Central universities too told to observe 'Good Governance Day'

NEW DELHI: Not just schools, HRD ministry had also asked all central universities to observe "Good Governance Day" on Christmas day by holding seminars and oratory competitions. However, in the wake of a similar move for schools attracting all-round criticism, the ministry sent another letter on Monday saying that these activities must conclude before the Christmas holidays.

The earlier letter, dated December 12 and signed by a HRD joint secretary, didn't have any mention of Madan Mohan Malaviya's birth anniversary like the letter to schools. It asked universities and colleges to organize a seminar on "Use of technology and innovations in promoting good governance" and hold a competition on oratory (Bhaashan Shailee) on December 25. It announced three prizes in each category with cash prizes of Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000.

To underscore that there was nothing voluntary about this, the letter stated that "a compliance report on observance of "good governance day" and on holding of oratory competition in your university," was to be sent to the ministry by December 29.

But with HRD minister Smriti Irani coming under attack for asking schools to conduct various activities on the Christmas, the ministry did a U-turn and asked universities to do the seminar and oratory competition "in such a manner that Christmas holidays are not disturbed. Therefore celebrations relating to birth anniversary of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee may be completed prior to Christmas break by all the central universities and college under their purview."