Amid a flood of holiday demands, Collectors weather an online storm
As online demands and criticism over rain holidays mount, District Collectors say decisions are guided by weather data and field reports—not social media pressure; school closures during orange, yellow alerts depend on local assessments, they say
As intense monsoon rains continue to threaten the State, District Collectors are finding themselves inundated with online demands to declare holidays for schools and educational institutions. The flood of comments, ranging from genuine requests to sarcasm and criticism, has placed considerable pressure on the decision-making officers, leading some to openly voice their concerns.
Collectors across the State have faced intense criticism in recent days, either for not declaring holidays due to heavy rain or for allegedly delaying the announcements. One user commented that it was better late than never after Ernakulam District Collector G. Priyanka announced a holiday for educational institutions in Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha taluks for Monday, August 3.
However, many users criticized the decision and demanded a holiday across the district, criticizing the Collector for the delay. Similar harsh comments were seen on the social media accounts of other District Collectors. Kozhikode District Collector Madhavikutty M.S. attempted to explain the challenges involved in deciding whether schools should be closed, pointing out that decisions are based on weather forecasts and various local assessments, including waterlogging, landslide threats, river water levels, and road conditions.
She also warned against decisions driven by public pressure, emphasizing that opinions formed on social media are often based on incomplete information. She highlighted the consequences of unnecessary holidays, noting that students lose valuable academic time while many parents, especially daily-wage earners, suffer a loss of income.
She also pointed out that a significant number of drowning incidents involving children during monsoons occur on days when schools remain closed. Another Collector, speaking anonymously, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the unnecessary online backlash is stressful and can sometimes be abusive, with Collectors feeling pressured to declare holidays even when their reasoning suggests otherwise.
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