From: bcsabha.kal...@gmail.com To: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=After-TOI-report-govt-scales-down-Xmas-day-16122014001046
Dec 16 2014 : The Times of India (Mumbai)After TOI report, govt scales down Xmas day plans, schools to stay shutAbhishek ChoudhariNagpur:The Union human resource ministry on Monday whittled down activities planned for Navodaya Vidyalayas as well as other CBSE schools on December 25 to just a “voluntary online essay competition“, casting aside the planned declamation contest, quiz contest and film screenings in Navodaya schools--activities that would have required these schools to be open.The change of plan seems to have been triggered by the TOI report on a circular issued by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti on December 10, asking Navodaya schools to hold a series of activities on Christmas Day , which the Samiti said would be observed as `good governance day' to mark the birthday birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya. The Samiti comes under the HRD ministry .The report led to opposition MPs protesting against the move in Parliament. In the Rajya Sabha, finance minister Arun Jaitley denied the report by maintaining that the only school activity planned on Christmas was a voluntary online essay competition. In the Lok Sabha, parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu said the same, and asserted that all schools would be shut for Christmas.However, by afternoon, the circular issued by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti on December 10--the document which alerted TOI about the move--was out on the net. The circular issued by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti on December 10 clearly established that it had been planning a raft of activities on Christmas, ma king it apparent that it was on ly an afterthought to limit activities to an online es say competition. The Samiti had also sought a compliance report from the schools, showing that observ ance of `Good Governance Day' with activities wasn't ex actly voluntary . G S Bothyal, commissioner of the Samiti, who had issued the December 10 circular, sent out a comm. unication to deputy commiss ioners late on Monday evening which said, “Since CBSE has not yet issued any circular so far regarding the activities to be undertaken on December 25, you are requested to await the issuance of the (same) before taking any further action.“ A statement issued by the HRD ministry said, “This is to clarify that CBSE has not directed any schools to remain open on December 25. All schools will follow their vacation schedule including holiday on December 25 as specifically clarified by CBSE.“Naidu said in his statement that Navodaya schools were residential schools, and some of them don't have winter breaks. In such schools, while there will be no classes, students “will have the opportunity to participate, if they so wish, in the essay competition“. When the principal of a Navodaya school was asked if there was a fresh circular from the HRD ministry , he said the school would do as has been stated in Parliament. Maha rashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis declared in the assembly that schools in the state would remain closed on December 25.“I spoke to human resources minister Smriti Irani over the matter and she clarified that there was no need to keep schools open for the competition as the entries would have to be submitted online,“ he said. In Parliament, Congress MP from Kerala K C Venugopal raised the issue during Zero Hour while questioning the Samiti's circular and wanting to know why schools have been asked to conduct activities on Christmas Day .In the Rajya Sabha, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury disputed Jaitley's claim that only an online essay competition has been planned for Christmas, and said the plans were much more than that. Venugopal told TOI, “Why are they silent on the Navodaya circular and completely denying it? Does this mean that Navodaya commissioner G S Bothyal announced activities for December 25 on his own without taking his ministry into consideration? Congress party is meeting on Tuesday morning and this will be one of the issues discussed. We shall certainly follow it up till things are crystal clear on whose plan it was to have these activities at Navodaya on Christmas Day .“The HRD press note on Monday doesn't mention the December 10 circular at all.When TOI tried to get in touch with Bothyal, who issued the circular, on Monday , his office said he had gone to the ministry and was expected back by 4.30pm. Repeated calls after that went unanswered.======http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=No-school-on-Christmas-Day-TOI-is-not-16122014012072 Dec 16 2014 : The Times of India (Mumbai)No school on Christmas Day? TOI is not the one who is `misleading'Abhishek ChoudhariNagpurHow Can Declamation Contest Be Held Online?Referring to a TOI report that drew attention to a circular issued by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to its schools urging them to conduct certain activities on December 25, thus raising questions as to whether December 25 would be a holiday for Christmas, the Union HRD minister Smriti Irani denied on Monday that schools have been asked to stay open. The minister focused on only one of the activities listed by HRD ministry for CBSE schools -an essay competition -and said the competition would be online and participation in it was voluntary .Irani tweeted that “all schools closed for Xmas, essay competition only online“. She also said that the TOI report was deliberately misleading.The TOI report did not say , as the minister is claiming, that schools have been told to remain open on December 25. It reported that, as part of the birthdaybirth anniversary celebrations of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya on that day , HRD ministry wants schools to observe the day as `Good Governance Day' and has set down specific activities for the children in 589 Navodaya Vidyalaya across the country .According to a circular sent out on December 10--which is in TOI's possession and is being carried along with this report, and which clearly establishes in the letterhead that the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti is under the HRD ministry--NVS commissioner G S Bothyal has listed the following activities for Navodaya Vidyalayas: Declamation contest on topics related to good governance Quiz competition Screening of documentaries and films on best practices in good governance. Organization of various activities through child cabinets in the schools Innovative programmes pertaining to problem solving relating to day-to-day functioning of the school. As declamation contests, quiz competitions, film screenings or “activities through child cabinets in the school“ are not possible without students coming to school, TOI concluded that Navodaya schoolchildren would not have their customary December 25 Christmas holiday. (The Chambers Dictionary defines `declamation' as “a rhetorical speech“, “a set speech in public“ “display in speaking in public“. All of this requires physical presence; it cannot be done online.) TOI stands by its report. ========http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=HRD-mum-on-Navodaya-circular-16122014012086 Dec 16 2014 : The Times of India (Mumbai)HRD `mum' on Navodaya circularThe Union human resource ministry on Monday whittled down activities planned for Navodaya Vidyalayas as well as other CBSE schools on December 25 to just a “voluntary online essay competition“, casting aside the planned declamation contest, quiz contest and film screenings in Navodaya schools--activities that would have required these schools to be open.The change of plan seems to have been triggered by the TOI report on a circular issued by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti on December 10, asking Navodaya schools to hold a series of activities on Christmas Day , which the Samiti said would be observed as `good governance day' to mark the birthday birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya. The Samiti comes under the HRD ministry .The report led to opposition MPs protesting against the move in Parliament. In the Rajya Sabha, finance minister Arun Jaitley denied the report by maintaining that the only school activity planned on Christmas was a voluntary online essay competition. In the Lok Sabha, parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu said the same, and asserted that all schools would be shut for Christmas.However, by afternoon, the circular issued by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti on December 10--the document which alerted TOI about the move--was out on the net. The circular issued by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti on December 10 clearly established that it had been planning a raft of activities on Christmas, ma king it apparent that it was on ly an afterthought to limit activities to an online es say competition. The Samiti had also sought a compliance report from the schools, showing that observ ance of `Good Governance Day' with activities wasn't ex actly voluntary . G S Bothyal, commissioner of the Samiti, who had issued the December 10 circular, sent out a comm. unication to deputy commiss ioners late on Monday evening which said, “Since CBSE has not yet issued any circular so far regarding the activities to be undertaken on December 25, you are requested to await the issuance of the (same) before taking any further action.“ A statement issued by the HRD ministry said, “This is to clarify that CBSE has not directed any schools to remain open on December 25. All schools will follow their vacation schedule including holiday on December 25 as specifically clarified by CBSE.“Naidu said in his statement that Navodaya schools were residential schools, and some of them don't have winter breaks. In such schools, while there will be no classes, students “will have the opportunity to participate, if they so wish, in the essay competition“. When the principal of a Navodaya school was asked if there was a fresh circular from the HRD ministry , he said the school would do as has been stated in Parliament. Maha rashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis declared in the assembly that schools in the state would remain closed on December 25.“I spoke to human resources minister Smriti Irani over the matter and she clarified that there was no need to keep schools open for the competition as the entries would have to be submitted online,“ he said. In Parliament, Congress MP from Kerala K C Venugopal raised the issue during Zero Hour while questioning the Samiti's circular and wanting to know why schools have been asked to conduct activities on Christmas Day .In the Rajya Sabha, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury disputed Jaitley's claim that only an online essay competition has been planned for Christmas, and said the plans were much more than that. Venugopal told TOI, “Why are they silent on the Navodaya circular and completely denying it? Does this mean that Navodaya commissioner G S Bothyal announced activities for December 25 on his own without taking his ministry into consideration? Congress party is meeting on Tuesday morning and this will be one of the issues discussed. We shall certainly follow it up till things are crystal clear on whose plan it was to have these activities at Navodaya on Christmas Day .“The HRD press note on Monday doesn't mention the December 10 circular at all.When TOI tried to get in touch with Bothyal, who issued the circular, on Monday , his office said he had gone to the ministry and was expected back by 4.30pm. Repeated calls after that went unanswered.========http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Oppn-forces-govt-to-issue-clarification-over-notice-16122014012092 Dec 16 2014 : The Times of India (Mumbai)Oppn forces govt to issue clarification over noticeNew DelhiTIMES NEWS NETWORKThe opposition in Rajya Sabha cornered the Narendra Modi government on Monday citing a TOI report on government asking schools to remain open on Christmas Day to mark `Good Governance Day', forcing the Centre to issue a clarification later.CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said, “Today we read in a newspaper that on Christmas Day there will be a competition on good governance and there is a notice to all schools to remain open.“ This led finance minister and leader of the House Arun Jaitley to ask: “Are you authenticating as true, the report appearing in the newspapers?“ He added that the report is “factually false“. “The HRD minister just told me that there is no instruction. No school is functioning on Christmas Day . There is only an online essay competition which is on,“ Jaitley said. But Yechury continued: “On Gandhi Jayanti, you had a programme called Swachh Bharat; on Christmas Day , you want a programme on good governance. Then there is this campaign on religious conversions... All this is a whole package that we think is very dangerous to constitutional guarantees that have been given.“ Later in the day , the government told LS there is no CBSE circular asking schools to stay open on December 25 for `Good Governance Day' and an online essay competition to mark the day is voluntary , referring to news reports about such a circular.Parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu said HRD minister Smriti Irani and the HRD secretary had told him there was no CBSE circular asking schools to stay open on Christmas Day . He said Navodaya schools are already on Christmas break. Residential school students could choose to particpate in the contest, or not. ======== http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Mark-good-governance-day-on-Xmas-govt-tells-15122014001015 Dec 15 2014 : The Times of India (Mumbai)Mark `good governance day' on X'mas, govt tells schoolsAbhishek ChoudhariNagpur:To Celebrate Atal, Malviya BirthdaysIf the Union government has its way , CBSE schools may have to remain open this Christmas.The Union human resource development ministry wants to celebrate the birthdays of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Hindu Mahasabha leader Madan Mohan Malviya by observing `good governance day' on December 25. The BJP government wants CBSE to carry out various activities, like an ess ay competition, so that students' participation increases. Although CBSE has not communicated this to its affiliated schools yet, the Union government-run Navodaya Vidyalays have issued a circular to their schools. The Navodaya schools operate in rural areas on the lines of Kendriya Vidyalayas, and are affiliated to CBSE. The Navodaya circular says CBSE will be organizing an essay competition on December 24 and 25, the topics for which will be declared on December 23. The essay competition wi ll be held separately for standards I-V , VI-VIII and IX-X. Navodaya commissioner G S Bothyal has asked schools to conduct quiz competitions, screen documentaries on best practices in good governance and other related activities on Christmas. While there won't be a Christmas holiday for Navodaya schools, the central board hasn't given any direction to private CBSE schools yet. It is also not clear whether staying open on Christmas will be mandatory for such institutions.A senior CBSE official told TOI that asking schools to remain open on Christmas Day would be tricky , especially if they are Christian schools. Ihave been told about De cember 24 and that is still being worked out. Schools have not been informed yet,“ the official added. Adhering to the ministry's plan would throw the schools' vacation schedule off course. Most CBSE schools in the country start their winter vacations from either December 23 or 24. CBSE is expected to make an announcement on the matter soon. Another senior CBSE official said conducting just the essay competition might not require schools to remain open. “As the format of our `expression series' gives the option of submitting essays online, this vacation issue can be resolved. But if something more, like onground activities, has to be done then it is going to be a problem,“ he said. A school principal from Nagpur expressed concern that the HRD ministry's plan would be unfair to students belonging to the Christian community . “The day has religious importance which will be inconvenient for Christian staff and students,“ said the principal. Some other principals said the contest was wrongly timed. “The schools will close for Christmas vacation from December 24 or earlier.The students will be busy with their plans for the vacation and participation may be very low. The government could celebrate the day on December 25 but contests for the schools should have been scheduled earlier to avoid a clash with the festival and vacation,“ said a CBSE school principal, on condition of anonymity . It also discriminated against a minority community since December 25 was the most important day of the year for Christians in India and across the world, he added. Schools will be able to submit their best performances both online and offline.Best 36 entries will be awarded Rs 2,500 and a certificate. =========== Minister slams report of no Christmas holiday in schoolsModi had earlier this month told his party the BJP's law-makers that day would be celebrated as "Good Governance Day" to honor Vajpayee.Posted on December 15, 2014, 5:09 PM New Delhi: Human resource development minister Smriti Irani has denied a newspaper report that CBSE-affiliated schools might have to remain open on Christmas Day. The Times of India today reported the union human resource development ministry's plans to celebrate the birthday of formerPrime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as 'good governance day' on Dec. 25 could include getting the students to school to participate in the essay competition and other activities. "Deliberate mischief by your reporter on the front page today. All schools closed for Christmas, essay competition only online," the minister tweeted to the newspaper's handle this morning. Ms Irani is part of a committee of top BJP leaders formed to plan a tribute on Dec. 25 to Vajpayee, one of India's most respected statesmen, who will turn 90 this year on Christmas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier this month told his party the BJP's law-makers that day would be celebrated as "Good Governance Day" to honor Vajpayee. The PM said all law-makers must on Dec. 25 lead efforts to remove litter in their constituencies as part of the Clean India mission that he launched on Independence Day. Modi said he will be in his constituency, Varanasi, to lead by example. Source: NDTV========Delhi archbishop concerned over controversies surrounding ChristmasThe archbishop also strongly condemned the conversion drive planned by the Hindu groups on Christmas Day.Posted on December 15, 2014, 5:31 PM New Delhi: Delhi Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto today expressed concern at reports of different controversies surrounding Christmas, includingfederal government’s plan to open CBSE-affiliated schools on the day. “Christmas Day is a day to celebrate and pray for peace and harmony in the country and world at large,” the archbishop said in a statement. A national daily today reported that the government plans to mark Christmas as ‘Good Governance Day’ and organize essay competitions and similar events in schools for students on the day. However, human resource development minister Smriti Irani denied any such move by the government, saying that all schools will be closed on Christmas. The archbishop also strongly condemned the conversion drive planned by the Hindu groups on Christmas Day. Reports have been doing the round of right-wing groups are planning conversion of 5,000 Muslims and Christians on Christmas in Aligarh. “It is a violation of Constitutional rights and guarantees to citizens of India such as the freedom of faith and the freedom of movement, expression and association,” he said in a statement. It is nothing but hate campaign against the Christian community and the Christian faith, the archbishop said. He called for an immediate end to such malicious hate campaigns and intervention of both the state and central governments in the matter. The community reserves its right to take legal action and approach the courts for stopping these conversion drives and hate campaigns as they violate the fundamental rights of every citizen of this country as enshrined in the Constitution of India, the statement said. Source: Press Release Press Statement by the Delhi Archbishop over controversy regarding Christmas dayCOMMUNICATION / INFORMATION BUREAU DELHI CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE 9-10, BHAI VEER SINGH MARG NEW DELHI-110001PRESS RELEASE DELHI ARCHBISHOP DEEPLY CONCERNED AND EXPRESSES HIS ANGUISH OVER GROWING CONTROVERSIES REGARDING CHRISTMAS DAY NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 15, 2014 Delhi Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto has expressed his deep concern and anguish at reports of asking CBSE affiliated schools to organize events and competitions on Christmas Day as to mark it as ‘Good Governance Day’ and the surrounding controversies on the same. The Archbishop also strongly condemns the conversion drives planned by the Hindu groups on Christmas Day and said “it is a violation of Constitutional rights and guarantees to citizens of India such as the Freedom of Faith and the freedom of movement, expression and association”. Dharam Jagran Samiti plans to convert 5000 Christians into Hinduism on Christmas Day. This move by the above group who are now greatly encouraged, is a grave assault on the fundamental rights of individuals. It is nothing but hate campaign against the Christian community and the Christian faith, the Archbishop said. In the past, large scale violence against the Christian community had been preceded by such hate campaigns. “Christmas Day is a day to celebrate and pray for peace and harmony in the country and world at large”, the Archbishop said. Archbishop Anil Couto called for an immediate end to such malicious hate campaigns and intervention of both the State and Central government in the matter. The community reserves its right to take legal action and approach the courts for stopping these conversion drives and hate campaigns as they violate the fundamental rights of every citizen of this country as enshrined in the Constitution of India. Issued By: Fr. Savarimuthu Sankar Spokesperson Delhi Catholic Archdiocese frsan...@gmail.com 9968006616/9717906441
