Haryana private schools asked to explain girl child event ignore

The failure of private schools in Haryana to participate in a campaign for the girl child and against female foeticide has drawn the ire of the state's school education department, which Friday sought an immediate explanation from all on this issue.

Principal Secretary, School Education, T.C. Gupta shot off a letter to the district education officers (DEOs) pointing out that the private schools, especially in urban areas, had defied a recent request of the department to hold various event and competitions to mark the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign held Thursday.

The campaign is to be officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the state's Panipat city Jan 22.

"It is a matter of shame that amongst the 100 districts selected for launch for this campaign by the Hon'ble Prime Minister at Panipat on Jan 22, 12 districts of Haryana have been selected because the child sex ratio in these districts is dismal. As most of these private schools are located in urban areas, it was expected of them to participate in this campaign which is the need of the hour," Gupta said in his letter to the DEOs.

"It has also been noticed in the past also that some of the private schools do not heed to the advisories/directions of the school education department. In such a scenario, the state government cannot remain silent when the private schools start ignoring/defying the legitimate requests/directions. Hence, it has been decided to call for the explanation of the defaulting schools which did not participate in this campaign," the letter stated.

The DEOs have been directed to call the explanation of the private schools, numbering in hundreds, within one week. The explanations will be sent to the director, secondary education.

"The state government will take appropriate action as per rules against them," Gupta said.

He also asked deputy commissioners in all districts "not to involve students, parents and managements of the defaulting schools in the forthcoming Republic Day celebrations in any manner".

"A strong message must go from the government that it will not tolerate non-compliance of the legitimate requests/directions in any manner," he said.

The events for the campaign were organised enthusiastically by government schools across Haryana Thursday. The private schools, despite requests, did not participate in the campaign.

Haryana has the worst sex ratio among states in the country. It stands at just 879 females per 1,000 males.

--Indo-Asian News Service

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