Latest news with #B.ManickamTagore
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
States, UTs free to decide modalities of implementing three-language policy, says Union Minister of State
Since education is a subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, it is up to the respective State and Union Territory governments to decide on the modalities of implementing the three-language policy, in accordance with the spirit and recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 21, 2025). The policy emphasised the promotion of multilingualism and encourages States/UTs to adopt the three-language formula in a flexible manner, taking local needs, linguistic diversity, and implementation feasibility into consideration, the Minister said. In his reply to a query by Virudhunagar MP B. Manickam Tagore and Namakkal MP V.S. Matheswaran, Mr. Chaudhary cited a provision in the NEP 2020, which stated that the three-language formula would continue to be implemented, keeping in mind the Constitutional provisions, but that 'there will be a greater flexibility in the three-language formula, and no language will be imposed on any State.' The Minister further said the Government of India regularly consulted experts, linguists, State and national-level policy makers, curriculum developers and implementers, practising teachers and students, parents, teachers, teacher educators, parents, NGOs (and also students) working in the field of policy formulations and curriculum development. 'Prior to the formulation of the National Education Policy 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, a large number of stakeholders were consulted in person and also through digital means. All the regions/States were consulted and the opinions and practices of the various school systems were also taken into consideration for the making of the policy,' he said. As a follow-up of NEP 2020, the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE), 2023, has been developed, and it provides a roadmap for the implementation of NEP 2020 on Languages Education in India, he said. 'The NCF aims to make a student an independent speaker, reader, and writer in at least three languages denoted as R1, R2 and R3.' While R1 was the first language in which students learn literacy, ideally their mother tongue or, if not feasible, the State language, which would be a familiar language, with proficiency expected by age 8, R2 was the second language distinct from R1, with proficiency to be achieved by age 11. R3 was the third language different from R1 and R2, with proficiency targeted by age 14, the Minister said.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Congress MP objects to Railway Board's proposal to freeze Madurai-Thoothukudi (via Aruppukottai) new railway line project
Virudhunagar Member of Parliament B. Manickam Tagore has raised strong objection to the Railway Board's proposal to freeze sanctioned funds for Madurai-Thoothukudi (via Aruppukottai) broad gauge new line project. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress MP said that he was deeply concerned over the Railway Board's decision, as per its communication dated May 14, that proposed to freezing and surrender of funds sanctioned for Madurai-Thoothukudi (via Aruppukottai) Phase II broad gauge line project for which ₹55.1667 crore had already been allocated under 2025-26 Budget. The project was originally approved in 2011-12. It held tremendous strategic and socio-economic significance for Tamil Nadu, especially for the underserved districts of Madurai, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar. The project promised enhanced connectivity, economic revitalisation and employment generation in backward regions that have long-awaited this vital rail link, the letter said. 'It is disheartening that despite clear progress — most notably the successful completion and commissioning of the 18-km stretch of new railway line between Milavittan and Melmarudur in March 2022 — the project is now being pushed towards abandonment through administrative freezing. This decision contradicts the vision of inclusive development and commitments made to the South Tamil Nadu,' the MP said. After administrative sanction was granted for land acquisition, 350 special posts were created to support the implementation of the project. However, these sanctioned staff have reportedly not received salaries for over a year and the Ministry of Railway have given concurrence for the disbandment of these posts. 'This is unjust to those involved and shows a systemic withdrawal of support for a project already in motion,' he added. During the State Finance Ministers' meeting held in June 2022, Tamil Nadu's Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu had explicitly urged the Union Government to allocate funds to this official infrastructure initiative. The State Government has been pro-active in seeking support and coordination from the Centre for this project. The Congress MP sought intervention of the Prime Minister against the Railway Board's proposal of freezing the project and sought resumption of it ensuring that the earlier investments were not wasted. The Prime Minister should also reinstate the sanctioned posts and ensure disbursal of pending salaries and ensure appropriate and timely-budgetary allocation for the project to reach completion without further delay.
