Lok Sabha Debates
Discussion On The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Bill, 2007, As Passed ... on 4 December, 2007
> Title: Discussion on the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Bill, 2007, as passed by Rajya Sabha (Discussion not concluded).
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI D. PURANDESWARI): Sir, before I move the motion, I have to inform the House that the President, having been informed of the subject matter of the Bill, has recommended the consideration of the Bill by Lok Sabha under article 117 (3) of the Constitution.
On behalf of my senior colleague, Shri Arjun Singh Ji, I beg to move:
“That the Bill to establish and incorporate a teaching and affiliating University at Amarkantak in the State of Madhya Pradesh to facilitate and promote avenues of higher education and research facilities for the tribal population in India and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, as passed by Rajya Sabha, be taken into consideration.” MR. SPEAKER: Motion moved:
“That the Bill to establish and incorporate a teaching and affiliating University at Amarkantak in the State of Madhya Pradesh to facilitate and promote avenues of higher education and research facilities for the tribal population in India and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, as passed by Rajya Sabha, be taken into consideration.”
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श्री गणेश सिंह (सतना): माननीय अध्यक्ष महोदय, माननीय मंत्री जी ने जो इन्दिरा गांधी राष्ट्रीय जनजाति विश्वविद्यालय विधेयक, 2007 यहां प्रस्तुत किया है, मैं इस प्रस्ताव का दो कारणों से समर्थन करता हूं।[R67] प्रथम कारण यह है कि देश में पहली बार जनजाति वर्गों के लिए एक विश्वविद्यालय की स्थापना का निर्णय सरकार ने किया है। मेरे स्वागत का दूसरा कारण है कि यह विश्वविद्यालय मेरे मध्य प्रदेश के अमरकंटक में बनना है, जहां से नर्मदा जी का उद्गम है। उस क्षेत्र के आसपास सचमुच कई ऐसे जिले हैं, जो जनजाति बाहुल्य जिले हैं। उस जगह का चयन किया है, इसलिए मैं इसका स्वागत करता हूं, लेकिन मेरी एक आपत्ति भी है। इस विश्वविद्यालय का नाम जनजाति विश्वविद्यालय रखा गया।
17.46 hrs. (Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair) अच्छा होता यदि देश के एक ऐसे महापुरूष, जिन्होंने स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन में बड़ी बहादुरी के साथ, देश की आजादी में अपना योगदान दिया था, श्री बिरसा मुंडा जी, यदि उनके नाम पर यह विश्वविद्यालय होता, तो मुझे लगता है कि जनजाति भाइयों को और अपनापन इस विश्वविद्यालय के प्रति हो जाता। जिस क्षेत्र में यह विश्वविद्यालय स्थापित हो रहा है, उस क्षेत्र से रानी दुर्गावती जी का भी बहुत प्रगाढ़ रिश्ता रहा है। अगर बिरसा मुंडा जी के नाम से विश्वविद्यालय का नाम आप नहीं रखना चाहते थे, तो इसे रानी दुर्गावती जी के नाम से रख सकते थे। श्रीमती गांधी जी के नाम से तो वैसे भी देश में हजारों संस्थान बन चुके हैं। मैं उनके नाम का विरोध नहीं करता हूं, लेकिन अच्छा होता कि जब हमने जगह का ठीक चयन किया, तो उस जगह से जहां जनजाति भाइयों के बीच काम करने वाले एक से एक महापुरूष रहे हैं, जिनका इस देश को बनाने में बड़ा योगदान रहा है, यदि उनके नाम से इस विश्वविद्यालय का गठन किया जाता, तो बहुत अच्छा होता। मैं फिर भी इस विधेयक का स्वागत करता हूं, एक निवेदन और करना चाहता हूं।
हमारी कला और संस्कृति की पहचान सचमुच इस देश में जनजाति समाज की ओर से शुरू हुयी और आज भी पूरे देश और दुनिया में इस बात का प्रचलन है। विश्वविद्यालय के उद्देश्य के बारे में मैं विधेयक को पढ़ रहा था। इसका बहुत अच्छा उद्देश्य है, लेकिन मैं उसमें एक संशोधन चाहता हूं। जब कभी प्राकृतिक आपदा आती है, तो एक ऐसी पद्धति का चलन आज भी खासतौर पर ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में है, जहां जनजाति वर्ग के लोग रहते हैं कि जब कभी कोई प्राकृतिक आपदा आती है, तो उनको पूर्व में ही उस आपदा के बारे में आभास हो जाता है। एक नहीं अनेकों उदाहरण इस बात के देश में देखे गए कि ऐसी स्थिति में उन लोगों ने अपने जानमाल की रक्षा भी कर ली। मैं एक उदाहरण बताना चाहता हूं। जब सुनामी आया था, तो सुनामी के समय अंडमान के अंदर एक आदिवासी गांव में 24 घंटे के पहले इस बात की जानकारी हो गयी थी कि लगता है समुद्र में बाढ़ आने वाली है और उस गांव के लोग पूरी तरह से अपने सभी लोगों को लेकर वहां से खाली करके चले गए। सच बात यह है कि वे सारे के सारे लोग बच गए। वह पद्धति आज भी गांव-गांव में कायम है। कभी तूफान आना हो, तो गांव के किसी बुजुर्ग आदमी से पूछ लिया जाए, वह बता देगा कि निश्चित तौर पर तूफान आने वाला है, बाढ़ आने वाली है या भूकंप आने वाला है। इन सब के लिए इस तरह की जो पद्धति हमारे बीच में पहले से कायम थी, उस पद्धति में कैसे शोध हो, कैसे अनुसंधान हो और उस पद्धति को हम कैसे पूरी तरह से डेवलप करने का काम करें, मैं चाहता हूं कि विश्वविद्यालय अपने एजेंडे में इसको जरूर शामिल करें। मेरा यह निवेदन है।
महोदय, जब सुनामी आया, तो सरकार ने कहा कि हम करोड़ों रूपए की लागत से कुछ यंत्र विदेशों से मंगाने का काम करने जा रहे हैं। मैं समझता हूं कि करोड़ों रूपए के यंत्र आप लगाइए, इसमें कोई दिक्कत नहीं है, लेकिन जो यंत्र हमारे बीच में पहले से मौजूद हैं, जिनके बारे में अनुसंधान करके हम पता लगा सकते हैं, तो उनको हम क्यों नहीं डेवलप करने का काम करते हैं? यदि जनजाति वर्ग के नाम से हम विश्वविद्यालय खोल रहे हैं, तो उसमें कुछ ऐसे भी अनुसंधान के विषय जोड़े जाएं, जो इस देश में पहले से प्रचलित हैं। मैं यही सुझाव देकर इस विधेयक का समर्थन करता हूं।
SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY (BERHAMPORE, WEST BENGAL): Sir, I would appreciate the hon. Minister who has piloted the Bill under the rubric – Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Bill, 2007.
Sir, as we are aware, still the tribal population of our country is regarded as a fringe community which has been lagging behind in terms of education, in terms of economy, etc. So in order to promote harmonious growth in our society, we have to have some mechanism to afford the education to the backward people and to the vulnerable sections of our country. As we know, article 46 of our Constitution has stated very clearly that the State should promote with special care the economic and educational interest of the weaker people and in particular the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and protect them from all kinds of social injustice and social exploitation.
Education is the strength of a nation and education is the cheap defence of a nation. If we observe the present political turmoil, the social turmoil and the insurgency situation in our country, then we will find that those areas which have been inflicted by insurgents are predominantly the tribal areas of our country. So, I think only promoting education can play a bulwark against those concepts of insurgencies.
You are well aware that the present dispensation, the United Progressive Alliance, is guided by National Common Minimum Programme and the National Common Minimum Programme is distinctly enunciated to provide equal opportunity both economic and educational to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Backward and Minorities.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Are you supporting or opposing the Bill?
SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY : Sir, I am coming to this point. There is no question of opposing it. First of all, I have made my observation that I am appreciating the hon. Minister for piloting this Bill. It purportedly indicates that I am supporting the Bill.
There is a controversy raised by the hon. Member after naming of the University. There is no dearth of tribal leaders, Scheduled Caste leaders, Scheduled Tribe leaders and OBC leaders in our country. But it smacks of a bad odour, if it is opposed on the excuse of naming the University after a tribal leader, when the objective of setting up of this Institution is clearly defined in this Bill that this Institution is going to promote the educational facilities and the research facilities of the tribal people.[R68] Sir, there is n[MSOffice69] o doubt about it and there is no question of the fact that Shrimati Indira Gandhi is regarded as a great woman in India and the world also. She has dedicated her entire life for the promotion of the backward people, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. It is not only that. She had laid her life for the sake of the integrity of our nation. She has laid down her life and become a martyr for us. So, I think, it is an opportunity to award the name of a University which is specially set up for the welfare of tribal population after Shrimati Indira Gandhi. In this regard, I reiterate my support for the Bill and the name of the institution.
Sir, the objective of this Bill is clearly defined here. It is to provide avenues of higher education and research facilities primarily for the tribal population of India and to disseminate and advance knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities in tribal art, culture, tradition, language, medicinal systems, customs, forest based economic activities, flora, fauna and advancement in technologies relating to the natural resources of the tribal areas. It is a very comprehensive idea that has been brought into the Bill. Already, the tribal population, over the decade, were clamouring for it.
Sir, this Bill is also intended to formulate tribal centric development models, public reports – I am referring to salient features of the Bill – and monographs, and to organise conferences, seminars on issues relating to tribes and to provide inputs to policy matters in different spheres. It is to take appropriate measures for promoting the members of tribal communities capable of managing, administering and looking after their own needs by access to higher education through a university of their own. This is an University of their own. There lies the special emphasis in this Bill.
By way of a suggestion, I would request the hon. Minister on one point. As far as the authorities of the University are concerned, there lies a provision for the court. I would request the hon. Minister to include at least some Members of Parliament belonging to tribal communities in this court because so far as Santi Niketan University is concerned, this provision is very much attached to that University where Members of Parliament are attached to the court of the University. There are 41 sections which have been incorporated in this Bill.
This University is going to be set up in Amarkantak in the State of Madhya Pradesh. I would ask the hon. Minister about the coverage area of this University. What are the powers which have been entrusted upon the University for the affiliation of various educational institutions under its purview?
18.00 hrs. I would also request the hon. Minister… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please wait for a minute. If you look at the watch, the watch is striking 6 pm. I want to know whether it is the opinion of the House that should pass this Bill today.
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN (BALASORE): It has to be concluded today and you can take the Zero Hour, Sir.
SHRI C.K. CHANDRAPPAN (TRICHUR): Don’t continue with this Bill today. Let it be tomorrow. You can take Zero Hour.
SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY : I am finishing my speech.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please finish it. Then, Zero Hour can be taken.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please finish within two minutes. After that, we will take Zero Hour.
SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY : Sir, in this Bill, there is a provision to establish such number of regional centres in various tribal areas of the country as are in the opinion of the University necessary for the furtherance of its objectives. Also, the Bill has authorized to open various campuses as it deems necessary. The Minister is aware that large parts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa are inhabited by the tribal population. So, in order to facilitate the educational research facilities to those areas, the Ministry may consider the setting up of a regional centre in the eastern sector also. I would appreciate the content of the Bill which says that the Universities shall be open to persons of either sex and whatever race, creed, caste or class and it shall not be lawful for the University to adopt or impose on any person any test whatsoever of religious belief or profession in order to entitle him to be appointed as a teacher of the University or to hold any other office therein or be admitted as a student in the University or to a graduate or to enjoy or exercise any privilege thereof. Already, I have stated that the objective of the Bill is very liberal. It is comprehensive in nature. Already, this Government under UPA has taken various steps for the detoxification of our education. Already the communalization of education has been reversed by adopting various policies. Syllabi of institutes have been decommunalised.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please conclude.
SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY : Therefore, I again support the Bill and appreciate the Ministry and our hon. Minister. With these words, I conclude.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Now, we will have Zero Hour. Yes, hon. Minister, do you want to say something?
SHRIMATI D. PURANDESWARI: I have listened to the speeches, but I was not frequently reacting to observations. Tomorrow, I don’t think I will be available in the House. I just wanted to request you if we could finish this matter.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The House does not agree to this proposal that the House should be extended for the purpose of passing this Bill. Therefore, I will have to take this Bill for tomorrow.
SHRIMATI D. PURANDESWARI: I am just bringing it to your notice, Sir.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: You can decide it for tomorrow or day after tomorrow. You can talk to Parliamentary Affairs Minister. If you are present tomorrow, we will take it up tomorrow. If you are not present tomorrow, day after tomorrow, it can be taken up. This thing you should consult with the Parliamentary Affairs Minister. [MSOffice70]