1 week ago
CJP, Mohandas Pai Clash Over School Inspection Approach
Mohandas Pai suggested that volunteers visit schools in small groups and carefully record what they find.
He wanted them to get permission, write reports and give the information to governments.
He also wanted the reports published every few months so citizens could see which states were struggling.
CJP leader Saurav Das disagreed with this plan.
Das said government bodies and charities already do similar work.
He believed the approach would be too slow and would not reflect what is happening on the ground.
Pai also criticized CJP for taking a large group to a school.
The disagreement is part of a larger argument about how to improve government schools and protest about them.
Mohandas Pai urged CJP volunteers to inspect schools in pairs and submit data-backed reports to state governments.
Pai proposed quarterly reporting, public engagement and permission-based visits across India’s school system.
CJP co-convenor Saurav Das called the proposal slow, boring and disconnected from reality.
Das said NITI Aayog and independent NGOs already conduct similar inspections without resolving the problems.
The dispute followed criticism of an alleged mob-led school visit and an incident involving a CJP delegation in Jaipur.
- Who
- Mohandas Pai, chairman of Aarin Capital, and Saurav Das, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP.
- What
- They disputed whether school inspections should be conducted through small, permission-based volunteer teams or through CJP’s more confrontational campaign activities.
- Where
- The campaign concerns schools across India; the related alleged incident was reported in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
- When
- The exchange occurred on Sunday, after an alleged incident involving a CJP delegation on Friday.
- Why
- The disagreement arose during CJP’s “School Thik Karo” campaign and over an alleged mob-led visit to a school.
Mohandas Pai’s position
Saurav Das and CJP’s position
How inspections should work
Mohandas Pai’s position
Pai supports small, respectful, permission-based visits by volunteers, followed by detailed reports and data-backed demands for reform.
Saurav Das and CJP’s position
Das argues that this approach is slow and disconnected from reality, saying similar inspections by NITI Aayog and independent NGOs have not solved the problems.
How to conduct school activism
Mohandas Pai’s position
Pai criticized CJP for taking a mob to a school, saying student safety and the villagers’ right to protect children should come first.
Saurav Das and CJP’s position
Das defended CJP’s campaign approach and challenged Pai to join the team on a future visit and demonstrate his proposed method.
Value of the reported incident
Mohandas Pai’s position
Pai said outside groups should not enter schools with large crowds and should instead conduct studies politely.
Saurav Das and CJP’s position
CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka highlighted an alleged assault involving Salman, saying the incident exposed serious concerns about a school reportedly operating from a cow shelter.
Key facts
- Campaign
- CJP’s “School Thik Karo” campaign focuses on government-school conditions and education concerns.
- Pai’s proposal
- Volunteers would work in pairs, visit assigned schools with permission, and prepare taluk-level reports.
- Reporting plan
- Pai proposed publishing quarterly reports and discussing the findings with citizens.
- Education system figures
- Pai cited approximately 18 lakh schools, 24 crore children up to Class 12 and 1.3 crore faculty and staff.
- Government-school share
- Pai said 50% of children attend government schools and that the share is declining.
- Das’s response
- Das said NITI Aayog and independent NGOs already conduct comparable exercises.
- Related allegation
- Ashutosh Ranka alleged that a man named Salman was assaulted after visiting a school reportedly operating from a cow shelter.
Quotes
Mohandas Pai
Chairman of Aarin Capital
“Total rubbish. You had no business talking a mob to go to a school with young children. The villagers were right in coming together to protect their children. The safety and security of students is paramount not an outside mob.”
livemint.com
“Respectfully sir, your suggestion is slow, boring, unconnected to reality. Much like the present system!”
livemint.com
Sources
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