Dear friend,

We are quite bewildered and shocked by UTTER CONFUSION that has been created by the state government. The 3rd July GoMP order clearly states that HSTP is being closed down in Hoshangabad district - but as the copy of that letter was marked to Collectors of all 14 districts where HSTP is running - in every district either the collector, or the CEO, or the District Education Officer has started interpreting the order as s/he understood. Harda DEO has already issued a closure order. Ujjain DEO is about to do the same. Dhar Collector has also made a similar interpretation. These are the places where Balvaigyanik was being taught till couple of days and suddenly teachers and students are at a loss.

The confusion has been compounded by another letter written by Amita Sharma, Secy Elementary Education to the Text Book Corporation stating that HSTP has been closed down and they should arrange for distribution of the other science textbook. AND this order was also marked to all the fourteen collectors. No reason other than conscious MALAFIDE INTENTIONS can be attributed to these moves.

On the other hand Gopalkrishnan in his replies to quite a few email protestors has stated that HSTP has been closed down only in Hoshangabad district and it still continues in the entire Harda district and all other thirteen school complexes. And that they will continue support to Chakmak, Sawaliram, and invite the help of Eklavya for material development and teacher training etc. !!! Gopalakrishnan's letter to Srikanth stating this is attached. We feel that it is because of the spread and magnitude of the protest/questioning that GoMP is stating these as well, so please do keep up the protest in every form.

In this light we would like to share another information with all of you. ON 23RD JULY WE RECEIVED A HAND-DELIVERED LETTER SIGNED THE SAME MORNING ENQUIRING FOR 6146 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR CHAKMAK. Most of you would probably know that Chakmak did not have any bulk order from the MP state government for the last four years. What do we make out of this?

We have written to GoMP clarifying their position and are attaching copy of the letter alongwith this update.

ACTION POINT Please ask the authorities to clarify the situation in the field (not just to select persons on emails).

Rajesh Khindri, Kamal Mahendroo, Tultul Biswas, Rashmi, Subbu, and others For Eklavya

P.S. Just one day before the Chakmak order enquiry came, on 22nd July we finally received formally the report of the GOMP on the basis of which the decision to close the programme was taken.