Officials play cruel joke on schoolchildren

 Their joy knew no bounds when they were given new books and satchels. The teachers also took a few extra classes to teach them the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions when  VIPs visit schools.

However, their joy was short- lived. The new books and satchels were literally snatched away by the authorities. Reason: the VIP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, did not visit the school.

This cruel joke was played with the students of a government primary school at Gureh village in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district, about 200 km from here.

According to reports, district education authorities distributed new books and satchels among the children on getting information that the chief minister may pay a visit to the school during his visit to the district on Saturday.

The school building was decked up and the teachers were asked to prepare the students for the visit. Extra classes, a rare phenomenon in government schools in Uttar Pradesh (UP), were also held for the students so that they may answer questions.

The chief minister did visit Banda on Saturday but owing to his pressing engagements failed to visit the school. As soon as it became clear that the chief minister’s visit has been cancelled, authorities took away the books and satchels.

District authorities said that they had no information about the matter but promised to look into the same. 

A similar incident took place in another village in Deoria district a few days ago in the residence of slain BSF jawan Prem Sagar. The jawan was among those who were killed by the Pakistan army and their bodies mutilated in Poonch sector of Jammu & Kashmir recently.

The local administration in Deoria district had installed an air conditioner at the martyr’s house, a carpet was rolled out, curtains on the doors and windows changed and comfortable sofas were placed in the room where the chief minister was to meet the family.

Within half an hour of Adityanath’s departure, all these things — the AC, curtains and sofas — were all taken away by the officials.