Make recitation of National Anthem compulsory in schools: MLC

Thane, May 24 (UNI) Maharashtra Legislative Council member Sanjay Kelkar has urged the state government to intervene and prevail upon CBSE and ICSE schools in the state to have compulsory recitation of the National Anthem and ''Vandemataram'' by the students.

Mr Kelkar, while speaking to reporters here today, rued that the state government had no control over these institutions other than grant them permission to start functioning.

Recitation of the National Anthem and ''Vandemataram'' should be made compulsory in these schools, he stressed.

Meanwhile, informing about the various issues that he had raised during the recent budget session, Mr Kelkar said he had strongly demanded that the water supply to Thane and surrounding areas be improved.

He had also urged the state government to enact a law to provide protection to doctors who frequently have to face the ire of patients and their relatives.

Shifting of cattle sheds from Mumbai to Dapchari in Dhanau taluka of Thane, the long-pending appointment of four members to the MPSC, the problem of soil erosion in the coastal districts of Thane, Ratnagiri, Raigad and Sindhudurg, and other issues too were raised by him, Mr Kelkar said.

Mr Kelkar claimed that due to his efforts, fishermen in the Konkan belt will receive a package for their losses. An aqua university will be established in Konkan while the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth will start an MBA programme with special focus on agriculture.

UNI XR MAZ SKB1642