Bhubaneswar: In view of the Congress called nine-hour ‘Bharat bandh’ protesting the fuel price hike, the State School and Mass Education Department today announced the closure of all government and private schools in Odisha on September 10.
Informing on the decision to media, Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, Principal Secretary, School and Mass Education Department said that the step is aimed at ensuring safety and security of the school children during the ‘Bharat bandh’ protests.
It is worth mentioning that, the State Government has already ordered the district Collectors to maintain essential services during the bandh and take all possible steps for the maintenance of law and order situation.
Similarly, staffs of all government offices in the state have been advised to reach office by 9.30 AM on September 10 to avoid any possible inconvenience caused by protests and road blockades.
Congress gave the bandh call to protest the sharp rise in fuel prices in the country in recent times, which it dubbed as Rs 11 lakh Crore ‘fuel loot’. It is demanding that petrol and diesel be brought within GST along with reduction of central excise duty and excessive VAT charged by states to end the problem.
Also Read: Congress protests fuel price hike in Cuttack
Kalinga AI