Sisodia, 40 govt officials embark on 'spiritual trip'

Some claim Delhi government is paying the air fare

Over 40 officials of Delhi Government’s Directorate of Education, including its top two bureaucrats, are out of town – attending a spiritual workshop.

They are all in a village near Raipur, Chhattisgarh for a seven-day event.  The trip apparently has the blessings of Delhi's Education Minister Manish Sisodia, who too joined his officials on Monday evening.

Yogesh Shastri, organiser of “Madhyasth Darshan-Jeevan Vidya” workshop, told Deccan Herald that the event is meant to provide senior education officials with an introduction on value-based education.

A government’s order has mentioned that some officials are at Manviya Shiksha Shodh Sansthan in Achoti village, starting April 2. 

“During absence of the Director (Education) and the Director Higher Education, Ms Shashi Kaushal, DANICS (Delhi Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Service)/Spl. Dir. of Education will look after the emergency work,” the order issued by the Directorate of Education on April 1 says.

Some officials at the directorate are irked by the fact that their bosses are away at a time when schools have just opened for the new session. Some claim that the Delhi government is paying the air fare.

“I don’t think anyone of them would have paid from their own pocket,” said a government official, who did not want to be quoted.
But the claim that officials were sent to the workshop on government expense couldn’t be independently verified.

Shastri said, “We believe in the current scenario education should be value and consciousnes based to equip the students better in dealing with life and relationships. The workshop, being presently atttended by them, is only an introduction to expose them to a new way of value- based teaching in our schools.”

“We have prepared 14 books through which we teach about co-existentialism. While in earlier classes, beginning from Class 1 till 5, the thrust is on human relationships, in later years students are exposed to deeper questions about their mission, nature of reality, etc.” he added.

He claimed that Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has been associated with Madhyasth Darshan as a teacher since his days as a social activist.

“Now that he is in a position where he can influence things, it was thought to introduce at least senior officials to the concept, and see where it goes from there. They were flown in on April 2. His presence has definitely been a source of inspiration to them,” he said.

Though the minister could not be reached for comment, a close aide said he was keen on making his officials understand “value-based teaching”.The minister and the officials will return to Delhi on Thursday.

“Over the past 15 years, about 30,000 people from all walks of life have attended workshops on Jeevan Vidya and many are now seriously studying it. These people have gained greater clarity and insight into their own selves, their lives and the world around,” the workshop's Facebook page says.