On the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of Jharkhand Assembly, Governor Jharkhand, CP Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister (CM), Hemant Soren and Speaker, Ravindra Nath Mahato felicitated Jharkhand PASWA Chairman, Alok Kumar Dubey. He received a medal and citation for his unprecedented contribution in the field of education.

Talking to media after getting the felicitation Dubey said that when the entire educational system came to a standstill during the COVID-19 pandemic, PASWA had made a very important contribution towards education. “PASWA had done the work of opening children's schools and creating awareness among parents, teachers and schools. Children were being deeply affected by anxiety, anger, confusion and post-traumatic stress during the period. Not all children had the opportunities, resources or access they needed during the pandemic. The Government also did not have the resources to compensate for the unexpected pandemic in education. Amidst the uncertainties related to food and accommodation, PASWA clearly said that everything is being done in the Country except education, if schools are not opened and education is not done then the Country will enter the era of 1947,” he added.

“Regarding the education, we took the advice of the CM, Finance Minister, Dr Rameshwar Oraon, Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh, Economist, Jean Dreze several times and requested to open the school. The CM accepted our request and our ideas, the Government of Jharkhand was the first in the Country to decide to run schools and on the lines of Jharkhand, permission was given to run schools in other parts of the Country as well. With the decision of opening the school, a wave of happiness was being created among the parents and children, the parents and children appreciated the efforts of PASWA,” said Dubey.