PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Experts opined that the State government should appoint academic toppers as district magistrates (DM) and senior superintendents of police (SSP) for one day every year across Uttarakhand, taking cue from the recent directives from chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for providing this opportunity for Class XII and X board examinations toppers. With the State administration planning to implement this initiative in the districts soon, both students and academicians have hailed this, stating that this would motivate children further toward their careers.
A student, Vansh Virmani said that the initiative to make the toppers DMs and SSPs for a day is commendable and should be carried out annually. “This will not only inspire the top-performing students but also motivate others to work hard and achieve high marks,” he said, adding that things should continue and not flag after some years. Many other students this correspondent talked to also commended the decision.
Apart from the students, experts have also shared their opinions on the CM’s initiative.
The retired joint director at Secondary Education, Uttarakhand, Bhupendra Singh Negi said that the initiative was worthy of appreciation. “This will effectively motivate the toppers to aspire to become DMs and SSPs in their future. Besides, it will percolate down the line, motivating other students too to aspire the same. But this should be done with formal protocols, not reduced to pompous showpieces,” he said.
He further said that the State government should also arrange counselling sessions for students involving DMs and SSPs. “They may guide the students on career paths. They are the most competent to do so. Also, the schools should facilitate exposure trips for students to visit DM and SSP offices for straight interactions with them,” he added.
A professor at DAV PG College Prashant Singh while appreciating the initiative suggested that the State government should not confine it as a one-off affair. “One day’s high-trumpeted anointment is not enough. The momentum should be kept up throughout the year with similar initiatives being taken consistently to boost students’ career confidence,” he said.
