The Alipurduar District Primary School Council has decided to give all primary schools in the district a facelift. The move follows a larger decision taken by the state government to paint all such schools in the district blue and white, the state government’s ‘unofficial’ colour.

It is learnt that 80 percent of the schools in the district have already been painted with the two colours, while the remaining will be painted soon.

“The state plans to colour all primary schools in the district blue and white, which will be an identity of government primary schools. Moreover, the new look will create a good learning atmosphere among the students and teachers,” the Chairman of the Alipurduar District Primary School Council, Anup Chakraborty, said.

“A fund of Rs 7, 84,00000 has been sanctioned for this,” he added. There are 840 primary schools in the district at present and all junior high and high schools will also be painted with the same colours, sources said.

“We have received an order from the government to colour all high schools in the district, work for which has already begun in some schools,” said the district President of the Alipurduar Trinamul Madhyamik Teachers’ Association, Kanaj Ballav Goswami.

“A new paint on the old school walls will raise the level of hygiene in the schools,” he added. Meanwhile, the move has drawn criticism from the Communist Party of India- Marxist camp. The District Secretary of the CPI-M, Mrinal Kanti Roy, alleged that the move was “unfair.”

“The work has been initiated without any order or tender, which is a must in any government work. We have no objection with the beautification of the schools, but the work should be done in a fair manner,” Mr Roy said.

The company that was giventhe contract to paint the schools, however, said the due tender and bidding process was followed when they got the contract.

“It is not true that we don’t have tender papers or work orders. We have started the work after receiving a work order through tender bidding.

Block Development Officers concerned have issued us the tender papers,” said the proprietor of Aninda Biswas & Company, Jigmi Saha (one of the companies, which was given the contract to paint the schools in the district). District Inspector of Schools (high) was not available for comment.