Indian Political Parties: How much serious about Primary Education

Education is the most powerful tool to strengthen a nation, though it does not reflect like GDP or Per- Capita Income. It is needed to strengthen the democracy, the economy. How education will strengthen the democracy or the economy?  Well educated people can participate in the democracy in a better way. Similarly, if we have a educated and skilled work force the economic growth will be stipulated.

For achieve it the basic requirement is the primary education. Primary education, which is a foundation stone to all kind of education, we need to address it properly. Now let us have a glace to the Political Parties Manifesto and how they are addressing the Primary education. Here I am comparing three parties manifesto INC, BJP and AAP. The only reason behind selecting these three parties is  availability of the manifestos.

	Indian National Congress
1	The Indian National Congress will strengthen the implementation of the Right to Education Act to ensure quality learning outcomes, adequate infrastructure and facilities in schools, regular teacher training and an optimal Pupil Teacher Ratio. We will also ensure quality in teacher training by making suitable investments and amendments to regulations, wherever required.
2	We will enhance focus and resources on the implementation of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, to improve quality of secondary education. We will achieve near universal enrolment in secondary education.
3	The Indian National Congress will place a special emphasis on reducing the drop-out rate particularly in middle and secondary levels.
4	We will establish an independent regulatory mechanism to oversee State and private institutions to ensure standardisation and quality of education.
5	We will support regional and context specific curricula as well focus on developing life skills including leadership building.
6	We are committed to the cause of special education. We will strengthen facilities for children with special needs and disabilities. We will also award priority to developing infrastructure for differently- abled persons.

AAP
1.       State provision of Equitable access to high quality education for all children (beginning with Early Child Care) irrespective to their ability to pay. Strengthening of public education system through adequaet budgetary allocation and recruitment and capacity building of the teachers and administrators.
2.       Special provision for girls, first generation learners, students from poor families and socially disadvantaged communities so as to ensure total enrollment,check drop outs, high quality learning and nondiscrimination with in school and access to higher education facilities.
3.       Involvement of local community in the creation of a contexed-rooted curricullum and management of schools, accountability of school/teacher to a local body like gram sabha or Mohalla sabha.
4.       Context relevant curriculum that is grounded both in the ethos of democracy, Secularism, equity and justice as well as India's diverse cultures and way of life.
5.       Focus of education system on learning outcomes and not on inputs. Reform DIET, SCERT to focus on learning outcomes. Revamp teachers education system.
6.       Adequet number of teachers to appoint on a regular basis through a transperant selection process, to be compensate adequately, continuously trained and to make accountable.

BJP
1.       NDA's flagship program "Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan': Mechanism would be set up for its performance audit and to have real time information about its performance. Programme shall be strengthened and expanded with a goal to remove illiteracy.
2.       The content and process of school education shall be thoroughly reviewed to make it dynamic, stress free, attractive and responsive to the emerging national needs.
3.       Girls shall be provided all possible help to continue and complete school education.
4.       The digital divide shall not be allowed to create further division in the learning situations of children.
5.       On priority, a national modernization programme for madrasa's would be started.
6.       Special Pedagogy would be developed for differently- abled students.
7.       Mid-day meal scheme would be revitalized in terms of management and delivery.
8.       We will explore ways to reduce the daily burden of carrying books to school for children, which would also entail use of technology for education as a mission mode project.
9.       Establish a national E- Library to empower school teachers and students.

It seems that BJP is emphasizing in getting in to power but they still trying to repack the old wine in a new bottle. They are still banging on Mid day meal, SSA etc . BJP is talking about high tech library facility, but before that they need to address some issues like increasing PTR ratio etc.

 In that comparison INC being the vital player of UPA2 has given little emphasis on quality education and PTR ratio and proper implementation of RTE. It is known to all that RTE has been came into force but we need proper implementation of it at all level. It seems that INC is mostly concern about secondary education and higher education. They are proposing the create a independent regulatory to oversee the state and private education system which can ensure a quality education.

AAP is a new political party. But they are talking about SWARAJ and clean administration and a strong Lok Pal. To attain all these issue we need a aware and politically educate citizen, so let us see how they are addressing the issue of primary education.  The first point which is parting education is a main responsibility of the state is known to all of us but  how they will make a difference? AAP says that Special provision for girls, first generation learners, students from poor families and socially disadvantaged communities so as to ensure total enrollment, check drop outs, high quality learning and nondiscrimination with in school and access to higher education facilities. This point is much clear than other Parties Manifestos, but again it is not very easy! AAP is saying about involvement of local community to develop relevant text, is it possible in country like India where there is so much of varieties, and what about the required resource persons! APP is talking about shifting the focus of education system towards output rather than input, which is much clear and also desired at this point of time.

Pig Farming Opportunity In Assam

Assam is a major state in North East India, known for its scenic beauty, wide spread tea  gardens, cultural diversity and bio diversity. Assam is home to more than 34 million people. According to 2001 census report 557700 people are under poverty line and 545000 people live in rural area (Poverty statistics source: Government of India Planning Commission 2007, Poverty estimates 2004-2005.)

It has been noticed through the years that the meat prices are rising constantly. Different tribes of Assam keeps pig in their household. Pork is preferred food among different Assamese community and in its neighboring states, e.g. Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya etc. 

Pig farmers of Assam has an opportunity to increase their pig production and sell their product in local market and neighboring   states. Now a days the price of pork per kilogram is Rs. 180 in retail. An indigenous breed grow up to 45 kilogram with in 12 months period. That means Rs.8100 per Pig. A normal family can keep 2 to 3 pigs at home.

It has a wide market opportunity. It is seemed that there is a huge demand for pork. It is very easy to make dry pork locally. Those who has a fire place at home can prepare it easily. First of all they need to boil the meat and then keep them over the fire place to make it dry. Such smoked dry pork which is 1 kg at raw condition is sold @ Rs.240/kg in market. So it is a good earning opportunity.