Caught unawares and embarrassed after the books supplied to libraries of several Government primary schools in Punjab were found to contain "vulgar and sexist" remarks about girls, Punjab Government on Wednesday initiated action against the erring officers.
Punjab Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka has issued a show cause notice to the language Department director seeking clarification in the matter within 15 days' time.
The Minister has also deputed the Principal Secretary School Education to inquire into the entire matter. An explanation has also been sought from all the officers who were party in the decision of dispatching these books in the schools.
Also, Bathinda District Education Officer (DEO) Surjit Singh Khuram has been put under suspension for laxity in this controversial action.
Only a day before, the State Government had ordered a ban on the distribution of these books and ordered an inquiry into their purchase after discovering the "objectionable" content in it.
Maluka took the slew of decisions after he, along with Principal Secretary School Education, inspected lot of books supplied to the schools in the State which has invoked controversy due to the alleged vulgar content not suitable for the school students.
The Minister found that the books, dispatched in the schools under the inspection of Director General School Education (DGSE) Kahan Singh Pannu, are of sub-standard quality having vulgar content which may cause adverse effects on the minds of the children.
He found that 70 per cent of the books are of sub-standard and totally irrelevant for the students. Education Minister directed the language department to take utmost care in the future before finalizing books for the school students.
Maluka also took a strong notice of DGSE's action of dispatching books to the schools without any prior inspections.
Approved by a panel of five government officials and supplied to schools by the Punjab education department, the books meant for the students up to Class V referred to girls as "husn phuljharian, shehar diyaan kudiyaan (city girls as pretty as sparklers)", panjfooti talwar (five-foot tall sword), among others.