Students Islamic organization releases manifesto for parties

New Delhi, Mar 19: Setting up a 25-point agenda for political parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Students Islamic Organisation of India released its manifesto aimed at "social and educational upliftment of students in the country".

"History in our textbooks is being distorted. Secular fabric of the nation is under strain with the kind of contents being put in textbooks taught to students. Communalism and fascism are a threat to our democracy" said Ashfaq Ahmed, National President of Students Islamic organisation while reading out a part of the manifesto in front of reporters.

Ahmed also alleged that communal tension is being spread under the garb of school education.

"The textbooks of Rajasthan for children of class 11 and 12 are teaching things that should not even be published. This includes states like Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka as well" he said in an apparent reference to states ruled by the BJP and its allies.

Taking a jibe at BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate NarendraModi on the issue of development politics, Ahmed asserted that Muslims are not against development but against development only of select sections of the society.

"Muslims are not against development. But there is no inclusive development in Modi's politics. Modi does not have a specific development model. His talks mean nothing," he said.

When asked if he agrees that there are various sections of the society who believe in Modi's politics on the issue of development, he said that "Muslim youth are not with Modi's developmental model."

While hitting out at the ruling Congress-led UPA government, Ahmed claimed "Congress government has not fulfilled the recommendations of the Sachar Committee in spite of having an opportunity. There are various recommendations that are yet to see the light of the day.

Demands:

1. Moral Values and Ethical Standards should be made the part of academic curriculum, besides consumption of Alcohol, Drugs and Vulgar entertainment should be proscribed. .
2. RTE Act should be implemented effectively. Strict penalties must be imposed on schools if they fail to comply with the RTE norms.
3. The existing vacancies in teacher posts should be filled and all the existing teachers who are working on contractual basis should be regularized.
4. Efforts should be made to create exclusive education options based on gender sensitive requirements.
5. National Curriculum Framework 2005 should be reviewed with a fundamental commitment to secular spirit.
6. Commercialization ' of education should be stopped.
7. The number of seats- intake in MBBS/MD/MS should be increased for the colleges across the country.
8. There should be vigilant and monitoring mechanism established to check the status, quality and research in technical education.
9. Provide free online courseware through online web and Video courses for Medicine, Engineering, Science and humanities streams by premier institutes like AIIMS, IITs, IIMs, and Central Universities.
10. Skill development and Job assistance cells should be established in educational institutions.
11. Delhi University Four Year Undergraduate Programme ' (FYUP) should be reviewed.
12. Educational institutions and Universities should start remedial coaching centers for students from deprived sections of the society, so as to make them line up with academic challenges and reforms.
13. The number of centers for UGC-NET exam should increase.
14. The number of colleges and hostels under MCD 's should increase.
15. The budgetary allocation for education should be increased up to 6% of the GDP.
16. The Aligarh Muslim University should be given the minority status.
17. Re- Install the Foreign Language choice in an optional paper in the UPSC Exam.
18. Implement all the recommendations of Sachar committee and Mishra commission reports.
19. The students seeking a higher level of education should be provided interest-free loans.
20. There should be vigilant body formed, to check “Overseas Educational Consultants”.
21. A national level institution such as the National Institute of Education should be established and should be dedicated to design sound educational policies, to carry research in shaping the qualitative and relevant curriculum.
22. Psychological counseling and Rehabilitation centers must be established in campuses.
23. Following the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Commission, the Student Politics and elections should be allowed in campuses.
24. Technical and vocational skill development centers for youth should be opened in large scale along with the assistance for entrepreneurship.
25. The youngsters who are wrongly and illegally detained and later proved innocent should be financially compensated. A character certificate should be issued to them to continue their education and employment.
26. Students Islamic Organisation expects a positive response from your side to notify the issues through your media, it would be a great contribution for Students and Education.