Govt fishing for ideas for Swarnim Gujarat, plans essay contest

AHMEDABAD: The state government seems to have hit upon a novel way to get ideas for Swarnim Gujarat' celebrations to mark 50 years of foundation of Gujarat host an essay contest!
The state information department has written to the district education officers of all districts to host an essay contest in schools and colleges on the government's own projects and ideas generated here will be realised in Swarnim Gujarat celebrations.
Following the notification, come November 25, students of class VIII and class X will write essays on government projects like Nirmal Gujarat', Nirogi Balak', Kanya Kelavani', Vanbandhu Yojna' and Krushi Mahotsav'.
It needs mention that these are all pet schemes of Chief Minister Narendra Modi which were dedicated towards cleanliness, infant health, increasing enrolment and decreasing drop-out rate especially of girls in schools, scheme for tribal upliftment and village-to-village programme of state officials to reach awareness to farmers to better agriculture in Gujarat.
"All schools should participate in an essay contest where students write an 800-word essay on one of the five topics," says the notification that has been sent to various DEOs. A separate essay contest will later be organised on December 6 where a group of 50 schools each will participate. "The best essays will be selected and brought out in a special golden jubilee celebrations publication," says the notification.
Critics said the essay contest is an easy way for the government to propagate its welfare schemes and also get away with good ideas that emanate from the essays.
In fact, it has also be claimed that the state government is reluctant to spend more funds on building content for Swarnim Gujarat Celebrations and the essay contest is good for both ideation and propaganda.
"Leave alone students, even most of the teachers don't know about these five schemes. They will first have to read up to be able to write essays. This is unnecessary," said a senior educationist.