All government primary schools will continue to be open across Uttar Pradesh 17 September, which is a Sunday, to celebrate the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 67th birthday. 1.60 lakh schools are to stay open on the day, and it has been made compulsory for all the students to attend the birthday celebrations.
As reported by The Times Of India, Anupma Jaiswal, who is the Minister of state for basic education (Independent charge) has said that about 1.60 lakh government primary schools across the state will celebrate the PM’s birthday.
She said, “MLAs who have adopted schools in their region will go there and promote PM’s message of cleanliness as a part of the celebrations,” adding that his dream of a ‘Swachh Bharat’ could only be attained by helping awaring children about it and this will be the best gift to the PM on his birthday. She said, “Sweets will also be distributed among the students. The motive behind MLAs adopting schools in their areas is to make sure community participation in a potent monitoring system.”
According to the BJP state spokesperson, the celebrations in the schools are warranted because PM Modi is an inspiration for all. He said, “He is a perfect icon for children because he has led a life full of hardship and today he is the most powerful man in the world’s largest democracy.” He further added that the celebrations at schools would be a significant effort to aware children about cleanliness.
The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has sent a directive to all higher education institutions to observe ‘cleanliness fortnight’ from 1 September to 15.
In this context, Vice chancellors have also been asked to undertake related activities in their universities, and the state education department has also directed schools to observe it.
Students have to observe ‘clean campus day’ on day one, ‘clean hostel day’ on the second day and the next two days they have to observe ‘green campus day’ and ‘clean mess day’, according to the UGC’s day-wise action plan.
According to the officials, the students will have to visit slums and nearby villages to explain the concept of cleanliness.
The government has also announced a national short film competition and an essay competition on ‘What I can do for a clean India’. 8 September will be the last date for entries to these competitions, and the winning entries from the institute-level essay competition and members of the film clubs may be asked to participate in the competitions proposed by the ministry of drinking water and sanitation.
As reported by The Economic Times, BJP has 311 of the 403 MLAs in the state’s legislative assembly, and each MLA will visit one school and distribute sweets, will promote the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and talk about PM’s vision of new India.
The Logical Indian community condemns the order directed by Anupma Jaiswal. The government cannot force students to be present in schools on Sundays because of birthday celebrations of PM. The emphasis on Swachh Bharat is important but that does not mean that students would be compelled to come on Sundays.