Display banners thanking PM Modi for free vaccines: UGC to educational institutions

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked government-funded universities and colleges to display banners and hoardings on free vaccination for all adults.

According to a report in Times of India, the UGC shared the design template for banners along with a message thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for free vaccinations.

The free vaccination programme for all adults began from Monday after a major overhaul of the vaccine strategy with the Centre now taking over the role of procurement from states and supplying the jabs for free to them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a message on Monday said that the biggest beneficiary of this phase of India's vaccination drive shall be the poor, the middle class and the youth of the country.

The Times of India report further added that other government offices including banks and railways have also received similar messages.

The move drew sharp criticism from various quarters.

Swaraj India President and former UGC member Yogendra Yadav said on Twitter, "As a former member of the UGC, I am mortified. Things were rotten at the UGC even then (2010-12), but such servility was unimaginable. Everyday, we discover a new low."

Delhi University Professor and former Executive Council member Rajesh Jha said, "This is unprecedented. Universities cannot be used for propaganda of the government.

"Universities are not extended arms of the government that they can be used for such things. By tweeting something from the official handle, Delhi University is projecting a single opinion which is not the scenario since there are differing opinions and viewpoints within the university,"

(With inputs from PTI)