Modi's Teachers' Day address: No arrangements in Bengal

The West Bengal government Wednesday said state-run schools would not make arrangements to enable students watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address on Teachers' Day due to shortage of time and infrastructural issues.

"We don't have the time to make the arrangements. The infrastructure needed is also not there," Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said.

He said with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slated to felicitate teachers on Teachers' Day - Sep 5 - the state government had its plate full with its programmes.

He said around 100 teachers from various districts will be presented the 'Shiksha Ratna' award on that day.

Directives have been issued by the union ministry of hman resource development to all schools, private and government, to ensure that Modi's speech is listened to by school children through arrangements made on television, internet and radio though attendance of students is not mandatory.