SDMC to install idols of goddess Saraswati in schools to motivate students

With the aim to spiritually incline its students, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) is all set to install idols of goddess Saraswati at its 582 primary schools.

The decision was taken at its monthly standing committee meeting on Wednesday.

Simultaneously, the corporation also announced that Saturdays at its schools will be books and bag-free. Instead, students will be shown short films on the life and times of iconic leaders like Bhagat Singh, Abdul Kalam Azad and Guru Nanak Dev. At least 2.5 lakh students are enrolled at the South MCD's schools, most of them from the lower economic strata of the city.

The proposal for mounting murtis (idols) of goddess Saraswati, the deity of learning in Hindu scriptures, in SDMC schools was put forward by councillor from Hari Nagar, Anamika Mithilesh. She said, "The children who come to our schools are poor and hence, often, lacking motivation for academics. If we install maa Saraswati's idols at the entrance, not just will these kids gain her blessings but feel more enthused towards studies."

"We can also have grand celebrations for Basant Panchami around the idol every January or Feb," she added. SDMC Standing Committee chairman, Bhupender Gupta, said, "There are no additional funds required for this. The schools can arrange for these murtis from their own funds, so we have agreed to the proposal."

Gupta added that every Saturday, students will not be required to bring their bags and books to schools. "We are procuring film projectors for all our schools wherein students will be provided entertainment and education in one." "It will be a moral sciences day when they will learn about our great icons in the arena of history, religion, literature, sciences, sports, etc., so that they may aspire to be like them," he added.