Shimla, 29 August (Kiran News). The closure of educational institutions became a heated topic during the Question Hour in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Friday. The opposition targeted the government on this issue, leading to a sharp exchange between Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri.
The opposition alleged that the current government is continuously shutting down or relocating schools and colleges. Responding on behalf of the government, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri clarified that these decisions have been taken for balanced development and in the public interest.
Answering a question by Sarkaghat MLA Dalip Thakur, Mukesh Agnihotri stated that the present government has opened 126 new institutions so far. He said that, during the last six months of the previous government, several institutions were opened without any solid basis, and these were later reviewed. He further explained that only those schools where not a single child was enrolled have been closed. Specifically, 527 schools were shut down due to zero student enrollment.
On this, Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur questioned the government, saying that all previous governments in Himachal were formed to work, but the current government seems to be shutting things down. He also alleged that even before the Cabinet was formed, the Congress government started closing institutions opened during the BJP’s tenure.
Jairam pointed out that in the last session it was informed that 1,859 institutions had been closed, and even after three years, the government is still closing and shifting institutions. Citing his own Siraj constituency, Jairam said that land was allotted and a budget was provided for a Horticulture College during the previous government, but the present government stopped the tender process and changed the location of the college.
In response, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that Himachal is a welfare state and the government is making decisions in the public interest. He assured that land donated for institutions remains safe and can be used for other institutions in the future. He also clarified that the previous government only laid the foundation stone for the Horticulture College and construction never began. He added that a natural disaster at the original site required the college to be relocated to safeguard the future of 300 students.
Mukesh Agnihotri emphasized that the opposition is spreading misconceptions, as only zero-enrolment schools have been closed. He said that running a school with no students is not practical. He further questioned why, despite the announcements and budgets during the previous government’s tenure, actual construction work for projects like the airport and horticulture college in Mandi never began.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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