Cong launches campaign against painting of ‘Viveka’ school classrooms in saffron colour

Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress has launched a campaign with the hashtag “CM Uncle” against the state government’s decision to paint the school under the “Viveka Scheme” in Saffron colour.

Bommai launched the scheme on Children’s Day by laying the foundation stone in Government Higher Primary School at Madiyal in Kalaburagi district.

Under the ‘Viveka’ scheme named after Swami Vivekananda, the Karnataka government has proposed the construction of 7,601 classrooms across the state.

Taking to Twitter Congress’s official account has posed a couple of questions to Bommai on behalf of school children.

“Throughout the state, there is a lack of infrastructure in schools. The children are struggling without toilets. CM Uncle, before painting school buildings in saffron, first build toilets, give us hygienic drinking water and facilities that would attract children to schools,” the party tweeted.

The Congress also said that the state government is implementing the scheme in the name Swami Vivekananda who was responsible for the industrial and scientific revolution in the country, but the Chief Minister is not “forthcoming with implementing programmes which inculcate scientific temperament in students”.

“There is no good teaching, no proper midday meal, what action are you going to take? The scheme to give eggs to malnourished children is not being implemented properly. Take action to distribute eggs, do not give room for corruption in purchasing eggs also,” the party added.

Basavaraj Bommai on Monday, November 14 defended the government’s move to paint the thousands of school classrooms to be constructed under the newly launched ‘Viveka’ scheme with saffron colour.

Asked to comment about the move of colour coding such classrooms with saffron that has sparked controversy, the Chief Minister said: “What’s wrong to have saffron colour? There’s saffron colour in the (national) tricolour. Swami Vivekananda himself used to wear saffron robe”.

“They (Congress) aren’t interested in comprehensive development of education,” Bommai charged.

He said there is a tendency to create controversy on any progressive changes made.

“Naming schools after Swami Vivekananda will help children draw inspiration from him and a good atmosphere will be created in schools,” the Chief Minister opined.