Fire picture of kids participating in a children’s festival in Bhubaneswar.

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 4: The All Orissa Federation of Teachers Organisation (AOFTO) came down heavily on the state’s school and mass education department for trying to spoil Sishu Mela, a popular annual children’s festival-cum-talent competition, without any proper reason. Calling it a “revengeful act” done to harass teachers’ associations, the AOFTO slammed the autocratic attitude of the department.

Sishu Mela is being organised in the state since 1979 by the Orissa State Secondary Teachers’ Association.

However, this year, the department suddenly passed orders that no such festival would be held.

“In an order issued to all the circle inspectors, the director secondary education has denied participation of school students and teachers in the festival. The reason it has cited is impending examinations. The move has drawn sharp criticism from teachers, students and parents.

“The festival is held on January 7 and there are no exams till February 22. The order is beyond our understanding. It has been done with the sole motive of harassing the organisers and nothing else,” said AOFTO general secretary Abani Boral.

The festival, quite popular among students over the years, is conducted at the circle level and block level initially.

Over 5,000 school students of Classes VII, IX and X participate in a series of activities including songs, dances, quiz, debate and general knowledge competitions and the top 500 students are selected to participate in the state-level competition held at Cuttack.

“The objective of the festival remains providing a platform for the students to showcase their talents. The reason that the department has cited is meaningless and done just to harass a bunch of teachers who dare to voice their opinions in public from time to time. They never even bothered to even discuss the matter with the organisers before cancelling the festival. If at all they were so bothered about the examinations, they could have at least tried to talk to us if the festival can be postponed,” said a teacher on the condition of anonymity.

“The department has been acting in an autocratic fashion right from the beginning and continues to do so. Be it the uniforms, the punishment transfers or holding back of salaries, it seems teachers are being treated like slaves without dignity. How can an education system where teachers are not respected thrive?” asked another teacher.

The AOFTO called upon the state government to intervene in the matter and ensure that the festival could be conducted smoothly.