Elementary education being the foundation of pyramid in the education system has been accorded high priority. To ensure "Education for All' the Department of School Education and Literacy has a multi pronged approach. Two flagship programmes are being implemented viz. the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Mid-Day Meal Programme (MDM).

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has allocated Rs 1225 lakh, Rs 3208.44 lakh and Rs 9.24 lakh respectively to Manipur for the years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. The target for construction of school buildings in Manipur was 170 in the year 2004-05, 287 in 2005-06 and 283 in 2006-07. So far 411 school buildings were constructed during the period. During the last three years, achievement made under the drinking water facilities was 820 schools.

The first India-Africa summit, though late to come, holds a lot of promise in a number of areas.

INDIA, following the example of leading economic powers such as France and China, hosted an India-Africa summit for the first time.

Science Express has become centre of Bhopalites' attraction. It has been stationed at Habibganj Railway Station for the last three days. Several models and prototypes on science are on display in Science Express. It has already journeyed around 150 cities of the country. Science Express is the storehouse of knowledge for the children. Through it, little children are exposed to outside environment and satiates various questions that crops up in their mind. The models have been decorated by attractive colours and useful pieces of information are being provided through them.

Planning Commission yesterday fixed Nagaland's annual plan size for 2008 -09 at Rs 1,200 crore, including an additional Central assistance of Rs 150 crore for its special projects. The plan size was fixed at a meeting between State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia at a meeting here, according to an official release.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Tuesday called upon the corporate sector to perform its social responsibility in other sectors such as education, social service, power and development by working together with the people and the government. Addressing a session on public-private partnership at a national convention on "Corporate social responsibility' in New Delhi, Ms. Raje said the corporate sector's collaboration with other stakeholders would bring prosperity to it and help evolve its positive role in the progress of the nation.

Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Abdul Aziz Zargar and Minister for Forests Qazi Mohammad Afzal today flagged off a team of 40 progressive farmers including women for tour to outside state. The team would visit Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand to get acquainted with the latest agriculture technology.

Science has been a part of our day-to-day life. It developed along with the progress of man. In other words, life of man progressed along with the development of science. Our imaginations were behind every scientific invention. Inventions in different fields will go on for the benefit of mankind. During the last five decades science has taken a giant stride. 25-30 years ago no one would have believed of a device as small as a match box can be used as phone, camera, internet browser, music recorder, music player, video player, video camera, calculator and a lot more - all rolled into one.

BANDIPORA: Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Abdul Aziz Zargar said that government is committed to provide all basic facilities to the people of the state. He said road connectivity, adequate drinking water facility, power, health and education are the top most priority sectors of the government. Minister was addressing a large public gathering at Erin Bandipora today.

The Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled States of not properly implementing the Centrally-sponsored welfare schemes in their respective areas. Even the flagship programmes of the United Progressive Alliance government such as the Horticulture Mission, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the National Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) were ridden with corruption and mismanagement in BJP-ruled States, the party said.