Schools in saffron, DM says paint them back to white
BAREILLY: With the CM’s Secretariat building in Lucknow getting painted in saffron colour and a new fleet of saffron buses being rolled out recently, the colour seems to be gaining currency in the state.
Such is the saffron frenzy that reportedly over 80 of the 1,230 primary schools in Pilibhit district were painted saffron.
However, this did not go down well with the district magistrate who has now given directives to the managing bodies of the government primary schools to repaint the schools in white, which is the official colour.
The issue came to light when district magistrate Sheetal Verma visited the government primary school of Roop Pur Kripa village located near Pilibhit city to inaugurate the nutrition week on December 9. After finding the school building painted in saffron, the DM called the headmaster and the village head to enquire about the issue and reportedly rebuked them along with panchayat secretary.
“The building was coloured in a shade of saffron which is not the permitted colour. The village head and the panchayat secretary were asked to repaint the school in white, which is officially designated colour for government primary schools,” said the DM.
Village heads are responsible for colouring and maintaining school buildings in their respective villages.
“Village heads are provided funds for the same and are required to adhere to government guidelines regarding construction work or colouring the school building,” said the DM.
It is alleged that village head Mala Devi forgot to consult anyone before giving orders to repaint the school.
On being contacted, her husband Bhagirath Verma said, “The colour was decided by the panchayat secretary and we didn’t give any thought to it.” Verma further said other schools in the area have also been painted in saffron.
“Our school was painted hardly a fortnight ago much after several other schools of the area were painted in the same colour,” he added.
Reportedly, over 80 out of 1,230 primary schools in the district were painted saffron this year. On whose advice it was done is not clear yet.
“I have asked the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) to look into the matter and ensure that all schools are painted white as per the government guidelines,” said the district magistrate.
The change, it seems, will begin from the primary school in Roop Pur Kripa. After being rebuked by the DM, the village head has hired men to repaint the school in white. “Bhagwa karke galati ho gayi, ab use sudhar rahen hain (It was a mistake to paint the school in saffron. We are correcting it now),” said the village head.