BMC’s 110 Marathi schools shut in last 10 years
Mumbai: Concerned about the dwindling number of Marathi schools in BMC, BJP MLA Amit Satam wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray drawing his attention to the issue. He said Shiv Sena should run a campaign to save Marathi schools rather than forcing Marathi nameplates on the shop.
On the occasion of Shiv Sena’s 51st foundation day, Satam wished Uddhav Thackeray and recalled that the party was launched by late Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray to bring justice to Marathi people. However, he said, the Marathi language has been ignored since Thackeray senior’s demise.
“It is really sad that BMC’s Marathi schools are getting shut while Shiv Sena is ruling the civic body. Do you not care about the Marathi schools? I had written a letter in this regard last year too. But nothing happened,” Satam added.
Giving detailed statistics about Marathi schools of BMC, the BJP leader said in 2012-13, there were 385 Marathi schools in Mumbai with 81,126 students. In the past 10 years, the number has reduced drastically and in 2021-22, only 272 schools with 34,014 students have left.
“So, 110 Marathi schools shut during the past 10 years which is huge. As per my information, 47,202 students were forced to leave the schools. On one hand, you cry foul for Marathi pride all the time and enjoy the power. However, in reality, Marathi schools and students are reducing by 50 per cent,” he said.
The BJP MLA expressed hope, “I assume that you would take serious cognisance of the issue of reducing Marathi schools.”
