In C’garh, school heads told to make students watch Sultan

In a bizarre notification issued by the local administration in a Chhattisgarh district, the heads of all governmentrun schools in the region have been asked to ensure that students in their respective institutions watch Salman Khan’s blockbuster Sultan, being screened in a local theatre.

In an official order dated July 28, 2016, the block education officer ( BEO), Gorella, in Bilashpur district, directed all the principals of high schools, higher secondary schools and headmasters of all the middle schools and primary schools in the region to make arrangements for the “willing” students of their respective institutions to visit the local theatre, Annapurna Chitra Mandir, to watch the movie between July 29 and August 4.

“Tickets for the students, interested to watch the movie, should be booked for the afternoon show ( 12 noon to 3 pm) one day early. Prior intimations should be made to the officer concerned as well as the theatre managing director for the purpose by the heads of the educational institutions,” the one- page official order typed in Hindi said.

The order sparked resentment in education circles in the block, with heads of several schools contemplating petitioning the district collector seeking its withdrawal

The contact numbers of the BEO, Gorella, and the theatre have been mentioned as well for the benefit of the heads of these schools. A copy of the order is in possession of this newspaper.

The ticket rate for the students of primary and middle schools has been fixed ` 20 per head. Similarly, the rate for students of high schools and higher secondary schools has been fixed at ` 30 per head.

The order sparked resentment in the education circle in the block, with heads of several schools contemplating to petition the district collector seeking its withdrawal.