Survey avoids debate on 0.1% or 5% irrigation coverage

Highly placed sources in the ministry of agriculture led by Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil of the Congress said,“As far as our department is concerned we stand by the 0.1% increase in the last one decade as the survey last year had stated. The prospects of substantial rise is ruled out as this year we are facing a severe drought.”

Ministry of revenue supposed to furnish details to the ministry of agriculture has not adequately responded either.

Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare of the NCP who had been insisting on 5% rise has avoided putting it on record in the survey. The department officials said,“There was a feeling that since the government has set up a SIT to look into these aspects it would have been futile to make any pronouncements. Let SIT submit its report.”

A senior minister said,“CM Prithviraj Chavan has urged both departments to ascertain facts and make necessary corrections. However,both sides are unwilling to budge from their stated positions. As a result,the government decided to skipped it.”

However,it was criticised by the Opposition. BJP (MLA) Devendra Fadnavis said,“I have already moved a breach of privilege against the government for misleading the assembly. Ideally,they should have clarified their stand in the survey.”

State slips in primary education

The quality of primary education in government-run as well as private schools has been declining in the state after 2007-08,in three key indexes,accessibility,infrastructure and teacher presence,according to the Economic Survey. The share of private schools in the state increased from 28.2 in 2009-10 to 29 in 2010-11.

Countrywide composite educational development index (EDI) for states show Maharashtra’s rank has been slipping. For upper primary schools,the state was ranked 13th in 2009-10 which fell to 18 in 2010-11. For primary levels,the rank slipped from 14 to 15 and for composite (both primary and upper primary) level,from 13 to 17. The index has been computed by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration along with the Union HRD Ministry’s department of school education and literacy.

EDI uses state-specific indicators: access,infrastructure,teachers and outcome. Accessibility index fell from 0.71 to 0.69 for primary schools from 2007-08 to 2010-11. Infrastructure index for primary and upper primary schools fell from 0.82 to 0.72 and from 0.74 to 0.67 in the same period. Teacher presence fell from 0.81 to 0.74 for primary and from 0.73 to 0.72 upper primary schools. Surprisingly,the report says outcome index rose from 0.77 to 0.88 for primary and from 0.72 to 0.80 for upper primary schools.