Ambedkar Jayanti is not a holiday but a 'Close-day', reveals RTI

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MADHU AGRAWAL

13 April, 2011

An RTI has revealed that Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) treats April 14, the birthday of Dr Ambedkar, not as a holiday but simply a 'Close-Day' to be renewed every year.

THE DEPARTMENT of Personnel & Training (DoPT) in response to an RTI petition has revealed that April 14, which is the birthday of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, is not a holiday but simply a ‘Close-Day’ to be renewed every year.

According to DoPT, no new holiday on birthday of a national leader can be added to the only one existing for that of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. This is perhaps the reason for rejecting the demand for a national holiday on January 23 on the occasion of birthday of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.

All great leaders have always advised people to work hard to build a better society and a great nation. Holidays on birthdays of great leaders are contrary to ideals of these men.

The system should be to pay real tributes to big leaders by observing their birthdays as ‘extra work-day’ by extending working-hours for say half or one hour on these auspicious dates including even October 2 and April 14.

India already has too many holidays and it is important that the government and people both understand that stopping work simply means loss to the national economy as well as society. Enough holidays are already there for people working in the government and as such they should not clamour for more off days, which leads to complete close down of work.