Congress slams Chhattisgarh BJP govt for ‘closing 10,643 schools, cutting 45,000 teacher posts’

New Delhi: The Congress slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Chhattisgarh for its decision to shut down 10,643 schools in the State, leading to the abolition of 45,000 teachers’ posts.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here on Sunday, the AICC secretary and Chhattisgarh MLA Devendra Yadav disclosed that under the so-called ‘rationalisation’ policy, the BJP government had decided to close down these schools. He said, not only will the teachers’ posts be abolished, but those of the supporting staff as well.

5 km to reach the school

He observed that it would make schooling difficult for the young students, many of whom will now have to travel about 5 km to reach the school. He said, earlier the schools used to be in the neighbourhood and within walking distance.

Yadav noted that this decision of the government will also disturb the teacher-student ratio, as there will now be fewer teachers available to teach. He demanded immediate reversal of the policy, warning that it could adversely affect the schooling of young kids.

The AICC secretary asserted that the BJP government in Chhattisgarh had proved to be a complete failure. He said that there was open and blatant looting of the natural resources like minerals, which were being handed over to the private players. Law and order, he noted, had completely collapsed. He said, Chhattisgarh was known as an ‘island of peace’, but during the BJP’s regime now, people were feeling unsafe and insecure. He said, even the journalists were threatened and intimidated.

He disclosed that the Chhattisgarh government had banned the entry of journalists into the government hospitals.

Besides, the Congress legislator stated that tax terrorism was rampant in the state as the GST officials were resorting to unbridled extortion of the traders and businessmen. “It is like a return to the British-era inspector raj in the State”, he remarked.