AIDSO marks Phule birth anniversary, flags school closures

Dharwad: Members of All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) paid tributes to social reformer Jyotiba Phule on his 199th birth anniversary at a programme held in Dharwad Sunday.The organisation announced year-long celebrations leading up to Phule's birth bicentenary in April 2027, with events planned across the district.Addressing the gathering, AIDSO district secretary Shashikala Meti spoke on Phule's role in social reform and education. She said he fought the caste system that denied access to education and advocated universal education, urging the govt to ensure learning opportunities for all sections of society.Meti recalled that Phule and his associates started schools for the underprivileged and pressed the British administration to extend education to children of poor farmers and labourers. Despite hardships, he dedicated his life to promoting equality and social transformation through education, she said.She alleged that successive govts had deviated from the ideals of leaders like Phule by commercialising education. Meti also expressed concern over the state govt's reported move to close a large number of govt schools under the KPS Magnet scheme. In Dharwad district alone, over 600 schools are said to be facing closure, triggering protests in several villages, she added.Speakers at the programme called for strengthening grassroots movements to safeguard public education and uphold Phule's legacy. Participants resolved to take Phule's message to villages and intensify efforts to protect neighbourhood schools.Public Education Protection Committee president Mallesh Katagi, Veerabhadrayya Chikkamath, and members Hanumantu Unkal, Nagappa Eni, Ningappa, Sangappa, Shantesh and Siddu were present.