Violating all Covid protocols dist education dept distribute laptops to students in Silchar

Oct. 19: When State Health & Education Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma is striving hard to contain the further spread of coronavirus, his own department in Cachar has negated all his efforts. Even when the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar has issued strict guidelines to be followed during the ensuing Durga Puja, but officials in the district education department exhibited a damn care attitude to the COVID protocol.

On Monday, laptops were distributed to the meritorious students of Cachar district at DNNK High School, Silchar. The laptops were given to the those students who secured Star Mark and above in the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Examination, 2019 conducted by Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA).

Parents and guardians who accompanied their wards at DNNK School on Monday were shocked to see the mismanaged scenario over there. Huge number of students were called inside the auditorium of the school which was over crowded. The norms of social distancing was blatantly violated. Hundreds of young boys and girls could be seen standing on the corridors and also inside the auditorium. When more than 30 persons are prohibited to enter the ensuing Durga Puja pandals, the auditorium at DNNK School saw the presence of hundreds of students standing in close contact with each other!

Taking to her Facebook page, Sudipta Bhattacharjee (a guardian) wrote, “Laptops are being given to the students who passed the secondary examination last year from the Board of Secondary Education Assam at DNNK School today. No protocol of any kind is being obeyed. I shared the picture of the final chaos with everyone. I am politely drawing the attention of the Deputy Commissioner and the District Police Super.”

Beneath this post, another guardian wrote, “What a mess is going on at DNNK! I am really scared because tomorrow I am supposed to go to Govt Boys HS School with my ward for the same purpose. I don’t know what will be the situation over there.” Another lady commented, “Today I have faced this horrible situation at DNNK. I am really very scared. I have been badly exposed amidst a sea of people.” Many guardians in the social media have suggested to share the pictures of the chaotic scenario with the Deputy Commissioner and State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Expressing her views, a student who is presently studying at Ramanuj Gupta Junior College said, “Today we were really in a great mess. There was none to guide us. Too many students were called at the same time at DNNK High School. There was no planning at all. Once I entered the hall, I was gasping for a breath. There was no way to even come out of the room. I am really feeling very scared. Who knows many inside the room may be asymptomatic who could have spread the virus. I would like to request Himanta Biswa Sarma Sir to please look into this incident.”

Infact, such a scene of violation of Covid protocol in a school located in the heart of Silchar town is indeed shocking. Exposing so many students to the deadly coronavirus just on the eve of Durga Puja may further the spread of the pandemic in the district. The Cachar District Administration ought to take serious note of this incident so that such blatant violation of Covid protocol does not occur again.