Project Vijay is a youth cantered social organization registered under the Society Act. One of the central aims of the organization has been to cultivate and encourage patriotism among the citizen. There has been a thorough the study of the National Holidays like Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti by Mahendra Pratap Singh, Secretary, Project Vijay for the past one and half years. In series of attempts, the Maharatna and Navratna Institutes/Units/Organisations of Govt. of India (GAIL, SAIL, BHEL, ONGC, NTPC & IOCL), Higher Education Department, UGC, MHRD and Research Institutes of the Govt. of India were questioned on the issue of the expenditure done in these Institutes/Units/Organisations in last five years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 (Through RTI Act 2005) on the celebration done on these National Holidays and their foundation day celebrations. The figures that came to us were quite surprising and full of anxiety. These Institutes/Units/Organisations spend thousands of Rupees for celebrating the foundation day of the concerned Institutes/Units/Organisations but never spend a single penny for paying homage to the founder’s of our nation, Gandhi’s betrayal in his own nation is really shocking.
Instances show that the compiled RTI data on all the units of GAIL have spent not a single penny on Gandhi Jayanti & Ambedkar Jayanti. The PATA Unit of GAIL spent over 12.5 Lakhs on the Foundation Day of GAIL. They are not ashamed of the fact that Gandhi who gave us a free air to breathe and Dr. Ambedkar who gave us a Constitution to act by, are completely neglected and betrayed. The similar figures come from ONGC and SAIL also. NTPC asked for the amount required for the preparation of the information. BHEL & IOCL disposal of requisite to provide information under section 7(9) RTI Act 2005.
The eminent CSIR Laboratories, the research organization of the Govt. of India spend millions to celebrate the CSIR foundation day but never try to remember Gandhi ji. Report and statistics show that there are a few institutions who don’t care to spend even on the Republic Day, Independence Day and Ambedkar Jayanti.
Even the Institutes of Higher Education IIMs, Central Universities etc. are least bothered to remember them. Choudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut (UP) presented letter, written by Dr. Chandrabose in a RTI reply (Letter No. 5339 Dated 09/08/10), in which it was stated that from 2005 to 2007 not a single penny was spent on Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti, with the exception of 15 August 2007 when Rs. 2000 were spent for line by lime “Choona Dalwaya”. Shame on the University which spent Rs. 2000 for line by lime but not a single rupee on the flowering petals. Shah Goverdhanlal Kabra Teacher’s College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan in an answer to the question of RTI replied (Ref No. sgktc/Ju./282) wrote- “14 April-Expenditure Nil-Due to Holiday, 2 Oct- Expenditure Nil-Due to Holiday” If this is the situation of the Teacher’s College that they are not recognizing the importance of these National occasion’s then what can be expected of the youths.
Under RTI Act 2005 when informations regarding National Holidays were asked in name DoPT, Govt. of India; dated 29/07/11 then instead of replying they forwarded it to the Ministry of Home Affairs (Ref No. F.No.19/1/2011-JCA-2 Dated 05.08.11) Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India through a letter (Ref. No. A-43020/01/2011-RTI Dated 16.08.11) forwarded it to the Public Section which again forwarded to the DoPT Govt. of India (Ref. No. 24/125/2011-Public Dated 29.08.11) saying that the information are not related to the Dept. of Public Section, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. These documents reveal the absence of a strict rule and regulation for the Govt. Institutes/Units/Organisations regarding National Holidays.
The Birthdays of the Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi and the Chairperson of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution Dr. Bheem Rao Ambedkar are Gazzeted Holidays. The Bureaucrat’s, Politician, Technocrat’s and the millions of the officials sit at their home with their families celebrating these days as holidays. What should this be called the irony of fate for our nation or its misfortune ?
The ruling Government that has been the major participator in the Indian Freedom struggle comes with a great gap between its manifesto and practical execution, it is clear from the compiled RTI data. Gandhi ji and Ambedkar ji have become merely vehicles to reach their success by the politicians.
PROJECT VIJAY appeals to the Government of India and the State Governments to issue departmental directions to all the departments starting from the basic education to the governmental and the semi-government offices that Gandhi Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti be celebrated and the various departments and offices should send the report to their concerned authorities.
In addition to this we filed an appeal via speed post to Hon’ble President of India, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Chairperson UPA Smt. Sonia Gandhi & Youth leader Shri. Rahul Gandhi regarding the celebration of Gandhi Jayanti in the Government or Semi-Government Institutes/Units/Organisations.
Nation is above all in any country and until & unless we have a respect for our freedom fighters of the nation, our nation shall be converted in the category of the developing and would be a developed nation.
