UGC also issues guidelines on combating terrorism and weapons of mass destruction
By Mumtaz Alam, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 20 July 2015: A week after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued a controversial dress code for the 25th July AIPMT (All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Test), the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a notice about fabric code for ceremonial dresses. The fabric code of UGC is guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s love for handloom.
“Honourable Prime Minister has emphasised on revival of handloom and improving earnings of the handloom weavers. Handloom fabric not only forms an integral part of our rich culture and heritage but also provides livelihood opportunity to lakhs of people living in the rural areas,” says a 15th July notice uploaded on the website of UGC on 17th July.
The UGC, in its notice, says handloom fabric would give a sense of pride of being Indian, and would also boost the handloom industry.
UGC notice on use of handloom for ceremonial occasions
“Using ceremonial robes made of handloom fabric would not only give a sense of pride of being Indian but also be more comfortable in the hot and humid weather. Greater usage of handloom garments for apparel would promote the handloom industry in the country,” says the notice to all vice chancellors. It is signed by Dr Jaspal S Sandhu, Secretary, UGC.
The UGC has asked all universities to consider using handloom fabric for ceremonial dresses.
“All the universities are requested to consider using handloom fabric for ceremonial dresses prescribed for special occasions like convocation etc. this may also be brought to the notice of the colleges affiliated to your university,” says the notice.
On 9th July, CBSE had issued a strict dress code for the 25th July AIPMT. The dress code which prohibited dozens of things including shoes, jewelry, scarf and full-sleeve kurta/shirt had created furor in the media.
Muslims took prohibition of scarf and full-sleeve kurta as ban on their religious hijab. However, the UGC later clarified its dress code did not refer to religious scarf.
Besides fabric code, the UGC, on 17th July, has issued several other notices – one relates to terrorism and other to weapons of mass destruction.
UGC has asked universities “to avoid such elements which may advance the agenda of terrorism” and asked them to include “vital issues such as weapons of mass destruction (WMD), disarmament, peaceful uses of chemistry in the university curricula.”
UGC guideline on Terror
“The Government of India had set up the second Administrative Reforms Commission which submitted its eighth report. The eighth report on combating terrorism, protecting by righteousness deals with the menace of terrorism. The menace of terrorism is an unprecedented threat which requires extraordinary and multi-prolonged action by all organs of the government and society,” says the notice on terror.
UGC notice on combating terrorism
“One of the recommendations of the report contains that the media is a source for all channels of mass information and communication. Therefore, media policy should include principles of self-restraint. The institutions imparting education in mass communication and journalism need to be sensitised to avoid such elements which may advance the agenda of terrorism. You are requested to kindly bring it to the notice of all your departments imparting mass communication and journalism education of the recommendations,” it says.
UGC guideline on WMD
“The Government of India is a prominent signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention has decided that education and awareness should be a thrust area to create mass awareness of chemical disarmament.”
“The most important target is the youth studying in schools and colleges. The coverage of topics on such important and vital issues such as weapons of mass destruction, disarmament and peaceful uses of chemistry are grossly inadequate in our curriculum at university level. The young students who are well conversant with profound scientific principles and advanced technological applications are largely ignorant of important international conventions like Chemical Weapons Convention which have a bearing on the welfare of the entire humankind.”
UGC notice on inclusion of WMD in curriculum
“You are requested to kindly take necessary measures for inclusion of vital issues such as weapons of mass destruction (WMD), disarmament, peaceful uses of chemistry in the university curricula.”
Related Story:
CBSE bans scarf, full-sleeve kurta for AIPMT; Muslims angry
