Stories you must read over the weekend -Governance Now

Stories you must read over the weekend

From recommendations of the new education policy to liquor ban in Bihar, from the story of a person who chose IRS over IAS to what government has not learnt from Uttarakhand floods, we present stories you should not miss over the weekend. Take a look

GN Bureau | June 18, 2016

#New Education Policy #Uttarakhand #Weekend #Pulgaon

A five-member committee was set up last year to draft the new education policy. The committee, in the report submitted last month but yet to be made public, has recommended that pre-school education for children in the age group of 4 to 5 years should be declared as a right and programme for it implemented immediately. And primary education should be provided through the medium of mother tongue or regional language. Read full report on New Education Policy

There was an unprecedented disaster in 2013. Massive amount of torrential rainfall took place which led to flash floods near every single river of the state of Uttarakhand. From Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Mandakini, Alaknanda, Dhauliganga, Kali nadi – none of the rivers were spared. The massive flash floods and landslides claimed thousands of lives and their livelihoods. Till date, people are trying to recover from the aftershocks of the disaster. It is still a long way to go. But what is important to note is that the 2013 disaster was brought to limelight only because the people who died were pilgrims. And that is the reason why it became national news. Even in previous disasters, many people have died. These disasters have been on the rise in the Himalayas since 2010 and its frequency and intensity increasing. Read full column

“Those who sold liquor will now sell milk in Bihar,” says excise minister Abdul Jalil Mastan The six-time Congress MLA talks about the state’s plans to overcome the challenges in implementing this difficult move – from providing alternative employment opportunities to opening de-addiction centres. Read full interview

Dr Sri Vatsa Sehra cracked the civil services examinations, considered one of the world’s toughest, and did the unthinkable by deciding against joining the much sought after Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Instead, the doctor from AIIMS opted for the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) as it provides an amazing opportunity not just to administer the complex tax structure but also to learn the entire economic framework of the country. Read | Why he opted for IRS instead of IAS

The Pulgaon accident has reignited the debate over safety of ammunition storage. That debate should consider these nuances of ammunition management. Read full column by Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain

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