CM takes surprise visit to a primary school at Jaswantgadh Bhemal village in Danta taluka of Banaskantha district

Gunotsav 2011: Day 1

CM asks teachers to throw out their unconcern in raising the quality of education

Stresses for giving computer education and nutritious food to the students and inculcating the good habits of doing yoga and prayer

The three-day Gunotsav campaign began today with Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to a primary school at Jaswantgadh Bhemal village in Danta taluka of Banaskantha district. The state government has launched the Gunotsav programme with a view to raise the quality of education in government primary schools across the state.

Without prior indication the Chief Minister went to the school to observe in person the kind of academic atmosphere, adequacy of the teaching staff, students’ hunger for gaining knowledge, their competency in the subjects like computer and math and the villagers’ awareness regarding the importance of education.

The school is situated in the state’s boarder area, some thirty kilometers far from Ambaji and have majority of students from Muman-Muslim community studying in class 1 to 8.

During his visit, the Chief Minister went to each and every classroom and talked with the students. He also asked them question to personally verify the students’ competency.

Talking with the teachers Chief Minister said the state government will not tolerate the teachers’ unconcern in carrying out their responsibilities. Pointing to the teachers of weak-performing schools he said they will have to work for 225 days a year. “The teacher should feel the pain if his student is weak in studies”, he said.

Mr. Modi appealed to the teachers and parents to encourage students to take interest in extra curricular activities. He also stressed for giving computer education and nutritious food to the students and inculcating the good habits of doing yoga and prayer.

He recalled an incident when two of the Muman girls wrote him that they wanted to carry on their studies but can not as their parents don’t want so. He said that state government has made all provisions that even poor can give education to their children without any cost. In such case, he said, if children remain without education than it is a fault of teachers, parents and rural society.

“I don’t visit villages in the want of votes. I have brought with me the yagna of education. The state government doesn’t want the children remain illiterate despite having the necessary infrastructure in place”, he said.

Mr. Modi also distributed nutritious food to the students as a part of the project of Aarasuri Ambaji Temple Trust under which nutritious food will be given to primary school children with a view to free them from malnutrition.

MLA Vasant Bhatol and villagers in large numbers were present on the occasion.

The entire Council of Ministers, led by Chief Minister, IAS officers and 3,000-odd officials will participate in the 3rd ‘Gunotsav’ campaign to evaluate 32,274 government primary schools in Gujarat for three days from November 24 to 26, 2011.

CM offers prayer at famous Ambaji temple before beginning Gunotsav

The Chief Minister began the Gunotsav with visit to the primary school in Danta taluka in north Gujarat after saying prayers at the famous Ambaji temple. Neelkamal Chandrakant Sompura and Manish Chandrakant Sompura presented a marble replica of the temple to the Chief Minister.