Parents infuriated with Ernakulam Collector for not announcing regional holiday for schools during final leg of Onam celebrations; says children reached home at 9 pm

KAKKANAD: Parents are infuriated with Ernakulam Collector, Renu Raj, for not declaring holiday for schools on the final day of Onam celebrations at Thrikkakara municipality. The parents said that their children reached homes only by 9 pm as there were no buses due to Onam procession. Many parents have reached the Municipality with complaints against the Collector.

Thrikkakara municipality Chairperson, Ajitha Thankappan, clarified that she had asked the Collector beforehand to declare a regional holiday during the final day of Onam celebrations in the municipality. The chairperson added that she had also met with the Collector personally to request a holiday for schools on that day.

One parent responded that her daughter had to wait for hours at the bus stop after school and reached home only by 9 pm.

Every year, the Collector declares regional holiday during the final day of Onam celebrations at Thrikkakara municipality because people crowd the streets to watch the procession. This makes it difficult for buses to travel on roads. Usually, all vehicles, including private buses, do not travel during that day. Criticisms are rising because the Collector did not declare a regional holiday after agreeing to it.

Incidentally, Renu Raj had come under criticism a few months ago for not declaring a holiday beforehand, when there was a weather forecast for severe rains. That day, the Collector’s announcement came too late, only after the children had reached their schools.