Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyaan

The Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyan (RAA) envisages to motivate and engage children of the age group from 6-18 years in Science, Mathematics and Technology through observation, experimentation, inference drawing, model building, etc. both through inside and outside classroom activities and processes. It seeks to create curiosity, excitement and spirit of innovation and exploration amongst school children, by encouraging higher education institutions to assist secondary and elementary schools in the study of Science and Mathematics. The RAA would conduct activities by using funds of the existing schemes and institutions of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Qualitative Reforms in Higher Education The Ministry of Human Resource Development has constituted a Council for Industry & Higher Education Collaboration (CIHEC) headed by HRD Minister, with representatives from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT) and industry including industry associations such as Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) and Progress Harmony and Development Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHDCCI); private industry and Public Sector Undertaking (PSUs). CIHEC is envisioned to serve as a professional stakeholder group and identify issues and opportunities and facilitate development of strategies and innovative instruments of collaboration between Industry and Academia. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the overall quality of existing State higher educational institutions is sought to be improved by ensuring their conformity to prescribed norms and standards and adoption of accreditation as a mandatory quality assurance framework. Certain academic, administrative and governance reforms are a precondition for receiving funding under RUSA. Under RUSA, participating States are permitted to mobilize 50% of the State contribution of funding through Public-Private Partnerships, Corporate Social Responsibility funds, philanthropic contributions etc. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken various measures for educational reforms, such as the introduction of the semester system, the regular updating of curricula and Choice Based Credit Systems (CBCS), etc. The UGC has issued the UGC Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, Regulation, 2010 for improving the standard of teaching in Indian universities. It has also issued the Mandatory Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions, Regulations, 2012 whereby all eligible higher Educational institutions are required to get themselves accredited. The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has informed that in order to promote quality of technical education, it has introduced various schemes such as Faculty Development Programme, Visiting Professorship, National Faculty in Engineering and Technology with Industrial Collaboration (NAFETIC), Quality Improvement Programme etc. It has also issued the Mandatory Accreditation of all Programs/Courses in Technical Education Institutions, University Departments and Institutions Deemed to be Universities imparting Technical Education Regulations, 2014 which makes it mandatory for each technical education institutions, university departments and institutions Deemed to be Universities imparting technical education to get all its programs/courses accredited. Effective Implementation of Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) The following steps have been taken for effective implementation of the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS):- i)               The Central Government has issued detailed guidelines to ensure quality, safety and hygiene under Mid Day Meal Scheme to all the States / UTs. These inter-alia include mandatory tasting of the meal by 2-3 adults including one teacher before it is served to children; Safe storage and supply of ingredients to schools; Procurement of pulses and ingredients of branded and Ag-mark quality and supply to schools and testing of food samples by accredited laboratories. ii)             Revision of cooking cost by 7.5%. iii)           Construction of kitchen-cum-stores in the schools to ensure safe storage of ingredients and preparation of meals in a hygienic environment. iv)           Provision of Central assistance @ Rs. 5000/- per school for procurement and replacement of kitchen devices. v)             Social Auditing of the Scheme has been started. VI)     38 Monitoring Institutes and Joint Review Mission also monitor and   suggest measures for improvement in the Scheme. Web enabled Management Information System for Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDM-MIS) at national level for effective monitoring of the Scheme. The food norms for primary as well as upper primary children defined under Mid Day Meal Scheme are as under: S. No. Items Quantity Per Day Primary Upper Primary 1. Food grains (viz. rice, wheat) 100 gms 150 gms 2. Pulses 20 gms 30 gms 3. Vegetables 50 gms 75 gms 4. Oil & fat 5 gms 7.5 gms 5. Salt & Condiments As per need As per need