Soon, Vande Mataram to be sung in all BMC-run schools

Proposal by corporator faced mininum opposition

The proposal for making the singing of National Song Vande Mataram compulsory in civic-run schools has been passed in the general body meeting of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday.

The proposal states that singing of Vande Mataram in the BMC-run schools at least twice in a week is compulsory.

Once the civic chief forwards the proposal to the state government and affter getting its nod, the proposal will be implemented in all civic-run schools.

This proposal faced minimum opposition in the meeting on Thursday and was thus passed by a majority.

Sandeep Patel, the municipal corporator, who initiated this proposal, said, “Singing of Vande Mataram should be made compulsory at least twice in a week in all BMC schools. This will help inculcate values of national integration among the students. We all should be grateful to our motherland and should always honour it.”

A similar proposal was passed in 2004 in the BMC but it was not implemented.

A senior civic official said, “The importance of patriotism and national integration is lost in many schools as the songs and poems of national importance are not taught to children. Recitation of the National Song will help children to learn it at an early age.”

The BMC chief will decide whether this proposal will be implemented after he gets the nod from the state.