Knowledge
To print or not to print the CM’s message. That is the question.
MP CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s message in school text books encouraging students to study may get stuck in the limbo. Though the
proposal was accepted, half the textbooks of the state have been already published. It remains to be seen what the government does, reprint it this year or the next.
The Madhya Pradesh Government is in a fix over Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s personal message exhorting the students to study wholeheartedly, that was going to be printed in school textbooks. The message which was going to be printed in school text books published by the MP Text Book Corporation had already been approved by the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary.
The idea behind printing the message is that through the text books, the CM’s message would reach crores of households in the state.
However, there is a problem. Of the 6.5 crore copies of text books which are under print, almost half have already been printed without the message. Now, if the CM’s message is to be published, the books will have to be got re-printed. And this may cost a fortune. Moreover, the tenders may need to be re-floated.
Now it will be interesting to see what solution the MP government comes up with. Whether the government saves the cost of re-printing the text books or the government wants to go ahead and print the CM’s message like messages of Tamil Nadu former CM M. Karunanidhi and ex-Punjab CM Prakash Singh Badal were printed in school books.
When Jayalaliltha became the Chief Minister, she withdrew the books carrying the photograph of M. Karunanidhi. The Supreme Court had prohibited publication of photographs of any dignitary other than the President, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India in government advertisements and other publications. With the SC having withdrawn the ban, publication of the picture of Chauhan in the books is being considered.
MPTBC Managing Director, SC Mishra told that printing of books has begun. He said he has not yet received any instructions regarding CM’s message.