Nothing wrong in school asking students to man gates: Lekhi

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi today said she does not find anything wrong with a government-aided school asking its students to man its main gate besides attending classes.
"The support of students is crucial for the effective running of a school. There is nothing wrong in assigning jobs related to school affairs to the students," Lekhi said even as she revealed that plans were afoot to launch a drive which would involve students of NDMC schools in the cleaning of their school premises.
The remarks came in light of reports that a government- aided school in west Delhi had allegedly deployed students to man its main gate since the guard was on leave.

The New Delhi MP was speaking here at the 'Dr S Radhakrishnan Memorial Award' function where eminent media personalities, teachers, doctors, bureaucrats and artistes from across India were awarded for their contributions in the fields of media and education.
Lekhi said that teachers fulfil their duty without any bias of caste and creed and that makes them the true torch-bearers of society.
Apart from Lekhi, former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma, too, was present at the event.

"I started off as a primary schoolteacher. I became a journalist, lawyer, teacher and ultimately a politician. But wherever I go, I am always remembered as a teacher first," Sangma said.

MS Dhir, the Speaker of Delhi Assembly, said that teachers were the "sculptors of society".
"Teachers build the future assets of our nation. They do their job without wanting anything in return. This is a platform where their due can be given to them," he said.
Among the awardees were Raghu Ram, executive producer of the TV programme 'MTV Roadies'; Dr Abha Sehgal, Principal, Sanskriti School; Gaurav Chitranjan Sawant, Deputy Editor, 'Headlines Today'; Divya Vasudev, radio jockey; Dr KK Aggarwal of the Heart Care Foundation of India.
"Teachers are everywhere in life. I was not educated when I entered this industry, it was my seniors at work who guided me and I am taking this award because of them," said Ram.

Celebrity chef Kunal Kapur, another awardee, said that "the best teacher in my life has been my father from whom I learnt the art of making food. I feel like a student after winning the award. It goes to every chef in every home."
Celebrating the 127th birth anniversary of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the 30th edition of the award constituted by the 'Akhil Bhartiya Swatantra Patrakar Avom Lekhak Sangh', an association of freelance journalists and writers, awarded 70 distinguished personalities for their contributions to media and education.