Sunday, September 20

Having minimum educational norms for any political aspirant must be non-debatable in a 21st-century society.

Literacy is a fundamental human right and the foundation for lifelong learning. It is fully essential to social and human development in its ability to transform lives.-UNESCO


I wonder at the political colour given to my fair legal comment in a TV Debate; on the progressive legislation fixing minimum qualification for contesting panchayat elections. What ideally must have been a welcome initiative is being seen conservatively through tunnel vision. Essentially, universalisation of basic education is a constitutional mandate. Constitutionally, it is the State’s responsibility to provide compulsory education to children in the age bracket of 6-14 years. So how does the idea of establishing a minimum educational qualification for any person representing the masses arise in the first place?

        The decentralized Panchayati Raj Institutions were endowed with the responsibility of implementing various educational programmes along with other developmental schemes. The minimum educational requirement should, therefore, act as a thrust mechanism to promote education as a basic human right. Having minimum educational norms for any political aspirant must be non-debatable in a 21st-century society.

No comments:

Post a Comment