Lok Sabha Debates
Further Discussion On The Motion For Consideration Of The Central Universities ... on 26 November, 2014
an> Title: Further discussion on the motion for consideration of the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2014 (Discussion concluded and Bills passed).
HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Now, the House may take up further consideration of the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2014 – Shrimati K. Gita.
1754 hours SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA (ARAKU): Thank you hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity to talk on the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2014. I appreciate the Government’s decision to establish another Central University in Bihar which will cater to the needs of the Bihar State. The Bill says that since Bihar is a large State there is need for a second university. I appreciate the efforts of the Government on this.
Central Universities have actually been very active in promoting very good intellectuals. The students of these universities have been catering to the prosperity of the country. There are many disciplines that are being taught in the Central Universities in the country. We have a Central University in Hyderabad. Coming from bureaucratic background I know this for a fact that many bureaucrats, IAS and IPS officers who are in the State Government and the Central Government have been students of the Central University of Hyderabad. This is a very esteemed institution and people feel it a privilege to study in that Central University. India has no lack of intellectuals. We have a huge requirement of these universities.
While I appreciate the fact that Bihar has been considered for a second university, I would request the hon. Minister for HRD to consider our State of Andhra Pradesh. Under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, a Central University and Tribal University has also been approved for the State of Andhra Pradesh. I wish to bring to the notice of the hon. Minister through you, Sir, that there was a Central team which visited the State with regard to the location for a tribal university. This Bill actually refers to the territorial jurisdiction of a particular area while deciding upon the location of the university. Territorial jurisdiction means actually it should cater to the needs of the targeted group.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has given a good proposal to establish a tribal university. I hail from the only tribal Constituency of Andhra Pradesh. The land that they suggested is centrally located and it is a very vulnerable location for the tribals there. It is in the reach of the tribal community. It also caters to the needs of Odisha and Chhattisgarh also because those are very near to the land suggested. It is located in a very serene atmosphere on a beautiful piece of land. Our hon. Minister for Civil Aviation here is ready to offer a land of 2000 acres to the Government for the establishment of this university.
I was with the Central Committee that had come for the review of this proposal. But they suggested that the faculty will not be able to travel so long to actually establish a university there. They were concerned about the infrastructure available there. I want to bring to the notice of the Minister, Sir, through you that infrastructure automatically develops once the university comes up there in that tribal area which is now being completely neglected. The name itself suggests that it is a tribal university. It is also the sentiment of the tribals of Andhra Pradesh that the tribal university should be located in a tribal area which is actually convenient to all the people there to access the location.
Hence, I take this opportunity to urge upon the Hon. Minister to kindly consider the location which our hon. Minister has given. That will be accessible to the entire tribal community of Andhra Pradesh. Not only that, Sir, there are many intellectual students who have been neglected and many tribal students want to study in the central university so that they will also become assets to the nation. Hence I would request the hon. Minister to kindly consider this proposal.
Thank you, Sir, for giving me this opportunity.
SHRI M.B. RAJESH (PALAKKAD): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, the objective of the 2009 Act was to establish and incorporate universities for teaching and research in various States. Now when we are going to set up another Central University in one more State, I think this is an opportunity to discuss and debate the state of affairs of higher education and universities in particular.
Sir, the universities and the state of higher education is facing serious and severe challenges today. Recently a global ranking of universities has taken place and no Indian university figured in the top 200 universities in the world. No Indian university has found a place in the first 200 universities of the world! That itself shows the bizarre state of affairs of higher education and universities in the country.
The gross enrolment ratio in India is just above 15 per cent or maybe, below 20 per cent. In all the developed countries anywhere in the world, this ratio is above 50 per cent – in US, it is 77 per cent; in South Korea it is 98 per cent. Now, we are talking about becoming a super power and we are talking about demographic dividend, knowledge society, knowledge economy, etc. What is the actual situation? How will we be able to become super power without empowering the young generation of our population? How will we be able to reap the benefits of demographic dividends, without providing proper higher education?
Secondly, thousands of posts in Central Universities and higher educational institutions are remaining vacant. The Government – both the previous Government and the present Government – has not taken any steps to at least fill up the academic posts. Without providing proper teaching staff, without providing faculty, how are you going to improve the state of affairs of Indian Universities and higher educational institutions?
Thirdly, there is no grievance redressal mechanism in universities, even in Central Universities. The largest stakeholders of higher education are the students. But they do not have any grievance redressal mechanism. So, I demand that the Government should ensure that there is a grievance redressal mechanism for students in each and every university.
In the name of internal assessment, actually internal harassment is going on in the universities. We are witness to newspaper reports where dozens of students are committing suicide each and every day. The Government should inquire about why it is happening in our universities and why this alarming number of student suicide is taking place. I hope that the hon. Minister will take this aspect seriously and will respond to this aspect.
The standard of education or the quality of education is coming down. The Government is not very serious about that. Communalization of higher educational system is going on; an assault or treason is going on in the field of higher education.
What is happening in higher educational institutions? As the heads of the institutions, people who do not have any academic qualification or those who do not have any academic reputation are being appointed in the key posts. All these are leading to decline in the standard of higher education in the country.
So, with these words I conclude. The Government should seriously look into the state of affairs of higher education and the Government should not try to impose its communal ideology on higher educational institutions.
KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV (SILCHAR): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2014 seeks to establish a new university in the State of Bihar. I do not think, any Member of this House would actually stand and oppose this Bill. I am also happy to see that the university is going to be named after the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi Ji. So, there can be no controversy vis-à-vis. that also.
I remember that in the Budget Session, when the hon. Finance Minister and the hon. Railway Minister spoke, they repeatedly expressed their word of caution, vis-à-vis. wasteful expenditure. In this Bill, I have seen that initially, an amount of Rs. 240 crore has been provided for this university. It will be my humble suggestion to the hon. Minister that whereas this new university must come about in Bihar, it is the duty of this Government to look back at all the academic institutions in the higher education sector that the earlier Government had established in various parts of India. Has that money been utilized? It is the precious money of the people.
Very briefly, I will say that my learned colleague here has said that land has been given in her State and a university should be established there. No one knows better than me what it takes to get a Central University in a remote area. I come from the district of Cachar and Rajivji gave us a Central University there. But I have to say that when you provide funds from the Central Government, there must be provisions for road connectivity and for transport services which makes a university accessible to all the areas of that jurisdiction. So, to make a university successful and accessible, it is not sufficient to simply have infrastructure within the campus.
Secondly, I would like to point out that it is a fact that many Central Universities are not being able to provide quality education due to vacancies. Therefore, while today we are discussing establishing a new university, if the hon. Minister could consider centralising the recruitment policies, especially, vis-à-vis, Associate and Assistant Professors because we are not able to recruit them in many central universities which are in remote areas and are away from the metropolitan cities. It defeats the very purpose of an Act like this which refers to access to and quality in higher education.
I hope that these observations will be taken on board and I hope this Ministry will also provide some sort of impetus or incentive that big corporates and companies eventually go to these Central Universities for recruitment. It is because simply to churn out graduate, post-graduates and doctors into the society is not sufficient. We have to give them an opportunity in their State and on the campus to be recruited.
Madam, we have great respect for you. I would like to say that some of the recent media coverage that you have been given about having several closed door meetings with an organisation that is strictly political is worrying us. I hope that it is only a bad publicity and there is no truth to it because really education is the foundation to a strong nation which you yourself said earlier in the Question Hour.
PROF. SAUGATA ROY (DUM DUM): Sir, I rise to support the Bill. As has been said earlier, there can be no objection to setting up a new university in the populous State of Bihar that too in North Bihar, that too in Motihari, Champaran which was thekaram bhoomi of Gandhiji when he started his agitation against the indigo planters and in favour of the indigo farmers. So, to that extent, we support the Bill.
Sir, in 2009, the Central Government had an Act called the Central Universities Act. Under that Act, Bihar had a Central University; Gujarat had a Central University; Haryana had a Central University; Himachal Pradesh had a Central University; Jammu and Kashmir had two Central Universities; Odisha had one Central University in the very remote area of Koraput; Punjab had a Central University; Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu also had Central Universities. The object was to have a Central University in every State.
Now there is no doubt that the Central Government institutions in the field of education are very sought after. It does not depend on which Government but generally the Central Universities are of a high standard. The IITs run by the Central Government are of a high standard. The Indian Institutes of Management run by the Central Government are of a high standard. Even the Kendriya Vidyalayas are of a very high standard and very much sought after. So, it is only proper that every State has universities run by the Central Government and there is always a clamour for more. When there is an agitation or any other problem, a Central University is given like Hyderabad was earlier given a Central University. Silchar was given a Central University. So, this is sought after.
18.00 hrs. But in view of that I would humbly say that the State of West Bengal now has only one Central university which is the Viswa Bharati University founded by the late Rabindra Nath Tagore, Gurudev, and in 1951 it was converted into a central university. Ours is a populous State. Our population is more than that of Bihar. So, we deserve another Central university. Bengal is also bisected by the river Ganges. So, if the Centre proceeds to set up another Central university, then we would very much welcome it and I am sure that if the Centre expresses its intention, then the State Government would provide adequate land for the same.
HON. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Hon. Members, now it is six o’clock. If the House agrees we can extend till the Bill is over and also the Zero Hour is over.
SEVERAL HON. MEMBERS: Sir, yes.
THE MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT, MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU): Sir, the time for discussion is over, but I am told that there are still one or two Members left, let them make their submissions and then let us pass the Bill and then adjourn the House.
HON. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: We have the `Zero Hour’ also.
PROF. SAUGATA ROY : Sir, I would like to mention only two points. Delhi has two Central universities. One is the Delhi University and the other is the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Delhi University is fortunate that all the affiliated colleges of Delhi University are part of the university system. But in allowing certain autonomy we run into serious problems. The last Vice Chancellor of Delhi University suddenly introduced a four year under graduate course and the hon. Minister of Human Resource Development had to struggle to make it into three years. It was absolutely not thought of because in the whole of the country there was a three year degree course. The Vice-Chancellor was a noted mathematician. … (Interruptions)
Sir, the last point that I would like to make is that Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University has said that girls cannot go to the library. It is a central university and the hon. Minister should take steps against the Vice-Chancellor.
Lastly, I would like to make small plea to the hon. Minister. Jawaharlal Nehru when he first set up the CSIR he said that his intention was to develop a scientific temper amongst the people. Scientific temper means one would go according to logic. If now the hon. Minister of Human Resource Development spends four hours with an astrologer, it is her personal business… (Interruptions) Astrology should not be given the tag of science. Similarly, when the hon. Prime Minister said that Lord Ganesha, it is a matter of belief, his head was an example of plastic surgery in ancient times, it does not encourage scientific temper. I would urge upon those in the Government to encourage scientific temper, nothing which is illogical should be done by those in the Ministry or in responsible positions in the Government. Maybe, the RSS is breathing down their neck for saffronisation of education, but in the interest of the children of this country, please desist from this.
SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: Hon. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, religion and beliefs are matter of individual choices. It may appear to some people as rational and to some people it may appear to be irrational. Keeping that in mind we should not tread into areas that are private in nature. If a person goes to a temple, or a Minister goes to an astrologer, I do not understand what is the great difficulty for some people to accept that.
PROF. SAUGATA ROY : That does not encourage scientific thinking.
SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: What is scientific? Is dividing people on the basis of religion scientific? … (Interruptions)
HON. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: We do not need to get into a debate on this.
SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE(GULBARGA) : When it has been told by Shri Venkaiah Naidu, we have to agree. But I will tell him one example. It is not my example. Sant Tukaram said "नवसे पुत्र कन्या स्तितर, पति लागणे काई कारण। " इसका मतलब यह है कि अगर दुआ मांगने से ही आपको संतान की प्राप्ति होती है तो शादी करने की आवश्यकता नहीं है।
मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री उपेन्द्र कुशवाहा) : माननीय उपाध्यक्ष जी, केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालय अधिनियम संशोधन विधेयक पर कल से चर्चा हो रही है। मुझे बहुत नहीं बोलना है, सिर्फ हम धन्यवाद देने के लिए खड़े हुए हैं। हम उन लोगों को धन्यवाद देना चाहते हैं जहां से इस मांग की शुरुआत हुई। बिहार में केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालय नहीं था। चर्चा हुई कि विश्वविद्यालय बनेगा। चम्पारण के लोगों ने और बिहार के उस समय के माननीय सांसदों ने, सबने मिलकर सरकार का ध्यान आकृष्ट किया। तत्कालीन सरकार का ध्यान इस विषय की ओर आकर्षित करने वाले जो भी लोग थे, उन्होंने उस समय आंदोलन किया जिसका परिणाम है कि गांधी की कर्मभूमि चम्पारण में केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालय की स्थापना का मार्ग प्रशस्त हो रहा है। मैं उन सभी का धन्यवाद करता हूं।
साथ ही साथ जो चर्चा कल से चल रही है, पक्ष और विपक्ष के सभी सांसदों ने इस विधेयक के समर्थन में ही अपनी बात रखी है। इसीलिए माननीय मंत्री जी ने इसके पहले जिस विधेयक पर चर्चा हो रही थी, उस संदर्भ में उन्होंने कहा कि राजनीति नहीं, शिक्षा के मामले में हम राष्ट्रनीति यहां करते हैं।...(व्यवधान) अब आप व्याकरण सिखाइएगा? मंत्री जी ने इसके पहले की चर्चा में भाग लेते हुए कहा कि शिक्षा पर इस सदन ने इस बात का प्रदर्शन किया है कि हम यहां शिक्षा के मामले में राजनीति नहीं, राष्ट्रनीति करते हैं। इस विषय पर भी सभी सांसदों ने इस विधेयक के समर्थन में अपनी राय व्यक्त की। मैं उसी बात को दोहराऊंगा कि इस विषय पर भी इस सदन ने चूंकि शिक्षा से संबंधित विषय है, सभी ने राजनीति नहीं, राष्ट्रनीति की बात कही है। इसलिए मैं इन सभी का भी बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद करता हूं और हम उम्मीद करते हैं कि जो उपेक्षित इलाका बिहार के चम्पारण का था, इस विश्वविद्यालय की स्थापना से न सिर्फ उस इलाके को बल्कि बिहार के लोगों को भी अत्यधिक लाभ पहुंचेगा।
श्री राजेश रंजन (मधेपुरा) : माननीय उपाध्यक्ष जी, मैं एक बात कहना चाहूंगा कि ‘श्रेष्ठ भारत और एक भारत’ की कल्पना तथा शिक्षित भारत की कल्पना न हो केवल साक्षर भारत की कल्पना हो तो यह एक श्रेष्ठ भारत और एक भारत की कल्पना की दृढ़ता में कहीं न कहीं कमी आएगी। शिक्षित भारत, नैतिक भारत और आध्यात्मिक भारत- एक उच्च मौलिक आदर्श वाली जो एजुकेशन होती है, जो उच्च एजुकेशन की आप बात करते हैं, जब तक नैतिक और आध्यात्मिक एजुकेशन को आप जीवन में नहीं लाएंगे तथा इस नैतिक औऱ आध्यात्मिक एजुकेशन को आप भगवाकरण से जीवन में लाने का प्रयास करेंगे तो इससे शिक्षा में कहीं न कहीं गिरावटें आएंगी।
मैं सबसे पहले आपको बधाई देना चाहता हूं कि यूपीए की सरकार और आदरणीय नेता, लालू प्रसाद यादव जी, नीतीश कुमार आदि सभी लोगों ने मिलकर प्रयास किया और यह सचाई है कि मोतिहारी से लेकर गया तक इन दो केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालयों की कल्पना की थी, यह बात श्री एम.वैंकैय्यानायडू साहब भी जानते हैं और जिसे लेकर काफी विवाद था। एक केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालय का यूपीए की सरकार मे निर्णय लिया गया और निश्चित रूप से जो वर्तमान सरकार है, इसने इसमें गति दिखाई है, इसके लिए आप बधाई के पात्र हैं, इस बात को नजरअंदाज नहीं किया जा सकता है। लेकिन मैं ध्यान दिलाना चाहूंगा कि बिहार में जो उच्च शिक्षा की रुग्ण व्यवस्था है, क्या माननीय मंत्री महोदय आपका ध्यान बिहार का जो पटना विश्वविद्यालय है तथा अन्य विश्वविद्यालयों की एजूकेशन की जो स्थिति है, क्या उनकी गुणवत्ता की ओर आपकी कोई दृष्टि है?
दूसरी बात मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि एक तरफ हमारे प्रधान मंत्री जी कहते हैं कि निश्चित रूप से शौचालयों की व्यवस्था हो, लेकिन एजूकेशन में यदि अंतर होगा, यदि एजूकेशन एक नहीं होगी, एजूकेशन की गुणवत्ता यदि ठीक नहीं होगी तो कोई लाभ नहीं है। मैं आपका ध्यान नालंदा विश्वविद्यालय, विक्रमशिला विश्वविद्यालय और आई.आई.एम. विश्वविद्यालयों की ओर दिलाना चाहूंगा। मैं जानना चाहता हूं कि नालंदा विश्वविद्यालय के बजट में आपने इस बार कितना पैसा दिया। इसके अलावा मैं बताना चाहता हूं कि विश्व के इतिहास में विक्रमशिला विश्वविद्यालय जो भागलपुर में स्थित है, ये तीन विश्वविद्यालय विश्व में जाने जाते थे। विक्रमशिला विश्वविद्यालय के बारे में माननीय मंत्री महोदय क्या आपकी कोई सोच है या नहीं, यह मेरा आपसे आग्रह है।
इसके अलावा किशनगंज में अल्पसंख्यकों के लिए जो सबसे महत्वपूर्ण ए.एम.यू. की शाखा खोली गई है, उसमें आप कितनी राशि दे रहे हैं और जिस केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालय महात्मा गांधी, चम्पारण विश्वविद्यालय के बारे में यहां कहा जा रहा है, उस विश्वविद्यालय को बनाने के लिए आप कितनी राशि दे रहे हैं। वहां जो उच्च गुणवत्ता वाले शिक्षकों का वहां प्रवेश होगा, आज जिस तरीके की एजूकेशन बिहार में है, क्या उसी तरह की एजूकेशऩ की स्थिति केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालय़ में होगी, यह मैं आपसे कहना चाहूंगा।
अंत में मैं आपसे कहना चाहूंगा कि नालंदा के विश्वविद्यालय के लिए आप धनराशि दे और जो गया के केन्द्रीय विश्वविद्यालय की स्थिति है, उस पर आप विशेष रूप से ध्यान दें।
मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्री (श्रीमती स्मृति ज़ुबिन ईरानी) : उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं आपको धन्यवाद देती हूं। आपके माध्यम से मैं सभी माननीय सांसदों का धन्यवाद देना चाहूंगी, जिन्होंने इस बिल पर अपने विचारों को व्यक्त किया। मैं इस सदन में एक विशेष आभार अपने वरिष्ठों की अनुमति से व्यक्त करना चाहती हूं। श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खड़गे जी एक वरिष्ठ नेता हैं, इनका भारत की राजनीति में एक सुनहरा इतिहास है और आज मुझ पर व्यक्तिगत कटाक्ष करने के लिए इन्होंने संत तुकाराम का उल्लेख किया, मैं बहुत भाग्यशाली हूं कि मुझ जैसी एक छोटी सी महिला के लिए इतने बड़े संत का नाम आपकी जुबान पर आया। लेकिन मेरे पास न उनकी तरह अनुभव है और न मैं वरिष्ठ हूं, लेकिन विद्या के बारे में मैंने जो समझा, सीखा और जाना है, वह मात्र इतना है कि ‘विद्या ददाति विनयम्’ और उस विनय का परिचय देते हुए मैं मात्र इतना कहना चाहती हूं कि आज का यह अमैंडमैन्ट बिल जो हम पास करने वाले हैं, वह अपने आपमें इस बात का प्रमाण है कि लोकतंत्र में कितनी ताकत होती है। पिछले तीन सालों से बिहार की विधान परिषद, विधान सभा और बिहार की जनता एकजुट होकर संघर्ष कर रही थी और बार-बार भारत सरकार से कह रही थी कि मोतिहारी में एक विश्वविद्यालय हो और उसका नाम महात्मा गांधी के नाम पर रखा जाए। यह दिया हमने, लेकिन मैं बहुत विनम्रता के साथ कहना चाहती हूं कि यह अहंकार का परिचय नहीं दे रहे हैं, उस लोकतंत्र की आवाज को जो बिहार से उभरी, उसे आज इस सदन में हम सशक्त कर रहे हैं कि जब जनता पार्लियामैन्ट के दरवाजे तक आकर दस्तक देती है और अगर सरकार उस दस्तक को नहीं सुनती तो यह जनता उस सरकार को पलटने की भी ताकत रखती है।
आज सुष्मिता जी ने एक चिंता व्यक्त की कि कुछ लोगों के साथ क्लोज्ड डोर मीटिंग हो रही है।
जब वे कटाक्ष कर रही थीं तो आदरणीय गोगोई जी के साथ बैठी हुई थीं। जिनके पिता असम के मुख्य मंत्री हैं। मैं एक फिर विनय का परिचय देते हुए कहना चाहती हूँ कि मेरी क्लोज़ डोर मीटिंग असम के जो कांग्रेस के मुख्य मंत्री हैं, उनके साथ भी हुई। केरल के मुख्य मंत्री ओमन चांडी जी के साथ भी हुई। सुश्री ममता जी के साथ भी हुई। भारत सरकार की एक प्रतिनिधि होने के नाते मेरा यह धर्म है, मेरा यह कर्त्तव्य है कि मैं इस लोकतांत्रिक देश में हर वर्ग, हर समुदाय, हर व्यक्ति की बात को सुनूं। लेकिन करूं वही जो संविधान की मर्यादा में हो। इसलिए आज मैं इस सदन को आश्वस्त करना चाहती हूँ कि संविधान की मार्यादा में रह कर ही भारत सरकार शिक्षा के कई आयामों पर काम करेगी। मेरे धर्म पर, मेरी मान्यता पर थोड़ा-बहुत कटाक्ष हुआ, वह मुझे स्वीकार है। जो लोग पब्लिक लाइफ में हैं, वे इतने भी कमज़ोर नहीं हो सकते हैं कि कटाक्ष को सहन न कर सकें। मैं अपने धर्म का स्पष्टीकरण इस सदन में नहीं दूंगी, क्योंकि मेरा धर्म इतना बुलंद है कि एक प्रश्न उसे कमज़ोर नहीं कर सकता है। लेकिन आज मेरा जो धर्म इस सदन में है, संसद में है, वह मात्र यह है कि इस अमेंडमेंट बिल के माध्यम से मोतिहारी में राष्ट्रपिता महात्मा गांधी के नाम से एक यूनिवर्सिटी स्थापित हो और साउथ बिहार में भी सैंट्रल यूनिवर्सिटी का काम तेज़ी से आगे बढ़े। यहां पर एक चर्चा की गई कि वैकेंसी पोज़िशंस बहुत खाली हैं। एक चर्चा की गई कि हमें अपनी फैसिलिटीज़ को स्टूडेंट्स के लिए बेहतर करना है। इन सभी चिंताओं को ले कर हमने 12 और 13 सितंबर को चंडीगढ़ में सभी केंद्रीय विश्वविद्यालयों के वाइस चांसलर्स के साथ एक मीटिंग की है। उनके समक्ष हमने वैकेंसीज़ के चैलेंजेस को भी रखा है। वीसीज़ ने अपना एक्शन प्लान भारत सरकार को भेजा है as to how fast they will fill up the vacancies in their institutions. उच्च शिक्षा के बारे में एक चिंता व्यक्त की गई। ग्रास एंरोलमेंट रेश्यो के अंतर्गत बाकी राष्ट्रों के साथ इसको कंपेयर किया गया। वर्ष 2012-13 का आंकड़ा यह कहता है कि our GER is 21 per cent but I do not think that is sufficient. I know that we need to better ourselves. I have impressed upon all the Vice-Chancellors of the Central Universities that we need to ensure our intake of students is more and we help students cross that barrier from Secondary Education to Higher Education. But there are many who wonder whether access to education equals good quality education. Hence, to answer that challenge, we are trying to evolve an Indianised version of MOOCs wherein our IITs, IIMs, Central Universities, NITs and IIScs will give Under-Graduate, Graduate and Post Graduate courses on line which will be mobile, friendly as well free of cost to every Indian citizen. If an Indian citizen seeks certification, then, at a concessional rate, to the designated Centre they can go, give examination in that course and receive their certification as well.
Sushmita ji had pointed out the challenge of employability and skill so that we just do not churn out people with degrees but we also ensure that they are skilled enough to fend for themselves. I appreciate that sentiment. I am joining my voice with that sentiment.
Sir, through you, I would like to tell the House that on the 11th of November, the Education Day that was celebrated in this country, we took a historic step of having a credit framework dedicated to the nation from class IX to the Post-Graduate level. It is a dream that the hon. Prime Minister spoke of in the last Session of Parliament which became a reality on the 11th of November.
I would also like to say that we, for the first time, created a Sector Skills Council. Through the UGC, we have told all our Universities that from the next academic year, we have the choice-based credit transfer systems so that student mobility across the nation is seamless.
I am also privileged that I am sitting right behind the Skill Development Minister which is again an initiative of our Government just to indicate how serious we are to ensure our education and skilling facilities, initiatives, enhancement of entrepreneurial skill is a huge priority for this country. मैं एक बार फिर आपके माध्यम से सभी सम्मानित सांसदों को धन्यवाद देना चाहूंगी। कुछ लोगों ने अपने क्षेत्रों में उच्च शिक्षा के साधनों-संसाधनों के अंतर्गत कुछ चिंताएं व्यक्त की हैं। मैं उन्हीं माननीय सांसदों से कहना चाहती हूँ कि आपके व्यक्तिगत क्षेत्र में उच्च शिक्षा के सम्बन्ध में जो-जो चुनौतियाँ हैं, अगर आप उन्हें लिखित रूप से मुझे अवगत करायेंगे तो मैं अपने मंत्रालय के माध्यम से प्रत्येक मुख्यमंत्री को स्वयं लिखूंगी कि रूसा के अंतर्गत, राष्ट्रीय उच्चतर शिक्षा अभियान के अंतर्गत माननीय सांसदों की जो अपील है, जो जनता की दरकार है, उसे पूर्ण करने में केंद्र और प्रदेश की सरकार के बीच अच्छे समन्वय के माध्यम से सांसदों की भी जो दरकार है, जो उन्होंने अपनी चिंता को व्यक्त किया है, उसका समाधान हम निकाल सकें।
Sir, before I request the House to pass this Bill, I would like to highlight to this august House that on page 2 of the Bill, Clause 3 has inadvertently been misprinted and numbered as Clause 4 and, therefore, I would request that Clause 4 may be read as Clause 3. Thank you.
SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE (GULBARGA): Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not want to get into any controversy. Shrimati Smriti Irani has mistaken me. I never compared her with Sant Tukaram. I just spoke in response to what Naiduji said about Ganapati and other things. Sant Tukaram’s thinking is also scientific. Then, Periyar, Dr. Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule and Mahatma Basweshwar, all their thoughts are scientific. Their philosophies and thoughts are scientific. Such thoughts should be brought in education. That is why I said that. I never compared her with Sant Tukaram. How can I compare her with Sant Tukaram?
SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think the hon. Member misheard me. My speech can be taken out from the record and shown. I did not think that he compared me to a saint. I just said that he used a saint’s name to lob a joke at us. That is all my contention was. It is available on record.
But, Sir, my request is that this is an environment of consensus especially on a very important Bill and in that spirit of consensus, a long-pending demand of the people of Bihar be accepted.
HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Now the House will take up the motion for consideration of the Bill.
The question is “That the Bill further to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009, be taken into consideration.” The motion was adopted.
HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The House will now take up clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill.
“That clauses 2 and 3 stand part of the Bill.” The motion was adopted.
Clauses 2 and 3 were added to the Bill.
Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Long Title were added to the Bill. HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Minister may now move that the Bill be passed. SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI: Sir, I beg to move:
“That the Bill be passed.” HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is:
“That the Bill be passed.” The motion was adopted.