The BJP on Monday pooh-poohed the proposed CM address (‘Man ki Baat’) to schoolchildren on Children’s Day on Tuesday terming it as a self-propaganda programme of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the cost of public exchequer to the extent of Rs 200 crore.
“During the last 17 years, the Chief Minister pocketed the Congress and ruled the State in absence of a strong opposition. But he has been frightened facing a strong political opponent during the last three-and-a-half-year Modi Government.
Hence, he has planned the programme to promote self,” alleged BJP State vice-president Samir Mohanty at a Press meet here.
He said that while schools have no classrooms and adequate teachers, the Chief Minister’s plan to address schoolchildren is only politically-oriented.
“About 7 per cent of schools are running with one teacher only. Similarly, 66% primary schools have only one teacher for 30 students,” he said.
He said as many as 24,446 teachers under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan are lying vacant now and 11,341 teachers in High Schools are vacant.
On this occasion, the party has given its reactions to various topics mentioned in the practice book provided to students for debates.