Andhra rights panel bans children's reality shows

Hyderabad, June 12 : The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission Saturday banned television reality shows involving children.Pronouncing its verdict on the petitions filed by some NGOs, the commission banned with immediate effect "Aata" a dance reality show on Zee Telugu channel and directed the police to take action against such shows on other channels.Commission chairman Justice Subhashan Reddy said human rights were being violated in shows like "Ata" as they portray children in an objectionable manner. The commission observed that such shows were badly affecting the health of children and creating several problems. "These children don't even know what they are doing and how they are being used. The physical and psychological growth of children continue till 18 years of age and such reality shows are having bad effect on their growth," he said. The commission's verdict came on a batch of petitions filed in April by groups working for children's rights. They sought a ban on reality shows for making children perform obscene numbers. The commission also directed police to take action against obscene advertisements and programmes on television channels. It called for framing guidelines for the TV programmes especially the reality shows. Subhashan Reddy allowed channels to submit their arguments against the ban. The commission will conduct a public hearing on the issue July 3. In April, the commission had found fault with parents for encouraging their children to participate in such realty shows. "Don't you feel uncomfortable with the way your children have been dressed up for the show," Reddy had asked the delegation of six parents, who had opposed the petitions for banning the reality show.
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Andhra Pradesh CM moots 6-point plan for excellence in school education

Hyderabad, Jun 12 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K.Rosaiah today mooted a six-point action Plan for teachers and School Education Department to achieve excellence in school education as a whole in the state, particularly in the Government Schools.The Chief Minister suggested constant and close monitoring of attendance in the schools, both of teachers and students, improvement in teaching standards in schools; all text books to all classes should be made available on the day of the reopening of schools; all available schemes and programmes like SSA should be made use of to improve the infrastructure facilities in the schools; Parents - Teachers Committees should see that the standards of Government schools catch up with that of private and Corporate schools and drop-outs in the schools also should be put an end to. The Chief Minister, who would launch the 'badibata' (Way to School) Programme on Monday, said the State Government is spending huge funds on education, particularly school education in the state. The state was also leveraging funds from the Government of India schemes like Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) for increasing infrastructure like school buildings, Compound Walls and for recruitment of teachers, a release here today quoted him as saying. The Chief Minister today discussed the issues pertaining to School Education with Secondary Education Minister Manikya Varaprasad and officials.
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Lok Satta to survey impelementation Of Right to Education Act

Hyderabad, Jun 12 : The District units of the Lok Satta Party would undertake a random survey of elementary schools to ascertain the steps Andhra Pradesh Government had taken to implement the Right to Education Act (REA)which came into force recently.The Act provides for free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 from Classes I to VIII. In a statement the party said society would have to share the responsibility with the Government in making the implementation of the legisation a success as the future of the country depended on children in schools. The LSP teams would examine whether the schools have the basic infrastructure like buildings, toilets and drinking water facility and adequate number of qualified teachers and whether they were accessible to students in both urban and rural areas.
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Pressure on Congress, TDP not to contest Telangana by-polls

Hyderabad, June 12 : Pressure is mounting on the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh against contesting the upcoming by-elections in the 12 assembly constituencies in Telangana.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Saturday urged both parties to stay away from the poll in response to the call given by Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading the movement for separate statehood to Telangana. TRS chief K.Chandrasekhara Rao told reporters that JAC was working to protect the self-respect of Telangana people and hence all the political parties should abide by its decision. JAC convenor M.Kodandaram said the JAC was not afraid of a contest if Congress and Telugu Desam Party entered the fray. A day after appealing to both Congress and TDP not to contest the by-polls, he said JAC was ready for a contest if it becomes inevitable. He, however, said if Congress and TDP field their candidates, it would amount to a betrayal of the Telangana cause. The TRS is the main constituent of JAC while Telangana leaders of both Congress party and TDP quit the apex body following differences with Kodandaram. The JAC was formed by pro-Telangana groups for a united struggle for Telangana state after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government decided to put on hold its Dec 9 statement to initiate the process for formation of separate state. The statement was made after 11-day hunger strike by Chandrasekhara Rao. Elections to 12 assembly constituencies in Telangana are scheduled to be held in August. The vacancies were caused in February this year when 10 legislators of TRS quit over the demand for separate Telangana state. One legislator each of the TDP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also quit. The by-elections are seen as a major test for both the Telangana slogan and the popularity of TRS. The sub-regional party has already declared that those contesting against its candidates in 10 constituencies would be traitors to Telangana. Meanwhile, serious differences have cropped up both in the Congress party and the TDP over contesting the by-polls with their leaders from Telangana strongly opposing the move. Congress' state unit has left the decision to the central leadership while a discussion is on in the TDP.
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SW Monsoon brings rain in AP

Hyderabad, Jun 12 : Southwest monsoon has been vigorous over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and active over Rayalaseema, with rain occurring at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema and at a few places over Telangana.The heavy rainfalls recorded in cm are Kavali ten, Avanigadda (Krishna district) and Kandukur (Prakasam district) eight each, Bapatla, Ongole, Amalapuram (East Godavari district) and Repalle (Guntur district) seven each. The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Kurnool, Addanki (Prakasam district) and Prathipadu (East Godavari district) received five each, Nandyal, Bhimavaram (West Godavari district), Podili (Prakasam district) and Punganur (Chittoor district) received four cm each, Narsapur, Nellore, Alampur and Wanaparthy (both Mahabubnagar district), Darsi (Prakasam district), Gudivada (Krishna district), Gudur, Sullurpet, Tada and Vinjamur (all Nellore district) and Ichapuram (Srikakulam district) three each. The maximum temperatures fell at one or two places over Telangana. They were significantly above normal at a few places over Telangana. The highest maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius was recorded at Adilabad and Khammam. Moderate to rather heavy rain/thundershowers would occur at most places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and may occur at many places over Rayalaseema. Light to moderate rain/thundershowers may occur at a few places over Telangana. A spell of rain/thundershowers would occur in parts of the city.Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 36 and 24 degrees respectively.
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