Call to suspend or cancel Gunotsav due to floods in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Sadou Asom Sanmilita Shikshak Mancha, an umbrella organization of various teachers' bodies of the State, has urged the Secretary of the Education Department to either suspend or cancel the ongoing Gunotsav 2022 in view of the grim flood situation in the State.

The organization stated in a letter that since May 15, several districts across the Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys are submerged under flood waters. Many school campuses and approach roads are also submerged under water. Consequently, it will be extremely difficult for the students to go their respective schools.

As such, the organization has urged the Education Department to either defer or cancel the remaining phases of Guntosav 2022. Further, it advised the department to schedule future editions of the Gunotsav during the dry season instead of during the monsoon season.

Meanwhile, the Assam Secondary Teachers and Employees' Association has raised an objection to certain school authorities collecting amounts ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 from the respective teaching and non-teaching staff on the pretext of beautifying the school for Gunotsav 2022.

The association stated that it was a condemnable act for these school authorities to collect money when the Government has made everything available for free for Gunotsav. It demanded that the errant schools should be kept out of the purview of the Gunotsav.

It may be recalled that the first phase of Gunotsav 2022 was held from May 11 to May 14 in 11 districts - Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Charaideo, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Karimganj, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon and Nalbari.

The second phase is scheduled to be held from May 23 to May 26 in 12 districts - Barpeta, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Hojai, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Majuli, Morigaon, Sivasagar, South Salmara-Mankachar, Tinsukia and Udalguri.

The third and final phase is scheduled to be held from June 1 to June 4 in 10 districts - Baksa, Cachar, Chirang, Dhubri, Dima Hasao, Jorhat, Kamrup (Metro), Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and West Karbi Anglong.

Gunotsav 2022 will cover 46,251 schools. This will include 45,825 Government/provincialized elementary and high schools and 426 schools under tea garden managements. A total of 42,51,524 students of Class I to Class IX will participate in the educational exercise. A total of 18,752 External Evaluators (EEs) have been appointed for Gunotsav 2022.

Also Read:  Phase-1 of Gunotsav 2022 concludes in Assam

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