Virtual Inauguration of Deori School Marks End of Controversial Journey

Deori School Inauguration Finally Takes Place

The long-awaited inauguration of the Government Senior Secondary School in Deori, Mandi district, occurred on Tuesday, following a series of unexpected events over the past few weeks.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted the inauguration virtually from Shimla after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was unable to attend due to inclement weather.

This event marked a significant moment for a school that had been in the spotlight since it was heavily damaged during the catastrophic monsoon season of 2023.

The controversy surrounding the inauguration began last month when Education Minister Rohit Thakur arrived in Deori to officially open the school. However, he was abruptly called back by the Congress leadership before the ceremony could take place.

This incident sparked local discussions, raising questions about why the minister was sent back without completing the inauguration of a fully constructed government school.

The situation took on a political dimension as plans were made for Priyanka Gandhi to inaugurate the school during her visit to Himachal Pradesh on August 18, which was particularly significant due to her previous involvement with the school.

In September 2023, following severe floods and landslides, Priyanka Gandhi had visited the affected areas in Mandi, where local residents and students informed her about the school's damage and the need for reconstruction.

The school had suffered extensive destruction, forcing students to study under challenging conditions. A reconstruction project was initiated, resulting in a new building costing approximately ₹4.69 crore.

As Priyanka Gandhi's visit approached, extensive preparations were made in Deori, with the local administration and government machinery gearing up for the event, expecting attendance from several senior Congress leaders.

However, on Tuesday, the plans changed once again as Priyanka Gandhi could not travel to Deori due to adverse weather conditions, leading to the cancellation of her visit. Although there were indications of a possible cancellation on Monday evening, formal confirmation came only on Tuesday morning.

This cancellation also disrupted the travel plans of various senior leaders and ministers who were expected to attend the inauguration. Some leaders did not leave Shimla, while others turned back midway.

With Priyanka Gandhi unable to attend, Chief Minister Sukhu took part in the program virtually and officially inaugurated the new school building and the start of classes.

Sukhu mentioned that Priyanka Gandhi had intended to visit Deori and interact with students but had to cancel due to the weather. He assured that she would visit the school in September to meet the students.

During the event, the Chief Minister's political adviser, Sunil Sharma Bittu, read out a message from Priyanka Gandhi, in which she reflected on her previous visit to Deori after the disaster and acknowledged the efforts made to rebuild the school.

The prolonged controversy surrounding the school's inauguration had also reached the Himachal Pradesh High Court through a public interest petition, which noted that although the new building was completed, it was not being utilized, questioning why students were still studying elsewhere.

The court sought responses from the state government and relevant authorities, highlighting the issue of completed public infrastructure remaining unused while students continued to study in alternative arrangements.

The saga of the Deori school has taken a unique path: the July attempt by Education Minister Rohit Thakur to inaugurate the building was halted by high command directives; Priyanka Gandhi's planned inauguration on August 18 was thwarted by bad weather; and ultimately, the Chief Minister inaugurated the building virtually from Shimla.

For the students and families of Deori, the political intricacies surrounding the inauguration are secondary to the fact that the new building is now operational.

Nearly three years after the 2023 disaster, students can finally commence classes in the newly constructed school building that replaced their destroyed campus.