Pune: As a precaution to ensure the safety of children with respect to the Maratha Kranti Morcha that will be held in the city, all schools will be kept shut on Thursday, August 8.
Pune District Collector Naval Kishore Ram on Wednesday released an order declaring A holiday for all the primary and secondary schools in Pune district. “Cases of vandalizing and burning of vehicles, including two school buses were reported during the Maratha Morcha in Chakan on July 30. This could have been dangerous for children. While a protest has been planned again on Thursday, the possibility of repetition of such incidents cannot be denied. Hence, the schools need to declare a holiday, to ensure the safety of the children,” the order read.
In a notice released regarding the same by the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Education Officer Deepak Mali, it was stated that all schools in the city run by the PMC as well as private managements would remain closed on Thursday and the holiday would be considered a local holiday.
Speaking about the bandh, Rajan Junawane, Vice President of the Pune Bus Owners Association said, “As the schools have a holiday, the school bus service will be closed. We are also keeping our other two kinds of buses, employee transport and package tour buses off the roads in order to avoid any loss.”
Jagruti Dharmadhikari of Independent English Schools Association (IESA) said, “As per the district collector’s letter, the private schools too will be kept shut. Although we don’t support the bandh in any way, the safety of the students is of utmost importance to us and that’s why the schools have declared it a holiday.”
Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) and educational institutes and colleges affiliated to the university will also be closed on Thursday. In the circular issued for the same, AD Shaligram, Registrar, SPPU said the administrative department of SPPU would not be open and all the meetings will be postponed.
While many schools and colleges will be closed on Thursday, the ongoing admissions to Std XI under CAP will also be halted. Thus, the revised timetable for the admissions considering the day lost will be released on Thursday, said Meenakshi Raut, Deputy Director of Education, Pune region (Incharge).
Shops shut too
Sachin Nivangune, President of the Pune District Retail Traders’ Association said the retailers across the city have been instructed to keep their shops shut on Thursday. “If the shops are vandalised, the small shopkeepers will not be able to bear the loss. Also, sometimes, some unwanted elements in society too try to take advantage of the situations like these and this might also be harmful to the shopkeepers.”
