I-Day row: Punjab teachers say most schools held function a day earlier, cite national holiday

In Punjab, teachers from Fazilka and Ferozepur districts argued on Wednesday that it was impractical to hold Independence Day celebrations in all government schools on August 15. Educationists and students frequently attend district-level events, and schools remain closed as August 15 is a national holiday, making it logistically impossible for most institutions to host both functions.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) responded by ordering a statewide verification of I-Day celebrations in government schools, requesting documentary evidence and explanations, with a deadline of four weeks to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR).

During a visit to Fazilka district on August 15, NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo claimed he witnessed only one village, Dona Nanka, hosting an I-Day function at the Government Primary School (GPS). The remaining schools, according to Kanoongo, were closed. However, teachers from Fazilka disputed this claim, stating that a majority of schools in their district held I-Day functions on the 14th.

On the 15th, teachers were often engaged in district-level programs, and students participated in similar events, making it practically unfeasible to organize and attend two functions on the same day. The attendance of teachers and students at I-Day events is always recorded.

Rajeev Chagti, head teacher of GPS Dona Nanka, confirmed that the school held the function after receiving Kanoongo's schedule in advance, emphasizing that teachers and students simultaneously participate in district-level celebrations. Grewal, an additional deputy commissioner in Fazilka, corroborated the NHRC member's experience, noting that the non-observance of I-Day in other schools was due to the simultaneous participation of teachers and students in district-level functions.

Punjab Education Secretary Sonali Giri dismissed Kanoongo's allegations as baseless, while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dismissed the need for a certificate of patriotism, noting that 90% of freedom struggle martyrs were from Punjab. Kanoongo, a native of Madhya Pradesh, is a former chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and has a history of digitizing monitoring mechanisms and organizing district-level events focused on child-related issues.