Sun Nov 10 14:11:48 UTC 2024: ## Rajasthan Colleges Ordered to Paint Buildings Orange Under “Kayakalp” Scheme
**Jaipur:** The Rajasthan College Education Commissionerate has ordered 20 government colleges to paint their buildings orange under the “Kayakalp” scheme, sparking controversy. The directive, issued last month by Joint Director (Planning), College Education Vijendra Kumar Sharma, aims to create a “positive environment” in educational institutions.
The “Kayakalp” scheme, a national initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, typically focuses on hygiene and infection control in public healthcare facilities. However, the Rajasthan government has extended the scheme to educational institutions, mandating a specific orange paint for the facade and entry halls of 20 colleges.
The move has been met with criticism from the opposition Congress party, who see it as an attempt to politicize educational institutions. PCC general secretary Swarnim Chaturvedi slammed the government, accusing it of failing to deliver on promises and resorting to such tactics to divert attention from its failures.
“The BJP government has nothing to highlight as its achievements,” Chaturvedi said. “This is an attempt to politicize education in colleges.”
The commissionerate, however, insists the initiative is about creating a positive and encouraging environment for students. The order states that the colleges should be “rejuvenated” to create a “positive, clean, healthy, and educational environment”.
The 20 colleges targeted in the first phase of the scheme are required to use specific paint shades from Asian Paints: White Gold 8292 and Orange Crown 7974.
This controversial move raises questions about the purpose and efficacy of applying a nationwide hygiene scheme to educational institutions, particularly when it involves a specific color choice. The opposition’s accusations of political motivations further complicate the issue, highlighting a potential shift in focus from academic priorities to political agendas within the education sector.
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