Politicians to distribute books, bags to schoolkids

ALLAHABAD: With the state heading for the next assembly polls within a few months, the state government's education department has issued an order directing officials to get free of cost books and bags distributed to students of government schools through public representatives.
It would be for the first time that primary and upper primary school children (up to class VIII) would get stationery through a political party leader in grand ceremonies, as opposed to the earlier practice of distributing through teachers.
Director (basic education), Dinesh Babu Sharma, in a letter dated September 1 and issued to all basic shiksha adhikaris (BSAs), had instructed them to involve public representatives for the distribution of bags and books. "It has also been directed to prepare a list of schools where books and bags were distributed by public representatives and sent to directorate within a week," said Sharma.
Following the new directions, principals of the schools who had already given books to students in August would now be re-distributing them, along with bags, through MLAs, MLCs or ex-MPs. "Although the order is not specific about involving only the ruling party's representatives, in effect principals are inviting only SP leaders," says a principal on the condition of anonymity.
"Earlier distributing books from any politician was optional and state basic education department was never strict about it. But with assembly elections nearing, the exercise has been made mandatory," he adds.
It may be recalled that books and copies should have been distributed with the start of academic session in April but due to delay in printing and tendering process, the printing completed in July and children started receiving it from mid-August.
The bags are being distributed for the first time for which announcement was made by chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in August. To ensure that the directions were followed in each school, basic siksha adhikaris (BSAs) have been asked to provide a list of schools in their respective district who have complied the order.