Bhubaneswar: All government and government-aided schools in Odisha will remain open tomorrow (March 5), informed the School and Mass Education department today. In a letter to all the District Education Officers (DEOs), Durga Prasad Mohapatra, the Additional Secretary of School & Mass Education department, directed them to open all schools and conduct classes on Wednesday. The decision to keep all government and government-aided schools in Odisha is taken after the State government de-linked the Biju Patnaik birth anniversary from Panchayati Raj Diwas yesterday and declared that March 5 will now be considered as working day. Notably, CM Mohan Charan Majhi approved the proposal to observe the Panchayati Raj Diwas in the State on April 24 instead of March 5 with the aim to ensure uniformity with the national observance. Besides, the Lok Seva Dibas (Public Service Day) will also be celebrated on April 24. However, the State government has decided to celebrate the Biju Jayanti, the birth anniversary of state’s iconic leader, Biju Patnaik on March 5. But it will not be observed as a public holiday. Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has started to protest against the decision of the state government to delink the Panchayati Raj Diwas celebration from the Biju Patnaik birth anniversary and canceling public holiday on March 5. As mark of their protest, the BJD leaders and workers today staged a demonstration near Biju Patnaik’s statue near the Bhubaneswar airport.
