Latest news with #PunjabRajBhavan
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Chandigarh launches inclusive education policy for kids with disabilities
The Chandigarh Administration on Friday rolled out its first comprehensive Education Policy for Children with Special Needs – 2025, aimed at ensuring barrier-free, dignified, and quality education for children with benchmark disabilities. The policy was launched at Punjab Raj Bhavan by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, who called it 'a strong initiative towards inclusiveness and the spirit of equality guaranteed by the Constitution'. Kataria underlined the social significance of the step, stating, 'the measure of the true progress of any society is how it empowers its weakest sections. This policy is not just limited to opening the doors of schools, it is also a means to bring out the inherent talent and potential of the children. Chandigarh is proud that we are strengthening the spirit of equal opportunity and inclusion in the field of education'. Framed in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the policy guarantees free and compulsory education in government and aided schools for children with disabilities up to the age of 18. For those unable to attend regular classes, home-based education will be provided, supported by a transport allowance and auxiliary services. Admissions have been made entirely non-discriminatory, with all inclusive neighbourhood schools required to admit disabled children. A three per cent reservation has also been set aside for them within the 25 per cent quota for economically weaker sections under the Right to Education Act. Private schools will now be obliged to admit students with special needs and provide tailored educational support. The framework mandates the appointment of trained special educators for inclusive classrooms, adapted curricula, Braille and large-print textbooks, sign language resources, and modified evaluation systems. Collaboration with special schools and integrated education centres will support children with severe disabilities, while vocational and skill training from Class 9 onwards will prepare them for independent livelihoods. To foster a sensitive learning environment, the policy calls for regular training and awareness programmes for teachers, parents and classmates. A grievance redressal committee in every school and a state-level monitoring body will oversee its implementation. Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma, Principal Secretary to the Governor Vivek Pratap Singh, Education Secretary Prerna Puri and Director of School Education Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, were present at the launch. Officials said the new policy represents 'an inspirational effort to strengthen the values of social justice, inclusion and compassion' and carries the message that 'disability is not a limitation; with the right environment and opportunities, every child can make society proud with their talent'.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Seminar on higher education reform held
A seminar on higher education reform titled 'Making Chandigarh colleges autonomous' was organised at Punjab Raj Bhavan under the aegis of UT department of higher education on Thursday. Stakeholders deliberated on pathways for strengthening institutional frameworks in line with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 at the event. Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria emphasised the transformative goals of NEP 2020, underlining the importance of empowering colleges to achieve academic excellence, institutional flexibility, and responsiveness to the evolving demands of students and society. R Manoj Kumar, joint secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC), delivered a presentation on the role of UGC in the promotion of autonomous colleges. He stressed that NEP 2020 envisions higher education institutions as self-regulated and quality-driven, with autonomy being a key enabler. Ravindra Singh Pardeshi, former principal of Fergusson College, Pune, shared practical insights on the institutional journey toward autonomy. He highlighted the tangible benefits observed in empowered colleges, including curriculum relevance, improved learning outcomes, enhanced employability, and institutional resilience. Renu Vig, vice-chancellor, Panjab University, discussed the current education system structure and stressed the need for alignment with NEP goals. Dalip Kumar, member of the UT State Higher Education Council, highlighted the need for institutional restructuring, resource enhancement, and innovation in teaching-learning practices. Principals and faculty members from all government and private colleges across the city participated in the seminar.
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Don't make singers promoting drugs role models: Punjab CM
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday urged youngsters to reject singers who glorify drugs and instead encouraged them to look up to sport icons, such as the legendary athlete Milkha Singh and cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur, as role models. Speaking at the Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh event along with his Haryana counterpart Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab and Haryana governors Gulab Chand Kataria and Bandaru Dattatraya, respectively, Mann said: 'Today, I can see a revolution against drugs in Chandigarh. Don't make singers who sing songs promoting drugs your role model. Let your ideal be Milkha Singh or Harmanpreet Singh. People of Punjab are famous for joining the army, for wrestling, for kabaddi, and for bhangra. But our fame has faded. If the stone in a ring gets faded, the value of the ring diminishes. If Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh shine, the whole country will shine.' He highlighted his government's 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh (War Against Drugs)', a campaign launched on February 28 that aims to rid Punjab of the drug problem by targeting smugglers and peddlers. Tried to take everyone along: Kataria Earlier, Kataria led the Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh along with Haryana CM Saini. The objective of the event was to prevent youngsters from falling prey to drug addiction. The march began from the Punjab Raj Bhavan in Sector 6 and ended at Tiranga Park in Sector 17 after a stop at the UT Secretariat. Kataria said efforts are underway to fight drug addiction and he wanted to contribute to them. He said several Olympic-level players had joined the walk for drug-free Chandigarh campaign. 'I have tried to take everyone along,' said the governor, who had undertaken a six-day padyatra on April 3 from the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in Dera Baba Nanak town of Gurdaspur district. That march culminated at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 8. He said the border state of Punjab was vulnerable as neighbouring Pakistan was fighting a proxy war by sending drugs to create problems in India. During the march, he urged citizens to make the campaign against drugs a people's movement. Meanwhile, the Punjab government also launched an anti-drug awareness campaign, 'Nasha Mukti Yatra', on May 2, that will cover every village and ward of the state in May and June. Haryana CM seeks better coordination 'So many youngsters are going towards the direction of drugs, there are challenges in front of us, including social media. We need to stay away from this in order to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Viksit Bharat vision, which is why this event has been organised in Chandigarh,' Saini told reporters at the event. He emphasised the importance of coordination between the states and enforcement agencies to address the growing drug menace. 'The people of Haryana, Chandigarh, and Punjab are doing commendable work in this direction. If the police take action against illegal drug trafficking in any particular state, the drug dealers start moving towards the neighbouring states. This problem can be stopped if various states and enforcement agencies work together in coordination. I believe the Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh administrations need to coordinate better for this. I have full faith that together we will eradicate this addiction from its roots,' Saini added. (With ANI inputs)
