Shivamogga/DHNS: A quiet distribution of sweaters to government school students by BJP workers in the district has caught the education department, off-guard. Under the Rashtriya Gramin Saksharata Mission, the BJP has taken the initiative to distribute sweaters among government school wards, across the district. While many schools have already received sweaters, students studying between Class 1 and Class 4 are expected by August 15, it has been learnt.
When contacted, School Education & Literacy Department Deputy Director Manjunath told DH that he was not aware of the distribution of sweaters to students. But, Thirthahalli Block Education Officer (BEO) Ganesh Y claimed that BJP workers are voluntarily distributing sweaters to 84 government lower primary schools in the taluk and bags to 115 government higher primary schools.
“We are told that MP B Y Raghavendra took the initiative to distribute sweaters and bags. Besides, over 1,000 bags are still pending and they would be distributed to all students,” BEO Ganesh said.
Malnad Area Development Board former chairman Gurumurthy, who is a close aide of former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, told DH that MP B Y Raghavendra learned about the Rashtriya Gramin Saksharata Mission. So he took the initiative to distribute sweaters and bags to students of government schools across the district.
Speaking to DH, Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra said earlier, children of government schools in Northern India were getting sweaters under the scheme. “When I came to know this, I realised our children in the district were also in need of sweaters, as there will be cold during rainy season,” MP Raghavendra said and added that he took personal interest to distribute sweaters to children of lower primary school, across district. So far, over 69,000 sweaters have been distributed to children, MP added.
When queried about non-involvement of school education department, MP alleged that last year a similar initiative (of his) had been projected as the state government’s by the department. “It was projected as if Congress-led government in Karnataka distributed it, while it was being distributed under the scheme,” he added. This forced the MP to direct an NGO to take up responsibilities of distributing sweaters and school bags with the help of party workers.
When asked whether this scheme was confined to the district alone, MP Raghavendra said since it was his choice, it was being carried out in district, only.
It may be mentioned here that the distribution of sweaters to school children had taken a political turn in Thirthahalli, with BEO Ganesh Y being suspended for alleged protocol. However, he was reinstated, later.