Parliament LIVE | States' duty to supervise coaching centres: Dharmendra Pradhan
Rajya Sabha holds short duration discussion under rule 176 on death of three students in a Delhi coaching centre
The Rajya Sabha on Monday (July 29) held a short duration discussion under rule 176 on the deaths of three UPSC aspirants in a coaching centre in Delhi due to water logging.
Allowing the discussion, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the culture of coaching centres has become no less than a "gas chamber" and stressed on the need to examine the huge expenditure incurred on newspaper advertisements by them.
“I find that youth demographic dividend of the country has to be nurtured, I further find that coaching has become virtually commerce." He also pointed out the high sums earned by the coaching centres leading to commercialisation of education.
"Coachings have become a flourishing industry with high returns....every time we read a newspaper front one or two pages are by way of advertisements....Every penny spent on advertisement is coming from the students, every new building is coming from the students," he said.
Comparing the coaching culture to no less than "gas chambers", the chairman stated, "In a country where opportunities are getting enlarged this silo is turning out to be a problem...they are becoming no less than a gas chamber." He urged the members to tell the youths about the various other employment and skill opportunities available in the country.
Rahul's criticism of Budget
Earlier, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi strongly criticised the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, saying India is trapped in a 'chakravyuh' represented by the lotus symbol that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wears on his chest.
Youth have been trapped in the Agnipath scheme, with no provisions in the Budget for pension for Agniveers, he said.
He further said there's an atmosphere of fear in India, and that fear has pervaded every part of our country. Legal guarantee for MSP in the Budget would have helped farmers get out of 'chakravyuh', but the government did nothing, he added.
The Budget has stabbed the middle-class, which enthusiastically banged thalis when asked to do so by Modi when the COVID pandemic began, he said.
Dalits, tribals, backwards account for 73 per cent population, but hardly get anything from the Union Budget, he further said. The Budget has not addressed the issue of tax terrorism that has hurt small businesses hard, he noted.
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Live Updates
- 29 July 2024 4:08 PM IST
3 forces behind 'Chakravyuh' that has captured India: Rahul
“The 'chakravyuh' that has captured India has three forces behind it: 1) The idea of monopoly capital - that two people should be allowed to own the entire Indian wealth. So, one element of the 'chakravyuh' is coming from the concentration of financial power; 2) institutions, the agencies, CBI, ED, IT of this nation; and 3) political executive. These three together, are at the heart of 'Chakravyuh' and they have devastated this country."
- 29 July 2024 4:04 PM IST
Rahul uses 'Chakravyuh' analogy to slam Budget
Thousands of years ago, in Kurukshetra, six people trapped Abhimanyu in a 'Chakravyuh' and killed him...I did a little research and found out that 'Chakravyuh' is also known as 'Padmavuyh' which means 'Lotus formation'. 'Chakravyuh' is in the shape of a Lotus. In the 21st century, a new 'Chakravyuh' has been formed - that too in the form of a Lotus. Prime Minister wears its symbol on his chest. What was done with Abhimanyu, is being down with India - the youth, farmers, women, small and mediums businesses...Today, too there are six people in the centre of 'Chakravyuh'...Six people control today too -Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, Ajit Doval, Ambani and Adani: LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi
- 29 July 2024 3:59 PM IST
#WATCH | Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "My expectation was that this Budget would weaken the power of this 'Chakravyuh', that this Budget would help the farmers of this country, would help the youth of this country, would help the labourers, small business of this country. But… pic.twitter.com/t5RaQn4jBq
— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2024 - 29 July 2024 3:34 PM IST
Internship scheme of Budget is a joke, says Rahul
Talking about the ‘paid internship scheme’ introduced by the Centre in Budget 2024-25, Rahul said it's a "joke".
The scheme aims to target 1 crore youth over the next five years by providing government-mandated internships in the top 500 companies across the country. Each intern will receive a monthly stipend of ₹5,000 and a one-time assistance sum of ₹6,000. Participating companies will cover the training costs for interns, partially funded through their CSR budget.
- 29 July 2024 3:32 PM IST
Special package is not special status: YSRCP MP Midhun Reddy
Speaking about the “special package” provided to Andhra Pradesh under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, YSRCP MP Midhun Reddy said in the Lok Sabha that it cannot replace the demand for “special category” status promised to the state during the bifurcation in 2014.
- 29 July 2024 2:43 PM IST
Dharmendra Pradhan evades direct reply on Delhi tragedy
The Union government issued guidelines on the regulation of coaching centers in January this year, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha on Monday, even as he evaded a direct reply to a question on the death of three IAS aspirants in Delhi due to flooding.
During the Question Hour, Congress MP KC Venugopal mentioned the death of the three students and said the institute had no approved building. "Without an approved building, without any facility, some of the coaching centers become mafia... is the government going to take any action?" he said. Venugopal also raised concerns about students' suicides.
Quoting information provided by the ministry in an earlier written reply, he said that between 2018-2022, around 80 students died by suicide in top-ranking institutions like IITs and IIMs, adding that caste discrimination is a major reason behind it.
In his response, Pradhan said, "The member has raised a question which is not related to the question put today." "But I like to assure the House through you, this government is committed to total socio-psychological and mental protection of all students, whether they are studying in a coaching center, in an institution, school education or higher education," he said. He said exhaustive and detailed guidelines on coaching centers were issued to all states in January, 2024.
"Some states also have regulations, like Rajasthan, Bihar, Goa. They have their own regulations to look into the matter," he said. "Regarding the protection, this is a socio-psychological issue. We all have to take care. This is not an issue to be dealt with through only allegations and answers," he said.
- 29 July 2024 2:38 PM IST
Short discussion in Rajya Sabha proposed
Vice President Dhankhar clarified that he would seek counsel of senior Opposition leaders to allow a short-duration discussion or a calling attention motion on the matter at the earliest while acknowledging the importance of the issue.
Dhankhar proposed considering a short-duration discussion or calling attention motion under Rules 176 or 180, saying he would consult party leaders after Zero Hour.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju supported an urgent discussion “under whichever rule.” Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge called for discussion on Manipur and NEET issues as well, which the Chair said were not before him at present.
- 29 July 2024 2:37 PM IST
Concern over ‘commercialisation’
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar flagged concern over the “commercialisation of coaching centres” as he allowed short duration discussion on the Delhi incident that claimed lives of three UPSC aspirants.
“Coaching has become virtually commerce. Every time we read a newspaper, the front one or two pages are of their advertisements,” Dhankhar said. He said that he “deems it appropriate to have a short duration discussion or a calling attention” in the Rajya Sabha, and will hold a meeting with the leaders of all parties in his chamber on this issue.
Earlier, Dhankhar deferred a decision on allowing a discussion regarding the recent deaths of UPSC aspirants at a Delhi coaching centre, citing lack of agreement between the ruling party and the Opposition.
Several members, including Sudhanshu Trivedi, Ram Chandra Jangra, Surendra Singh Nagar from BJP, Swati Maliwal from AAP and John Brittas from CPI (M) had sought a discussion under Rule 267, which allows for suspension of the day's business to debate urgent matters.
- 29 July 2024 2:36 PM IST
Bansuri Swaraj slams AAP govt
Bansuri Swaraj, BJP MP from New Delhi, blamed the AAP's “utter apathy” for the death of the students and demanded that an inquiry committee under the Home Ministry be set up to probe the incident.
“Criminal negligence of the Aam Aadmi Party has led to the death of these students. An inquiry should be set up on the Delhi government which is neck deep in corruption. Why are the drains not being cleaned in Delhi,” she asked during the Zero Hour.
