
HAVING been feted several times on the world stage for its success in the fight against polio,the Health Ministry is now hoping the report card will induce Bill Gates to provide financial support for the polio technical units. Gates,who recently withdrew funding for the HIV-AIDS programme,is slated to meet Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday. Another recognition for the polio success will come on the same day when a delegation from Pakistan,led by the special assistant to the Prime Minister,Shahnawaz Wazir Ali,reaches India,seeking lessons and cooperation in the fight against polio.
Transfer Tremors
Keeping off Vaastu
THE HRD Ministry has kick-started its ambitious new vocational education programme and UGC has decided that these courses should be introduced in at least 100 institutions. There is one caveat though. While institutions will be free to devise their own vocational courses,Vaastu courses,it is learnt,are a complete no-no. Unimpressed with the huge rush for Vaastu courses,the UGC has gone so far as to take a decision that no Vaastu courses may be supported under this scheme. It brings back memories of the UPA-I de-saffronisation campaign when astrology was introduced as a course by the NDA government in colleges and universities.