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Tag: Dharmendra Pradhan

  • Darwin, periodic table not removed from NCERT syllabi, says Dharmendra Pradhan

    Darwin, periodic table not removed from NCERT syllabi, says Dharmendra Pradhan

    PUNE:  In a bid to end the controversy surrounding the deletion of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution from NCERT textbooks, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said that “nothing of this sort has happened”.

    “A discussion is going on these days that Darwin’s theory of evolution has been removed from science books by the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) and the periodic table has been left out, but I would like to state here publicly that nothing of this sort has happened,” said Pradhan, who is in Pune to attend the fourth Education Working Group (EdWG) meeting of G20.

    After the controversy erupted, the minister said that he had sought details from the NCERT, an autonomous body that develops syllabi and prepares textbooks.  “According to them, experts had advised that during COVID-19, some repetitive parts could be reduced and later brought back. So, the contents in Classes 8 and 9 are unchanged. In the Class 10 book, some portions related to the evolution theory were omitted last year, but it remains unchanged in Classes 11 and 12,” the minister said.

    However, Pradhan said, there is validity to the view that students who would not study science after Class 10 would miss out on some specific subjects related to Darwin’s theory. “The periodic table is taught in Class 9 and is also being taught in Classes 11 and 12. As per the NCERT, one or two examples (related to the theory of evolution) were omitted. But I would like to assure you that the National Education Policy is being implemented, and as per that policy, new textbooks are being prepared,” he said.

    A furore had erupted after it appeared that NCERT had removed Darwin’s theory and periodic table from the Class 10 textbook. Several scientists and educators had written an open letter, raising concerns on the deletion of the topics.

  • Dharmendra Pradhan gives assurance on new railway line in Odisha

    Dharmendra Pradhan gives assurance on new railway line in Odisha

    SAMBALPUR: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday assured the people of Deogarh that he would hold talks with the Railway Ministry over the proposal for a new line connecting Barkote in the district with Jharsuguda and Kuchinda sub-division in Sambalpur.

    Attending the Garib Kalyan Samavesh at Bad Bagicha in Deogarh, Pradhan said, “People of Deogarh gave me proposal for a railway line from Barkote to Jharsuguda through Deogarh town and Kuchinda sub-division. I humbly accept the proposal. The issue was raised in the Lok Sabha by Sambalpur MP Nitesh Ganga Deb. I will personally go to the Rail Bhawan and remind the officials about the aspiration of the people here.”

    If the state government provides land, the Centre will also accelerate the release of fund for the railway line from Barkote to Rourkela, he said. Highlighting the pro-people schemes of the Centre, the union minister said at least 73, 617 families of Deogarh district have received Rs 2,184 crore under different schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in the last nine years. The schemes include subsidised rice, PMAY, Ujjwala, Mudra loan and assistance to SHGs. “In these nine years, Odisha has been considered as a laboratory for the welfare of poor by PM Modi.”

    Pradhan further said the MSP of paddy was Rs 1,360 in 2014-15. To make farmers self-reliant, the paddy MSP has been increased to Rs 2,183. It has almost doubled under the tenure of Narendra Modi. Taking a dig at the state government, Pradhan said the Centre has provided nine lakh houses to urban and rural areas of Odisha under Pradhan Mantri Away Yojana (PMAY).

    However, the state government is not ready to allot those to beneficiaries. The fund released by the Centre is also being claimed by Odisha government as its own. “Since welfare of people is not the priority of the state government, a huge amount of the funds is being embezzled by the BJD,” he added. On the day, the union minister also addressed meetings at Fasimal and Tamparkela in Sambalpur district.

  • Babus Have Replaced Naveen Patnaik As Odisha CM: Dharmendra Pradhan

    Babus Have Replaced Naveen Patnaik As Odisha CM: Dharmendra Pradhan

    Bhubaneswar: Babus (bureaucrats) are ruling the roost in Odisha and from news reports, it appears that they have even replaced Naveen Patnaik as Chief Minister of the state,” Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan told mediapersons here on Friday.

    “And influential ministers of the state can be seen carrying umbrellas for them,” he quipped.

    Dharmendra also blamed the local administration for the violence and arson in Sambalpur during Human Jayanti procession earlier this month. “The government’s inefficiency and governance deficit led to such an untoward incident during the traditional bike rally before the Hanuman Jayanti celebration in the western Odisha town. A tribal youth was also killed on April 14. The police action leaves a lot to be desired. It is a concerted attempt by the state to target the Hindu community,” he alleged.

    The Union Minister further claimed that local administration did not cooperate with National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Member Ananta Nayak, who visited the violence-hit Sambalpur on April 26 but failed to meet the family members of the deceased. “She has now sent a fact-finding team to the state and I am thankful to her for doing so,” he said.

    “Maintaining peace does not mean torturing the majority community and threatening them with false cases. The Odisha government should follow Raj Dharma (duty of a ruler) and not discriminate people on basis of religion and caste,” he added.

    Meanwhile, BJP national president JP Nadda has formed a four-member team to look into the incidents of violence during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in Sambalpur.

  • Dharmendra Pradhan warns, Andhra Pradesh cannot forcefully enter quota

    Dharmendra Pradhan warns, Andhra Pradesh cannot forcefully enter quota

    Koraput: Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh cannot enter the disputed Kotia area of Koraput district in Odisha, warned Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

    During his one visit to Kotia, Pradhan celebrated the Utkala Dibasa with the locals of Kotia. On this occasion, while addressing the people, he said that the entire 28 villages of Kotia Grama Panchayat are of Odisha. He also asked the Andhra Pradesh Police to leave the border of Odisha.

    “Why you all are here? The Kotia Panchayat is of Odisha. Please go back. Go back Andhra,” Pradhan said to the officials of the neighbouring state. He then raised the ‘Bande Utkala Janani’ slogan.

    Pradhan also discussed about the border dispute and other issues with the locals during his visit.

  • Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan calls Odisha lawless

    Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan calls Odisha lawless

    BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan once again targeted the state government over the law and order situation following the abduction and murder of a teenager in Jharsuguda district for ransom. Pradhan, who is on a three-day visit to the state, expressed concern over the murder of 15-year-old Samarth Agarwal, son of a businessman, within two months of the daylight killing of minister Naba Kishore Das.

    Taking to Twitter, Pradhan said, “Lawless Odisha is a reality. High-time people in power recognise the fault-lines in the law and order situation in the state.” “Murder of young Samarth exactly within two months of the broad daylight killing of Minister Naba Das exposes Odisha govt’s tall claims on rule of law,” he also said.

    The minister said that no one is safe, neither the public nor the public representatives of the state. Such gruesome incidents, particularly in Jharsuguda, has shocked everyone and weakens their trust on the state government and its law and order machinery.

    “No amount of empathy will bring solace to young Samarth’s family. The Odisha government must pull up its socks to ensure rule of law and safety of citizens,” Pradhan tweeted. Earlier, Pradhan had launched an attack on the state government for its failure to protect one of its minister who was shot dead by a police officer on duty on January 29 in Brajarajnagar. He had also been rasing the Mahanga double murder case, Anand Toppo murder case and the alleged sexual harassment case against a BJD MLA.

    A war of words broke out with BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra accusing Pradhan of tarnishing the image of the state for petty political gain and explaining the minister the difference between lawlessness and law and order situation. In a series of tweets, the BJD MP said lawlessness is when during a GST raid at Padampur hundreds of BJP leaders and workers storm in forcibly and snath papers from the raiding party in a bid to help the businessman who had cheated in paying tax.

    It is law and order situation when 500 people block national highway between Sambalpur and Cuttack due to central neglect and delay in completion of work for many years or thousands of farmers protest against central neglect for not lifting surplus paddy.

    The BJD leader said crime is committed by a group or individual which is investigated and the guilty are brought to justice. He alleged that BJP-ruled states like UP, MP, Maharashtra, Assam and Haryana have reported more rape cases and some of them have reported more murder cases as per the NCRB report of 2021 and requested Pradhan not to mislead the people of the state and do politics on sensitive matters of crime.