Karnataka CM defends move to colour code 'Viveka' school classrooms in saffron

Under the ‘Viveka’ scheme named after Swami Vivekananda, the Karnataka government has proposed the construction of 7,601 classrooms across the state. Bommai launched the scheme on Children’s Day by laying the foundation stone in Government Higher Primary School at Madiyal in Kalaburagi district.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday defended the government’s move to paint the thousands of school classrooms to be constructed under the newly launched ‘Viveka’ scheme with saffron colour. Under the ‘Viveka’ scheme named after Swami Vivekananda, the Karnataka government has proposed the construction of 7,601 classrooms across the state. Bommai launched the scheme on Children’s Day by laying the foundation stone in Government Higher Primary School at Madiyal in Kalaburagi district.

Asked to comment about the move of colour coding such classrooms with saffron that has sparked controversy, the Chief Minister said: “What’s wrong to have saffron colour? There’s saffron colour in the (national) tricolour. Swami Vivekananda himself used to wear saffron robe”. “They (Congress) aren’t interested in the comprehensive development of education,” Bommai charged. He said there is a tendency to create controversy on any progressive changes made. “Naming schools after Swami Vivekananda will help children draw inspiration from him and a good atmosphere will be created in schools,” the Chief Minister opined.

School Education Minister BC Nagesh said if architects recommend to the government that saffron colour looks good in such classrooms, it will be done. “We have left the decision to architects. The government does not decide what kind of paint, window, door and steps (are to be done). We will take a decision on what they (architects) say,” Nagesh said. “Some people have an allergy towards (saffron) colour,” he said. Taking a dig at the Congress, the minister said: “I want to ask them, there is saffron colour in their (party) flag. Why did you keep it? Remove it,” Nagesh said.

Furthermore, Education Minister BC Nagesh in his clarification said, "More than 8,000 government school rooms under construction named 'Viveka' is getting painted with saffron, but the government does not decide what the colour should be, what the window should be, what the staircase should be. Such decisions are based on the design given by the architects. Congress is allergic to the saffron colour, but their party flag also has saffron, let it be removed and make it a green flag."