After introducing the Singur land agitation in history syllabus of schools in 2017, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education is all set to include a new poem by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to its curriculum.

A poem penned by Banerjee to promote the Safe Drive, Save Life campaign in the state will be taught to students to inculcate awareness about road safety. Another song by Banerjee written for the state’s Kanyashree project for the girl child also features in the new plan for students.

As part of its physical education curriculum, teachers have been instructed to teach students the Safe Drive, Save Life theme poem. Launching the campaign in 2016, Banerjee had stated that it was aimed to achieve cohesion among civil society, police, transport, health, roads and other government departments and NGOs to sensitise people about different aspects of safe driving and road safety.

It is indeed a great step. Our CM has written several books and poems. We are proud of her, TMC MP Idris Ali said, adding that his leader was a true all-rounder.

The BJP, however, mocked the initiative, terming it a misuse of public money.

"When people are in power they do such things. Earlier, they had omitted a chapter on Netaji and included Singur as per her whims. This is nothing but a dictatorial mindset. Crores of public money is being spent to publish her poems, which no one reads. It is being forced on schools," state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said.

Mamata, however, when asked about the move, said she had not asked anybody to use her poems in the syllabi and that she was not aware of any such development.

"I am not aware of it. If someone wants to teach it, how can I stop them? I haven't told anyone to use it. I have over 75 books published. Can't I write books being a politician? I have been writing since 1995. I have books in Urdu. My books have been translated in Nepali, Hindi, English, Santhali. I love learning different languages," she said.