News Mania Desk/Sohom Chatterjee/5th September 2024
In the light of the recent protests with the demand of justice to be served for the horrible rape and murder case of the young woman doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, the state government has decided to temporarily put off the Teachers’ Day programme which is held annually on September 5 at Netaji Indoor stadium.
This year’s programme was ought to take place Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan in which the toppers in board exams are felicitated and some teachers, for their exceptional contribution in the field of education, are awarded the ‘Shiksha Ratna’ award in the presence of CM Mamata Banerjee, Education Minister Bratya Basu and a few other ministers, officials and delicates.
However, the civil unrest of the state at the moment has prompted the government to postpone the event.
A circular issued by the commissioner of school education on Tuesday read, “This is to inform you that the programme on felicitation to the board toppers, 2024 and felicitation of the eminent teachers & Sera Vidyalayas on 5th September has been postponed. The revised programme schedule will be informed in due course.”
While clarifying the reason of doing so, an higher government official said, “Although the notification did not mention the reason for the postponement, it is clear the government did not want to take a chance. If any of the toppers shouts any slogan in the presence of the chief minister, it would be uncomfortable for the government.”
Sources report that the government had planned to felicitate 61 prominent teachers, 608 board toppers and 13 schools this year.
Sukumar Pyne, General secretary of All Bengal Teachers Association (ABTA), commented on the situation, “Basically the state government and the Chief Minister is now afraid of people…”
