Bihar Indo-French cooperation accords During a 30-minute interaction with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on December 3, French ambass-ador to India Francois Richier offered cooperation in higher education, particularly by way of student and faculty exchange programmes with the new Nalanda International University and National Institute of Technology (NIT), Patna. According to Richier, a memorandum of understanding has already been signed between Nalanda International University and French research school EFEO for student and faculty exchange programmes. A similar pact was signed between NIT, Patna and the Engineering School of France on December 4. Praising chief minister Nitish Kumar as a œvery positive man, Richier added that opportunities will be explored for engagement between France and Bihar in the field of primary education as well. After his discussions the ambassador visited the famous Buddhist site of Bodh Gaya and offered prayers. Nagaland Plea for differently abled Governor Ashwani Kumar called upon private industry, religious and educat-ional institutions as also government, to provide employment to differently abled people. Addressing an industry-sponsored symposium in Kohima on December 3, Kumar called upon the Central and state governments to œjoin the struggle of differently abled people. œWhile it may take time to change the attitudes of people, governments and parliaments around the world have legislated laws to protect the rights and promote the cause of differently abled people, he said, urging private sector companies and industrial establishments, religious and educational institutions to create jobs for differently abled people in Nagaland and beyond. Tripura State university plans A state government-sponsored university will be established on the grounds of the Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) College in Agartala. Tripura™s higher education minister Bhanu Lal Saha informed the media in Agartala on December 3 that MBB College was chosen as the site of the proposed university because it has a sprawling campus. According to Saha, a committee headed by the education secretary has finalised a plan for constructing the proposed university and the state government will shortly introduce a Bill in the legislative assembly for the purpose. The state government will also forward a proposal to the University Grants Commission for obtaining approval for the varsity. œA detailed project report is almost ready and will be forwarded to the Centre for sanction of funds estimated at Rs.15 crore per year, adds Saha. The state government will also establish an English-medium science college on the premises of the old Central Jail in Agartala as a new jail has been constructed at Bishalgarh, a distance of 16 km from the state capital. Jharkhand XLRI™s new international centre Delivering the 22nd Annual JRD Tata Ethics Oration on Business Ethics organised by the XLRI School of Mana-gement in Jamshedpur on December 7, Union HRD minister Dr. M.M. Pallam Raju expounded on the link between education, business and politics. During the course of his address, Raju expressed appreciation of XLRI as the first B-school in the country to introduce a core course on managerial ethics and award a medal to the best writer…
