The Indian Express 21.08.2012
Mythological characters inspire AMC school board projects
When it comes to christening new projects or re-christening the
existing ones, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) school board
seems to be banking heavily on Hindu mythology and Indian history. Many
of the projects for students and teachers launched by the board in the
recent past find references like Pawanputra, Vayudoot, Chanakya and
Saraswati.
According to board chairman Jagdish Bhavsar, each of these names
“is a call from within”. He said all these projects are in “some way or
the other connected with the God”. “For instance, Pawanputra is an apt
name for a project where a vehicle serves as Pawanputra (Lord Hanuman),
distributing necessary materials to schools. Similarly, Vayudoot relates
to the speed of lightening, which refers to the speed of Internet in
schools,” Bhavsar said.
Asked if the trend will be followed for other projects, he said,
“Somehow or other, it happened as I never force myself to follow such a
religious pursuit.”
Shala Samagri Vitran Pawanputra Yojna, Shala Telephone Internet
Vayudoot Suvidha, Chanakya Vkyakhyanmala and Saraswati Sadhna Khand are
some of the projects launched by the board in the last
one-and-a-half-year. Besides, the board has renamed the Shala
Praveshotsav project — launched by the state almost a decade ago — as
Saraswati Mandir Pravesh Yojna, aimed at 100 per cent enrollment.
Saraswati Sadhna Khand
Budget: Rs 1 crore,
Status: To be launched by September
The scheme envisages inculcating spiritual values and meditation
among students. A special meditation room will be developed in each
school under the project.
Chanakya Vkyakhyanmala
Budget: Rs 5 lakh
Status: Launched in September 2011
This is a series of lectures for teachers. Organised after every
three months, educationists hold motivational and self-experience
lectures for teachers.
Shala Samagri Vitran Pawanputra Yojna
Budget: Rs 75 lakh
Status: To be launched this month
School board will launch mobile storerooms in a bid to help
teachers devote maximum time for students and restrict them to their
schools than visiting storerooms and shops to fetch items like books,
uniforms, stationery, furniture.
Shala Telephone Internet Vayudoot Suvidha
Budget: Rs 50 lakh
Status: To be launched this month
The project is being seen as an attempt to compete with private
schools. The board is also planning to train training on how to access
Internet. This will be done through representatives of Cluster Resource
Centres.
Saraswati Mandir Pravesh Yojna
Budget: Rs 1 crore
Status: To conclude on August 31
The scheme aims at enrolling maximum students in Class I. Items
like school bag, books, pencil, rubber and uniform are distributed among
students enrolled under this scheme.
