Human Resources Development Minister Hari Narain Singh told IANS here Thursday that the government has decided to spend Rs.50 crore to improve the infrastructure of the Buniyadi Vidyalayas (basic schools), about six of which were set up by the father of the nation himself.

The schools were set up to impart basic education to boys and girls in rural areas. They were also meant to provide vocational training in spinning, carpentry, farming and weaving.

The first Buniyadi Vidyalaya was established by the Mahatma in 1939 at Brindavan in Bihar's West Champaran district.

Singh said the government will spend Rs.50 lakh each on 100 basic schools during the current financial year as part of the first phase of the revival plan. In the next two financial years, the government would spend money on the other 291 schools.

"The government will not allow the dream schools of Mahatma Gandhi to die. All the basic schools will be revived in phased manner to provide opportunity to the younger generation to realise the dream of the father of the nation," said Singh.

Official sources said the basic schools or "Mahatma ke school" as they are popularly called in Bihar, are struggling for survival. They suffer from a shortage of teachers and funds. In many case, land meant for the Buniyadi Vidyalayas is in illegal possession of others.

Successive state governments have allowed the schools to languish. Even the central government has not made any attempt to breathe life into them.

A few years ago, the Supreme Court took serious note of the plight of the basic schools in West Champaran district. 

The court had then issued notices to the centre, the state government, the district administration of West Champaran and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to ensure proper functioning of the schools and preservation of the Gandhian heritage.