Bengal to have 1,000 RSS-run schools within a year: Suvendu
A West Bengal political leader has announced plans to expand the number of RSS-affiliated schools in the state and consolidate education departments. The move aims to promote 'nationalistic learning' while eliminating separate administrative structures for minority-focused education.
Why it matters
The proposal reflects ongoing political tensions regarding education policy, secularism, and the influence of ideological organizations in Indian state governance.
KOLKATA: Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari set a target Thursday to establish at least 1,000 schools run by RSS's education wing Vidya Bharati in every district, municipality and panchayat within a year. He also suggested a plan to merge the state's four education departments into one, specifying that there would be no separate administration for madrassa education.Adhikari, who spoke at an event to mark the 74th anniversary of Vidya Bharati at Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, urged the body to shoulder the responsibility of imparting what he termed "nationalistic learning". He invited its brass to the secretariat to meet officials and take the initiative forward.Bengal has 313 such schools. Nationally, Vidya Bharati runs over 12,000 schools and 10,000 Bal Sanskar Kendras.
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