Mumbai: School committees to keep students away from Blue Whale

The order follows a request letter to the Maharashtra government by Govinda Gunjalkar, district president, NCP, Vasai and Virar

Schools across Maharashtra will have to form dedicated advisory committees to keep students away from the dangerous Blue Whale Game or the Blue Whale Challenge, which had caused a few children's deaths. While several schools had started awareness activities with students and parents with help from experts, the director of education has now issued an order in this regard, wherein all schools have been asked to form such committees and to submit a report about this to the department. The death of a school boy from Andheri, who is believed to have committed suicide as part of this game, wherein players are asked to commit suicide at the final level had shocked everyone. Several activists had raised the need for awareness among children.

The director of education's order to schools to form the committees

Letter to govt
The order was issued on January 15 to all local education officers, by the director of education (Secondary and Higher Secondary), Gangadhar Mamhane. The order follows a request letter to the Maharashtra government by Govinda Gunjalkar, district president of NCP for Vasai and Virar. Gunjalkar had written to the chief minister in August 2017. "I had written the letter following the death of the 14-year-old boy due to this game. Not only was it a shocking incident, but it has proved how dangerous this game is. It calls for a need for awareness among children, as well as brainstorming on how dedicated efforts can be made by schools and parents together, to ensure children do not fall prey to such games," said Gunjalkar, who had requested the government to have the committees in each school.

Regular review needed
Uday Nare, a teacher at Hansraj Morarji School, opined, "It is good that the government is taking cognisance of the issue. There should be a regular review of the situation in schools on what efforts are being taken by them on the issue. It is also important that these committees include parents and these topics are discussed in the PTA meetings."

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